Volunteers Needed: Intertidal Zone Use Study
David Olson, a graduate student at the University of Maine, is conducting research on how visitors use different intertidal zones in Acadia National Park. He needs volunteers who can sit, observe, and complete a checklist that describes visitor frequency and activity. Volunteers must participate in a two-hour training session prior to participateing. Acadia Partners will provide information about the time and location of the training sessions as it becomes available. Here is a letter from Mr. Olson that gives the details and his contact information:
My name is David Olson, and I am a graduate student at the University of Maine. This spring and summer I will be conducting a research study based in Acadia National Park that consists of observing visitor frequency and activities at four intertidal locations within the park, including two sites at Schoodic. To successfully complete this study I will need the assistance of volunteers willing to sit, observe, and complete a checklist at one of the four selected sites during specific scheduled observation dates. In addition, each volunteer must attend one two-hour training session prior to participating in the observations.
Volunteers will be counting the number of people who visit at each observation site, as well as recording simple information related to those visits. Information will be collected through the use of a prepared checklist. There will be no direct contact with visitors; just passive observational information will be gathered.
The study will be conducted during the months of May, June, July, and August. Observations will be recorded on a total of four days during each month. Two days of observations will be done on weekdays, and two observation days will occur on weekends. In total there will be sixteen days of observations recorded at each selected study site. A scheduled observation date will consist of a nine-hour observation period, divided into three separate, three-hour shifts. So on each scheduled observation date I will need a minimum of twelve (12) volunteers to collect data (three volunteers to cover three shifts at each of the four sites). Volunteers willing to sign up for multiple shifts and multiple dates are welcome and appreciated.
If you are interested in assisting with this project, or would like more information on sample site locations, observation dates, or other project details please contact me directly. I appreciate any assistance you are able to provide as I work to complete this study.
Sincerely,
David E. Olson
58 McComb Road
Garland, ME 04939
Home: 207-924-7865
E-mail: david.olson@maine.edu