Based in Bar Harbor, Maine, Friends of Acadia is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting stewardship of Acadia National Park, the oldest national park east of the Mississippi River. Encompassing Mount Desert Island, Maine, Acadia National Park is a scenic, 45,000 acres that make up one of the nation's smallest national parks. Friends of Acadia is an independent organization that seeks to "add a margin of excellence to park and island protection beyond what the government can do." Backed by volunteers and more than 3,000 members, Friends of Acadia bestows grants to the park and nearby communities; guards against environmental and other threats; recruits volunteers; and advocates on behalf of the park before the Maine legislature and the U.S. Congress. As an employer, Friends of Acadia has offered seasonal and temporary job opportunities in the past.