Resources for Local Advocacy

Are you interested in protecting dark skies in your local community? Dark Sky Maine has decades of combined experience in advocating for the night, and we are very happy to share this experience, providing advice on how best to engage with your community and local government. We can provide feedback on proposals for local ordinances or outreach material, and we can help to demystify scientific or regulatory language to help your initiatives to be as successful as possible. Please reach out to us at darkskymaine@gmail.com!

Below are some external links to websites, specific web pages, and a few documents that you might find helpful as you do your part to preserve Maine’s uniquely dark skies.

Templates and Forms

  • Click here to download a form letter (.docx file) that you can use as a template to write your local lawmakers and make change in your local community! Feel free to adapt it as needed.

  • Click here to access materials for public outreach by Darksky International.

DarkSky International

IDA is the largest world-wide organization to promote dark skies. Below are a series of links to specific pages on their large website that may be useful.

DarkSky Approved Lighting

Do you want to decrease light pollution on your own property?  DarkSky International has created a wonderful resource on their website through which homeowners and contractors can identify 'DarkSky Approved' lighting options that meet their needs. The big box and online retailers that carry these items are also featured.  Check it out!

DarkSky Lodging Certification

DarkSky International now offers a process for inns and other businesses providing overnight visitor accommodation to become certified as DarkSky Approved Lodging. We are interested in actively working with inns and innkeepers across Maine to help them attain this certification. Doing so will help to preserve Maine’s dark skies at the same time as it puts your business on the map as an outstanding destination for stargazing and astrotourism.

DarkSky International publishes a database containing all current DarkSky Approved Lodging here, and we plan to acknowledge all future certified Maine businesses on our website as well.

Please reach out to us or visit DarkSky International’s website to learn more!