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 Northern Forest Explorers Youth Program 2009 Youth on the Trail: The Northern Forest Explorers Program We are thrilled to report that NFCT again hosted a very successful youth program in 2009. The Northern Forest Explorers program was designed to provide rural youth with an opportunity to paddle and camp on their backyard waterways. This summer, thanks to funding from Smartwool and the Davis Conservation Fund, we provided four weeks of programming in western Maine: we provided a total of 44 Explorers, aged 10-14, in Rangeley, Stratton, and Jackman with the chance to spend a week paddling, camping, learning about the natural world and group dynamics, and beginning what we hope will be deep and lasting friendships with the natural world that is outside their classroom windows. The program proved to be a collaboration of the best sort. The Trail itself provided an unparalleled experiential classroom; the NFCT organization secured funding and hired an intern to assist with trip leading; Adventure Bound provided high quality guiding; and our school and community based partners in Rangeley, Stratton, and Jackman recruited participants; and the kids - the kids! - brought energy, enthusiasm, and hope... the best ingredients of all. Our plans continue for expanding the program in the coming years. Scroll on down and see why we can't wait to engage more young people along our route in this incredible opportunity.
"You learn about your friends, yourself, and nature all on this trip." - quote from a 2009 NFE participant "The nature was my favorite part because even though I live near nature, it's never so concentrated." - quote from a 2009 NFE partipant
Roger, from Adventure Bound, and Michelle, NFCT Youth Intern, our spectacular NFE 2009 guides. |
