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 Youth 2008 Youth on the Trail: The Northern Forest Explorers Program We are thrilled to report that NFCT hosted a very successful youth program in July 2008. 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 the Horizon Foundation, we piloted three weeks of programming in western Maine: we provided a total of 30 Explorers, aged 10-13, 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; the Natural Resource Education Center provided training and curriculum kits; community partners at the local schools and summer rec programs invited us to speak with their kids and helped us to share program information; and the kids - the kids! - brought energy, enthusiasm, and hope... the best ingredients of all. We're already making plans for expanding the program for next year. Scroll on down and see why we can't wait to engage more young people along our route in this incredible opportunity.
"I am glad I took advantage of this life experience. When the trip was over I thought it was very adventurous." 2008 Explorer
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