An organization that has long been known for its skiing programs and biathlon events, Maine Winter Sports Center announced this month that it’s changing its name to Outdoor Sport Institute to reflect the organization’s new mission to operate in all seasons and offer a broader range of outdoor sports programs throughout Maine.
Headquartered in Caribou, Outdoor Sport Institute plans to operate in all 16 Maine counties and beyond, with programs focused on empowering children, adults and communities through outdoor sport education.
“The fact is that we’ve been providing year-round, world-class, and award-winning outdoor sport programming for over a decade, and we need a name that reflects that story,” said Andy Shepard, founder and president of the Maine Winter Sports Center, now Outdoor Sport Institute.
“Everyone engaged with the [Maine Winter Sports Center’s] profound growth and impact should be proud of what we accomplished,” Shepard said at a July 14 reception at Portland’s Ocean Gateway Pier, hosted by H.M. Payson. “However, over that time, we have evolved from building and owning ski centers into an organization entirely focused on world-class programming. The time has come to seize the best of what we learned and refocus that energy on being a powerful force for change as an outdoor sport education institution.”
Shepard noted that Outdoor Sport Institute will be more directly focused on the development of lifelong skills — tools for positive change that come from being physically and emotionally empowered.
“I am incredibly proud of a staff and our curriculum of empowerment that uses outdoor sport to cut across all ages and economic limitations and is creating change for people and communities here in Maine,” said Shepard. “With the help of a great new leadership team, an expanded mission that allows us to operate in all seasons, and a generous donor base that includes L.L. Bean, Emera Maine, The Harold Alfond Foundation and Presque Isle native Mary Barton Smith, the Outdoor Sport Institute is poised to make a tremendous impact.”
One of Outdoor Sport Institute’s chief goals is to serve Maine’s rural communities and underserved populations. The organization plans to reach communities through a host of expanded and existing programs.
These programs include community-based camps for ages 10 to 14; outdoor excursion programs for high school students; six-month gap semester programs for high school graduates looking to excel in an adventure-based sport and earn college credit; high school racing programs; outdoor education programs for teachers, coaches, parents and volunteers; an equipment rental program; and a trails program to consult and train people to develop trails in their communities.
The organization is funded through donations. In November 2014, Smith donated $2 million toward Maine Winter Sports Center’s endowment campaign. Her gift will now be redirected to Outdoor Sport Institute, along with an additional $3 million gift-matching challenge, issued by Smith.
Every dollar donated to Outdoor Sport Institute through the end of January 2017, up to $3 million, will be matched by Smith, Shepard said.
“Mary is excited by the mission of [Outdoor Sport Institute] to empower people to create healthier, more purposeful lives and is proud to help in our campaign,” said Shepard. “She is challenging others who share our commitment to making a difference in children’s lives to join the campaign, too.”
For information about Outdoor Sport Institute, visit outdoorsportinstitute.org.