Whitewater rafting is definitely a “contact” sport. Cassidy Rafford knows.
While on the Penobscot River last year with fellow members of Ashland District School’s Outdoor Club, she unintentionally tumbled off the watercraft. But it didn’t dampen her spirits.
“I had so much fun, and after falling in the water, I got right back in,” she said.
The club’s outing was made possible through a grant from Teens to Trails, a Brunswick-based nonprofit which aims to link young Mainers with the outdoors, on the premise that teens are losing connection with nature. The grants help fund adventure trips that let students spend time in natural settings while gaining confidence and learning teamwork.
Teens to Trails has given $80,000 in grants to Maine schools over the past 17 years, and last week announced its latest round of 21 grants. Ashland’s club — which has drawn more than a third of the small school’s 76-member student body to its activities — netted $600, the only Aroostook County recipient this time around.
The grants make a big impact in helping kids get outside, adopt lifelong activities and get away from their screens, Outdoor Club Adviser Amanda Barker said.
“There are all kinds of statistics on how being outside for just minutes helps us to reset our minds, improve our focus and lower our stress,” Barker said. “In the digital world today’s youth are immersed in, they need the outdoors.”
This is the fourth grant for Ashland club. As in years past, it will use the money primarily for its biggest-ticket excursion: whitewater rafting and camping in central Maine.
For two years students joined in with Teens to Trails’ multi-school event on the Kennebec River, at Adventure Bound in Caratunk. But interest was so high they outgrew the program, Barker said. So they created their own rafting trip to the Penobscot, which they’ll do again in the spring. So far, 24 students and three chaperones have signed up.
The grant funding has supported the trip each year, either paying the registration fees or helping with gear, food or lodging for the bus driver.
Besides the rafting excursion, the club has adventures planned throughout Aroostook County and beyond, including cross-country skiing at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, ice fishing on Scopan Lake near Ashland, mountain biking at Penobscot River Trails in Stacyville, winter camping in Garfield Plantation and snowshoeing at Aroostook State Park in Presque Isle.
Already this year they’ve built a log playground structure, cooked over an open fire at the Ashland Logging Museum and camped out with Teens to Trails at Camden Hills State Park, Barker said. The club tries to do an activity each month.
The grants, supported by L.L. Bean, help remove financial barriers and have allowed more Ashland students to participate, said Connor Huggins, Teens to Trails’ outreach and communications manager.
“With 34 active members in a school of 76 students, participation continues to grow, and funding helps ensure the club can continue welcoming every student who wants to take part,” Huggins said.
The club emphasizes inclusion and leadership, and students help choose activities and plan trip logistics, he said. They also work together to accommodate members’ food needs, allergies, gear and other necessities.
The biggest benefit is that the kids are having fun outside, Barker said. But collaboration runs a close second. The students plan and budget the events, and senior Layla Burby, the club president, wrote the last two grant applications. The members join in skill building sessions, such as building a campfire, setting up a campsite and cooking in a dutch oven.
It’s cooperation, not competition.
“As a noncompetitive group, they learn teamwork and develop grit organically,” Barker said.
Unfortunately, everything costs money, she said. Transportation is usually covered by the school district, except for extensive trips, but club members raise funds by selling concessions at sports games and community events. The grants, which have been for $400 to $600, have helped overcome some of the financial roadblocks.
Teens to Trails was founded 20 years ago by Bob and Carol Leone in memory of their 15-year-old daughter, Sara, who died in a car crash, according to the organization. The family enjoyed outdoor activities and wanted to honor Sara’s love of nature.
The latest round of grant recipients also included schools in Hiram, Bucksport, Portland, Bath, Brunswick, Searsport, Farmingdale, Dexter, Cornville, Wales, Livermore Falls, Wiscasset, Bar Harbor, Belfast, Orono, Brunswick, Dedham, Farmingdale and Unity.
For Barker, the best part is seeing students remember that they like going outside, running around and getting dirty and tired. They take pictures and make memories and forget their phones for a little while.
“In my mind, if they enjoyed an activity, even though it wasn’t perfect or structured or met any formal learning goals, and the meatballs were burnt while the stick bread was a little doughy, and they’re willing to try it again, the program has succeeded,” she said.