Outdoor Recreation

Buxton Center Elementary School Clinton Elementary School

At Buxton Center Elementary School the MEEA Grant funds were used to purchase backpacks, compasses, rain ponchos, two-way radios, and binoculars. These materials were used on the school campus and off-campus at various field experiences, including hikes and a Brook Trout release.

Over the course of the year, students have hiked several smaller mountains and completed nature walks, in addition to being outside almost daily on the school campus. These field learning experiences connected directly to literacy, math, science, and social studies. The new backpacks allowed for a level of comfort to be provided to ensure that students could focus on the learning, immersing themselves within the field experience, being present in the moment, and appreciating the natural world around them. It also provided confidence to students with less outdoor experience because they felt like they were “real” hikers.

Students learned to use a compass and began to understand the difference between true and magnetic north, learn map skills and how to read a topographic map, and begin to learn how to navigate safely. Students were also able to apply their mathematical knowledge of degrees and angles in a real world manner.

Teacher Amanda Blunda shares, “As our experiential program evolves, students are gaining confidence in their own abilities, extending their appreciation for the natural world, and inspiring other students, teachers, and their families to take learning outdoors.”

Clinton Elementary School improved their playground by purchasing 2 large tunnels, 6 sets of binoculars, 2 sets of sensory stepping stones and a set of Let’s get moving activity cards.

This allows for students to have structured activities to improve their gross motor skills while enjoying being outside. The new playground has been a big hit with students.

Teacher Penni Porter says, “We feel the items have brought the children together as a group as well as providing them opportunities for teacher-led gross motor activities but also for exploration on their own in smaller groups. We see them sharing the materials, asking others if they want to join, making sure everyone gets a turn and even checking on one another if someone should fall from the stepping stones, making this group a more caring, thoughtful, empathizing group.”

Cushing Community School

George B. Weatherbee School

At Cushing Community School grant funds were used to build a story path. Community volunteers designed, built, and installed a series of “storyboards” that are placed along a trail. The intent is for students, classes, and/or families to walk the path and enjoy a book along the way.The construction of the Story Path was a community effort, another example of the community relationships that have helped the school develop exciting resources that foster outdoor exploration, education and programming.

The Story Path connects other important outdoor resources of the school. It begins along the nearby Town Nature Trail, it extends along the back of the school building and leads to a newer outdoor classroom area, built last year with the help of students the Mid-Coast School of Technology who marked this new, smaller trail and community volunteers who built benches for the outdoor classroom area.

Principal Dawn Jones shares, “This wonderful new resource would not be possible without the support of community members who gave their time, energy and expertise. The Green Team vision was to inspire involvement with the natural world among all students, leading to an understanding of how all living things are connected and sustained with the help of caring communities. The Story Path is another step on this journey, and we couldn’t have created it without the help of our very own caring community.”

At George B Weatherbee School, all 299 students have had an opportunity to do a bike riding unit. PE teacher, Mr. Plaisted, has been gathering bikes from community donations as well as fixing used bikes so that students have a bike that is just right for them. The grant allowed him to purchase bike helmets, an essential safety component for the program.

The learning and progress of students was remarkable from start to finish. A dad stopped Mr. Plaisted in the parking lot upon dismissal and said, “Thank you so much for teaching my daughter to ride a bike. I failed miserably.” Mr. Plaisted described this moment as a proud dad who had missed his daughter’s first steps. It was a bittersweet moment, but an indelible one.

Principal Jennifer Cyr reports, “The impact of this grant allowed us not only to improve our outdoor programming, but offered enrichment in our field day celebration and a new community pride around riding bikes. Families are reporting that their children are inspired to ride, and their families are riding together. This goes well beyond our original goal and is something we’re incredibly proud of. Thank you again for this support.”

Lewiston Middle School Mount Ararat Middle School

MEEA grant funds were used for Lewiston Middle School 7th grade students to go to the YMCA Outdoor Education Center. Students were divided up by homerooms and spent a day at a 95-acre outdoor learning center. Students participated in the following activities: riparian-zone walk, a low-ropes course, archery, disc golf, gaga ball, and capture the flag. All activities were spread out with trail walks between them. Students had a picnic lunch surrounded by nature. Teacher Michelle Deblois says, “At Lewiston Public Schools many of our students have never set foot outside of the city landscape. Lewiston/Auburn is one of the most densely populated areas in Maine and access to outdoor space is limited. This preserved space is limited and many students do not get time to play outside due to family obligations and due to safety. This opportunity allowed students to experience the calming and rejuvenating joys of the outdoors.”

In addition, “After this trip we had many students express a desire to attend the YMCA summer camp at the outdoor education center. We also witnessed two students who typically struggle to work in the same space connect during an activity. The two students were actively helping and supporting each other on the low-ropes course. This was done without any teacher prompt and the students were using kind language towards each other for the first time.”

At Mt. Ararat Middle School, funds were used to purchase materials to build skateboards for ten students, including plywood, paint, grip tape, and the wheel assemblies.

Students began working during the winter months, and initially designed snowboards. Taking their snowboards out to the local woods they discovered that their snowboards were not suitable to their needs. As a result, students set aside the snowboards and began designing and building sleds which were much more suited for their winter downhill runs. As spring approached, the students returned their focus to finishing their skateboards. Each student had their own creative design ranging from a simple board to a bacon themed skateboard.

Teacher John Hawley shared the impact this project had on students: “Upon completion, it was still too cold and icy to safely practice their skateboarding skills outside. Our students had the unique opportunity to ride their skateboards up and down the halls of the school. The students’ pride in having met the challenges of their learning opportunity was evident in their joy while effortlessly gliding past other classrooms. In due time, the students were able to transition to the outdoors and ultimately got to bring home their own skateboard that they custom built with their own two hands.”

Palermo Consolidated School

The Palermo Consolidated School used their grant to improve the trail system around the school. Teacher Jared Grenier shared that, “The funds were used to resurface, widen, and provide signage for the trails. Gravel and wood chips were spread and three trail maps were created. This amazing work provides greater accessibility and inclusion for many students and staff to enjoy.”

Two community events were held to support the project. Genier reported ”There were 30 community volunteers that assisted during the Spring Cleanup Day. This event was held to encourage families to enjoy the trails and gain ownership over this special area. One of those volunteers resurfaced and widened the trail a distance of 360ft. Another family took on the snack shack and set up a station with hotdogs, chili, chips and drinks for everyone to enjoy. Multiple families joined this weekend event to participate in a scavenger hunt, door prizes, and volunteering. It was a very fun hard working weekend.”

The Day of Caring invited high school students to help as well. Says Grenier, “It has been an uplifting opportunity to build the trails here. The trail network will be used for decades to come by all students who walk here and many from neighboring organizations. A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who helped, MEEA for making this possible, and RSU 12 for accommodating this site.”

Richmond Middle/ High School RSU 14 Katahdin Program

At Richmond Middle/High School the grant funds were used to purchase 12 razor scooters in order to supplement an existing bicycle program. The need was identified to get students who could not yet ride a bike experiencing moving on two wheels. It also helped to have the scooters for exploring the town with advisory groups. The scooters are made available to all students grades 6-12 and has both encouraged fun physical activity outdoors and helped some students conquer an even bigger challenge: riding a bike.

Teacher Joe Viselli talks about the excitement of seeing students overcome this challenge: “One student spent three weeks on a scooter before trying to ride a bicycle. They were then able to pass all of their skills tests and now commute to school on their bike. Students are now planning on taking a trip to our local state park, Swan Island to ride the roads and trails. We have been able to ride and experience our town as a class.”

In the RSU 14 Katahdin Program, funds were used to purchase 10 LL Bean Spincaster Rod and reel sets as well as 10 fully stocked fishing tackle boxes and 15 fishing licenses for students that they will be able to use throughout the year both during school and in the summer. There is a lot of waiting patiently for the fish to bite, this allows for conversation and connection to happen, both between students and staff and nature. Having the opportunity to participate in outdoor learning with students gives staff the ability to connect on a different level with students. Being able to teach respect for the Earth, along with other life lessons creates meaning through “play”, with these outdoor learning experiences.

Teacher Christine Fredette shares, “We recently took a group of six students camping in Acadia National Park. This was such a special opportunity, all of them were amazed by the beauty of landscape. We even made it to the top of Cadillac for a spectacular sunrise! Four out of the six climbed out of their sleeping bags at 3:45 am to get a glimpse of the first peek of sunlight on the US. Hearing the students say things like, “Oh my goodness, that’s amazing” or “This is really great” made all of our work worth it.”

Veazie Community School Village Elementary

Veazie Community school used its funds to purchase high quality sleds to encourage more physical activity during winter. Teacher Abigail Dorrity reported, “Students who typically were not interested in sledding were now going up to the hill to sled. They were all using creative ways on how they could go up the hill. Our school does a flex Friday were teachers run an activity for 3040 minutes. Some teachers used the sleds as another opportunity to get students out in the cold.”

Village Elementary used these funds to hire two guest speakers from White Pine, a local outdoor education program. White Pine staff provided students with Nature Journals, showed the students how and when to use the journals, and provided natural specimens for the students to touch and observe as a part of their journaling experience. Having educators from outside the school share their experiences with journaling helped students who historically have had little interest in writing or drawing make the connections that these are tools to be used for engaging with and exploring more about their natural world.

White Pine helped get the outdoor learning program at Village Elementary off the ground and the grant provided the funding to keep these educators involved in a support role.

Teacher Candra Glenn shares, ”I have students who in a more traditional inside setting struggle with selfregulation able to focus and even excel in the outdoor classroom. I have students who started the year by telling me about how much they hate getting dirty and who are now the first ones to turn over the logs to look for worms and roly-poly bugs. Students who cried at every bump or stubbed toe are now proficient navigators of the varied rocky terrain and carry themselves with confidence.”