Teens To Trails (T3) is pleased to announce this year’s Outing Club grant recipients from 16 high schools across the state, including Boothbay Region and Wiscasset high schools and six brand new high school Outing Club programs.

Grant awards were made to: Ashland District School, Bangor High School, Boothbay Region High School, Brunswick High School, Bucksport High School, Cape Elizabeth High School, Cheverus High School, Cony High School, Ellsworth High School, Gorham High School, Greely High School, John Bapst Memorial High School, Monmouth Academy, Skowhegan High School, Wiscasset High School and Yarmouth High School.

“High school Outing Clubs are the most effective way we have found for engaging teens in their natural world, with the potential to make fun safe outdoor experiences accessible to every Maine student,” said Carol Leone, Teens To Trails founder.

These schools were awarded support funds totaling almost $7,000 from Teens To Trails to help more teens get active outside. These grants were made possible by ongoing support from L.L. Bean and individual donors. 

Since the inception of the Grants-to-Clubs Program, T3 has awarded 93 grants in support of Maine high school Outing Club programs thanks to the support of Maine businesses and foundations as well as many heartfelt personal donations. This year, assistance with transportation costs helped to eliminate one huge hurdle these schools face in getting their students outdoors. In addition, these grants allowed Outing Clubs to purchase needed outdoor gear and clothing, obtain safety training for leaders, cover recreational fees, and ensure trips are accessible to all students regardless of their financial situation.

Megan Stanley (Ashland District School Outing Club Advisor) summed it all up when she wrote, “Thank you for awarding this grant to the Ashland District School Outing Club. In a small school, this means many of our kids will get to participate without worrying about the cost.”

Along with introducing many teenagers to the outdoors for the first time, Teens To Trails is thrilled to be able to give a boost to these amazing individuals who see the "tremendous value of healthy physical activity" in helping "to keep kids happy and healthy and on-track in school" while also "promoting good social skills with peers and adults" as Wiscasset High School Principal Cheri Towle wrote in support of the efforts of the Wiscasset Outing Club.  

With increasing research confirming that positive outdoor experiences are critical to the overall health and well being of young people, these Outing Clubs need to be encouraged and supported. “It is our goal to establish an Outing Club in every one of Maine’s high schools,” said Leone. “The Grants-to-Clubs program helps Outing Clubs get started and stay active.”

Teens To Trails is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit all-volunteer organization engaging Maine teens in the outdoors. T3’s goal is to establish an Outing Club in every Maine high school community, thereby promoting fun outdoor adventures, healthy lifestyles and environmental stewardship. For more information on the Grants-to-Clubs program and Teens To Trails, visit www.teenstotrails.org.