Hearty Roots helps kids extend experiential learning at Boothbay Region Elementary School with an Outing Club designed to connect youth with nature and each other. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday students in grade 5 through grade 8 meet immediately after school and explore the woods behind campus until 4:30 p.m. On Thursdays, the adventures start earlier to accommodate early-release day. Hearty Roots facilitators Misha Barker and Halie Ross lead hiking excursions on the cross-country trails around campus that hold endless possibilities for fun and adventure. Together, the group explores wood carving, building forest forts, and even snowball challenges. “There’s always something new to do at Outing Club,” says participant Jillian Higgins, “and you can always hear someone laughing here.”

In true Hearty Roots fashion, all programming is done outdoors in all seasons. To find out more about the Hearty Roots Outing Club, contact Amanda at amanda@heartyroots.org so your child’s one step closer to building the forts of their dreams, learning how to start a campfire with flint and steel, and revitalizing their imagination in the restorative cradle of nature.  

Hearty Roots is committed to improving childhood experiences while increasing youth exposure to nature, gratitude, and land stewardship. They welcome you to stop by their office headquarters at 18 Water Street, an in-town presence made possible by the generous, community-minded team at First National Bank. Hearty Roots adventures occur on local school campuses, Lincoln County waterways, and at the Hearty Roots Campus for Mindful Adventure in Bremen—a land acquisition made possible by community support. Head on over to heartyroots.org for information on upcoming events, Hearty Roots year-round programming, in-school offerings, adult saunters, supporting the organization, or sponsoring a child’s hearty adventure through scholarship. The team at Hearty Roots can’t wait to join you in Maine’s wild, where journeys overlap.