Grants-to-Clubs: Our Recipients

2011-12 GRANTS AWARDED

2011-12 grants were made possible by ongoing support from L.L.Bean and a generous grant from The Old Bug Light Charitable Foundation ~ THANK YOU!

Congratulations to our newest grantees...

Biddeford High School, Cony High School, Deer Isle-Stonington High School, Deering High School, Dirigo High School, Maine Central Institute, Maine School of Science & Mathematics, Portland High School, South Portland High School, The New School and Thornton Academy.

These 11 schools were awarded grants totaling $5,000 including support for the start up of four brand new Outing Club programs! For some schools, assistance with transportation costs helped to eliminate one huge hurdle these schools face in getting their students outdoors. For others, these grants allowed Outing Clubs to purchase needed gear, extend their activity season to include winter months, and ensure trips are accessible to all students regardless of their financial situation. “We believe that an outdoor experience is an excellent way of developing mind, body, and character of students at our school. We look forward to seeing students continue to challenge themselves and to grow through exposure to the outdoors,” writes Ira Waltz, Principal at Deering High School. Britton Wolfe, Principal at Biddeford High School has started a new Outing Club this year because “the Outing Club is an opportunity for students to be involved with pro-social fun activities, have adult mentors, develop positive relationships, learn leadership skills, develop skills in lifelong sports, and make a difference in their community. It is a win-win-win-win-win-win.” Alex Mitchell, who oversees the Thorton Academy Outing Club explained that “gear purchased (with grant funds) can be used for years to come and help the club maintain a solid presence in the school in the future.” Teens To Trails was so happy to help!

2011-2012 Grant Recipients Announced!

17 OUTING CLUBS BENEFIT from 2010-11 GRANTS

...from all parts of Maine ~ 2010-11 grants were made possible by ongoing support from L.L.Bean and a grant to T3 from The North Face Explore Fund ~ THANK YOU!

These 17 schools were awarded outdoor gear and/or funds totaling almost $9,000 from Teens To Trails to help more teens get active outside. T3 received 26 applications, including 11 brand new Outing Club programs! Gear awards included tents, snowshoes, backpacks, GPS units, and emergency medical kits – all from L.L.Bean. Cash awards are helping to cover growing transportation costs which has become one of the biggest hurdles facing Outing Clubs today. Read news article

Congratulations to...

Boothbay Region High School, Bucksport High School, Cape Elizabeth High School, Central High School, Cony High School, Dirigo High School, East Grand School, Greely High School, Greenville High School, Maine Central Institute, Monmouth Academy, Mount Blue High School, Mount View High School, Scarborough High School, Waterville High School, Wiscasset High School, and Yarmouth High School.

2010-2011 Grant Recipients Announced!

2009-10 GRANTS REACH 15 HIGH SCHOOLS

...with the generous support of L.L.Bean and the Quimby Family Foundation and additional help from Horny Toad's Freeport Store, Norway Savings Bank, Northeast Bank, Bangor Savings Bank, and The North Face.

We had 25 grant requests, more than double the previous year's number. Grant support totaled almost $7,000 for Outing Clubs to help get more students outdoors! 2009-10 recipients include Caribou High School, Cony High School, Falmouth High School, Fort Fairfield High School, Hall-Dale High School, Lee Academy, Lisbon High School, Mount Desert Island High School, Mount View High School, Portland High School, Rockland District High School, Sacopee Valley High School, South Portland High School, Southern Aroostook Community School, and Westbrook High School. We were thrilled with the establishment of five brand new Outing Club programs and the leadership role that students have played in the development of these outdoor programs.

2009-2010 Grant Recipients Announced!

2008-09 GRANTS - A HUGE SUCCESS

Through the generosity of L.L.Bean and the Horizon Foundation, we were able to support 8 Outing Club programs.

This was our first attempt to provide direct support to Outing Clubs and it was received with enthusiasm. Congratulations to Brunswick High School Outing Club, Deering Outing Club, East Grand School, Fort Kent Community High School Outing Club, Maine School for Science and Mathematics/Limestone Community School Outing Club, Monmouth Academy Outing Club, Thornton Outdoor Adventure Club and Yarmouth Outing Club! Most of these Clubs are brand new & several were initiated by students. We were pleased to help. Read news article

2008-2009 Grant Recipients Announced!

Hear what recipients have to say:

The funds provided by our grant will make a big difference in the types of outdoor activities that we can offer our participants and in the numbers of students who will be able to experience the outdoors in these new and exciting ways.

~ B. Davis, Westbrook HS Trailblazers Outing Club Advisor

These funds will be amazing in helping to make our Outing Club trips more available to all of our students. In fact, I know of a student that will be able to go on this coming weekend’s trip because of this grant.

~ B. Keith, Lisbon HS Outing Club Advisor

If we can make it easier for even one student to try something he or she has never tried before, then I would call our year a success.

~ C. Westerfield, Yarmouth Outing Club President

These packs will enable students this year and in the future to experience the outdoors in ways they never have before.

~ M. Morrison, Bucksport High Schools Outing Club Advisor

It is nice to know that there are still organizations who deem it important and worthwhile to get young people outside to foster the experiences that can only be found in the solace and challenge of exploring trails of all kinds.

~ T. Tierney, Mount Blue’s Youth Expeditions to Ignite Advisor

My Outing Club experience this year has really opened my eyes to all that Maine has to offer and encouraged me to take my new found passion and introduce it to my family. I honestly don't think that I would have had the confidence or knowledge to do it without the skills that I've learned from my classmates and Advisor. Outing Club has really changed my whole high school experience.

~ R. Wommack, Outing Club Member

We believe that an outdoor experience is an excellent way of developing mind, body, and character of students at our school. We look forward to seeing students continue to challenge themselves and to grow through exposure to the outdoors.

~ I. Waltz, Principal, Deering High School

The Outing Club is an opportunity for students to be involved with pro-social fun activities, have adult mentors, develop positive relationships, learn leadership skills, develop skills in lifelong sports, and make a difference in their community. It is a win-win-win-win-win-win.

~ B. Wolfe, Principal & Outing Club Advisor, Biddeford High School

Gear purchased (with grant funds) can be used for years to come and help the club maintain a solid presence in the school in the future.

~ A. Mitchell, who oversees the Thorton Academy Outing Club