Grants for high school outing clubs available

EDGECOMB – Teens To Trails or “T3” is thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for Maine high school Outing Clubs to receive funding and gear through their “Grants-to-Clubs” program. Starting in 2008, Maine high school Outing Clubs have been awarded grants from Teens To Trails; this year, with the generous support of L.L. Bean and The North Face Explore Fund, Teens To Trails hopes to build upon this success.

The Grants-to-Clubs program is open to any high school Outing Club in Maine. Complete application guidelines are available on-line at http://www.teenstotrails.org/grants_to_clubs.html. Applications are due by December 1, and recipients will be announced by January 15, 2011. Through the Grants-to Clubs program, Outing Clubs will receive needed gear such as backpacks or snowshoes, as well as funds to help with transportation or safety and skills training for leaders.

“High school Outing Clubs are the most effective way we have found for engaging teens in their natural world, making safe outdoor experiences accessible to every student in the State,” said Carol Leone, Teens To Trails Founder. With research showing that positive outdoor experiences can fight growing trends in teen depression, suicide, unwanted pregnancies, smoking and obesity, it is all the more important to encourage teens to get out-of-doors. “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 off the ground and stay active.”

Fifteen clubs received funding last year. They were able to use this support to plan outdoor adventures throughout the school year. Cony High School and Mt Desert Island High School received new snowshoes to enhance their winter trips. Hall-Dale High School and South Portland High School both received funding to help with a cross-country ski trips. Transportation can be an obstacle for many clubs. T3 grants helped six schools cover travel costs including the new Outing Club at Mt. View High School. Sacopee Valley High School received daypacks and other gear to enhance their hiking program. Southern Aroostook High School received fly fishing rods and flies for their fly fishing program. View Flickr photos from some of these Outing Clubs.

Quick reference list:

- Caribou High School - transportation costs, compasses, rock wall outing

- Cony High School - snowshoes, passes to T3 spring conference

- Falmouth High School - transportation costs for six outing trips

- Fort Fairfield High School - transportation for UMaine Presque Isle mentoring program

- Hall-Dale High School - equipment rental for x-country ski program

- Lee Academy - 15 pair used snowshoes from L.L.Bean

- Lisbon High School - camp stove and transportation costs

- Mount Desert Island High School - snowshoes

- Mount View High School - transportation costs

- Portland High School - transportation and toboggan trip

- Rockland District High School - daypacks, transportation and fees

- Sacopee Valley High School - daypacks and gear

- South Portland High School - x-country ski program

- Southern Aroostook Community School - fly rods, tackle and water safety training

- Westbrook High School - transportation costs

Teens To Trails encourages high school Outing Clubs to apply for funding this year and plan their own outdoor adventures.

For information on the Grants-to-Clubs program, Teens To Trails and Outing Clubs, visit www.TeensToTrails.org. The Grants-to-Clubs Program is made possible in 2010 through a grant from The North Face Explore Fund and the generosity of L.L.Bean.