••

The Winter #WEOUTSIDE program hosted a graduation lunch for the participants and their families recently, in order to celebrate their accomplishment in completing the program. The program was started in 2023 by the Maine Association for New Americans, with assistance from the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust, and has continued across four cohorts of kids through all seasons. (MANA has also started several adjacent programs for moms, elders, and academic achievers.)

It is important to celebrate the accomplishments of the kids in the program – sometimes it can be hard to step outside our own experiences and not just think “well, they were outside having fun”. These kids have braved trying circumstances to arrive in Maine, have lived in unstable housing situations (at best), are learning a new language and culture, and then we took them out in the cold and snow to learn about the outdoors in Maine. They could have stayed home but made a choice to head out with the #WEOUTSIDE program to learn so many new things – from what to wear in the cold and snow to how to be safe in remote areas of Maine. They had tons of fun along the way but have learned skills that can get them ready for their lives and futures in Maine.

The Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust is proud to participate in this great program with MANA!