The first summer of the #WEOUTSIDE Elders program was a resounding success! The Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust would like to thank our partners the Maine Association for New Americans for creating this program and allowing MATLT to help in getting these older New Mainers into the outdoors. This summer’s trips with the group included:
- BBQ at Sebago Lake State Park
- Reid Beach State Park with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for tidepooling
- Berry picking and ATV riding at the Perham Stream Birding Trail
- Foraging at Crystal Spring Farm
- A visit to Parkman Hill Farm with Somerset Woods Trustees
- Touring the lakes region with Loon Echo Land Trust
- Hiking with Portland Trails
- A visit with the Wabanaki at Niweskok
- An upcoming overnight trip at Camp Kieve
These trips were all specially designed for a group that might have some mobility challenges, but they have endless curiosity about the outdoor world an a wealth of knowledge about nature from their countries of origin. We love to run youth programs to capture the future, but it is also essential to maintain the present and ensure that valuable community knowledge is allowed to flourish. Hopefully the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust can run this program in the future!