Outdoor Education

2024 Summer Trips paid for by Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative

East Grand School, through the Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative* and in partnership with Canoe the Wild Guide Service, Maine Family Resource Center, and the Living Waters Wilderness Program, is providing outdoor education offerings to students grades 6-12 that will explore ways to connect student aspirations, and the leadership skills they are developing through OE experiences, to an array of Maine’s natural resource career opportunities. Multiple opportunities will be intentionally highlighted throughout all EGS outdoor education experiences, providing students with a chance to learn from, and ask questions of natural resource professionals, in addition to witnessing those professionals as they put their skills to practice. All offerings will create student leadership opportunities (ELOs) that provide practice and prepare these future leaders for real world leadership roles as wilderness guides.

For more details and to apply for any of the listed offerings, click on the name of the offering of interest.

The Big Eddy Trip is a highly successful three day adventure designed for up to 30 middle school students in grades 6-8 from East Grand School. This immersive experience takes place in the heart of Maine's wilderness, along the West Branch of the Penobscot River, with the majestic Mount Katahdin casting its shadow over the landscape. During this experience, middle school students develop new skills while putting their existing skills to use, under the leadership of experienced Registered Maine Guides and ELO leaders. Students learn to set up camp and throughout the trip engage in various exciting nature and forest ecology based hiking explorations, white water canoeing, and white water rafting. Throughout the experience, students learn from a variety of special guests ranging from Game Wardens to alumni of the school. Prior to the trip up to five ELO students will be selected as Student-Leaders. They will help plan logistics and activities for the trip as well as being actively involved in meal preparation, clean-up, campsite set-up and take-down, and maintaining overall student safety.

The Middle School Leadership Academy offers up to 25 students in grades 6-8, who typically lack access to structured and safe outdoor education programming in the summer, a week of enjoyable and enriching skill-building activities at no cost to them. Students will be introduced to and practice essential outdoor learning skills, learning how effective collaboration and perseverance lead to accomplishment. These skills will prepare them for future outdoor adventures, such as the Big Eddy trip and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway trip. Five ELO Student-Leader positions will assist with the Leadership Academy design and implementation. Those Student-Leaders will hone leadership skills as mentors, helping to prepare middle schoolers with outdoor education skills such as canoe/paddling, tent set up, campsite and campfire safety, water safety, outdoor cooking, fire building, knot tying, and wilderness survival.

St. Croix Whitewater Clinic - This opportunity allows 15 rising 9th grade students and 5 ELO high school students the opportunity to take two school days this Spring to participate in a two part whitewater clinic, covering 10 miles on the beautiful St. Croix River in Vanceboro, Maine. Students will learn practical river navigation skills as well as learn about the current role of the St. Croix River in local and international affairs. Students who participate in both trips may be offered the opportunity to serve as an ELO student on the upcoming Big Eddy camping trip.

Allagash Wilderness Waterway - This oppurtunity consists of two 5-day wilderness adventures for up to 10 students per trip, 2 spaces each trip are reserved for Extended Learning Opportunity Student-Leaders (ELO) who choose to demonstrate their leadership skills as mentors and apprentices to the experienced guide services leading each trip. The remaining 8 spaces (per trip) will be open to all 9th and 10th grade students in the region. The objectives of each trip are threefold: to fortify the skills acquired in outdoor education classes, to provide students lacking these skills an opportunity to learn from seasoned mentors and leaders, and to acquaint students with diverse professions available to them should they opt to pursue a livelihood in the Maine woods.

American Rescue Plan Act GEER, Reverted EANS Funding received from the USDOE support the implementation of this project. The project has an award totaling $6.6 million dollars of which 100% is federally funded and directly attributed to project implementation. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the USDOE or the U.S. Government.