Sebago Lake Site Visit for #WEOUTSIDE Programs
One of the notable elements about conservation work in Maine is how much of the work gets done through partnerships, and how places across this great state are connected across the vast forests and mountains. In no area is this more clear than in the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust’s work with the #WEOUTSIDE program. Getting youth and elders from the New Mainers community out in the Maine landscape has relied on organizations (and people) who work in far southern Maine to those who work way up in the Hundred Mile Wilderness in Piscataquis County. The Maine Association for New Americans is the heart and soul of the program, working directly with community members to build #WEOUTSIDE. They rely on partners like Loon Echo Land Trust, Appalachian Mountain Club, Mt. Abram, and many more to host the program and provide recreation expertise in order to fulfill the program’s goals. We also rely on many volunteers who drive from out of state, or take days off, or pay for resources out of their own pockets, in order to make the #WEOUTSIDE programs go.
And last but not least, #WEOUTSIDE relies on organizations like The Nature Conservancy and Sebago Clean Waters who understand that having places for all Mainers, to get outside and enjoy the benefits of nature, is essential. These organizations are always working on larger opportunities to provide #WEOUTSIDE with crucial components: access to safe places, input on needs for youth and elder programming, land of their own to enjoy.
The photo above – new access to Sebago Lake – shows the continued success of these partnerships. The Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust is grateful for the support of so many people and organizations and is glad to be working with such great people.
