Now more than ever, in the face of a climate crisis, young people need to be in, learn about, and connect more with the outdoors. In our society we are at risk of raising a generation of young people with few meaningful connections to the land. If kids have no attachment to place, there will be no reason to stay and care of the land in Maine. This is not only a problem for conservation organizations, but also for the communities in the region. We have many compelling places to learn about the importance of local ecosystems and the connections we have to our land.

As conservation organizations, we are keenly aware that our ability to fulfill our larger conservation mission depends on younger people learning about and caring for the land in the future. They will need both the technical understanding of nature and a sense of wonder for nature! Creating the next generation of stewards is our intention for the benefit of our communities.