The Center is proud to announce 12 recipients of this year’s Community Outdoor Recreation grants. The program, funded by L.L. Bean, aims to increase youth access to the outdoors and foster stewardship ethics.  

“This was our largest applicant pool ever, with 84 applications received from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York,” said Center Outdoor Recreation Manager Joe Fox. “Funding requests exceeded available funding by a ratio of 6:1, highlighting the need in the region as well as the value of grant programs like this.” 

The Center prioritized granting the awards, which were capped at $3,000, to small groups for which funding would have a significant impact. Funds will support activities including trail stewardship skills development, canoeing, mountain biking, alpine and Nordic skiing, archery, and hiking. Together, these grants will give hundreds of young people in the Northern Forest opportunities to explore and enjoy the outdoors.

Value of Outdoor Opportunities for Youth

“This program fits into the Center’s overall body of work to strengthen communities, foster a forest stewardship ethic, and strengthen the economy,” said Fox. “The youth served by this program are the future leaders of their communities and stewards of the Northern Forest. By exposing young people to the many ways to engage in the outdoors, we greatly increase the chance that they become the next generation of volunteer stewards, trail managers, guides, or other outdoor recreation professionals. No matter what career they choose, they will have greater appreciation and more motivation to protect the natural resources that life in our Northern Forest communities are centered around.”  

Eastern Slope Ski Club in North Conway, NH received a grant to replace and upgrade a fleet of low-cost alpine and Nordic rental gear for youth in the Mount Washington Valley. “Although the Mount Washington Valley is widely known as a recreation destination, many residents face financial barriers to participating in skiing,” said executive committee member Joe Yahna. “The club’s Junior Program provides every local student in first through eighth grades with weekly alpine skiing/snowboarding and Nordic skiing opportunities.

Wabanaki Youth in Science in Old Town, Maine received support for their culturally–grounded youth canoe program. “By providing safe, culturally grounded access to the water through experienced instruction and Wabanaki cultural knowledge, youth will build confidence, skills, and a deeper sense of responsibility to care for these places while enjoying time together,” said executive director Jennifer Galipeau. “This work helps ensure the next generation carries forward the understanding that water is central to their identity and to all relations that rely on healthy waterways.”   

 

Jude Kennen, a wilderness and science teacher at the Parishville-Hopkinton Central School District in New York, shared: “This project is vital to our school and community because it expands safe, equitable access to outdoor education for all students, regardless of economic background.” The Center is helping the district purchase high–quality gear for students in wilderness programs to use.

This is the fourth round of grants the Center has awarded to community-driven recreation projects. With support from LL Bean, RK Mellon, and the Center’s own Northern Forest Fund, the Center has supported 58 projects with over $200,000 of funding to increase youth access to outdoor recreation. 

2026 Grants Awarded

Maine 

  • Cobscook Institute: New canoes and life jackets for experiential high school and summer programs and new ski boots and poles to support winter programming.  

New Hampshire 

  • Eastern Slope Ski Club in North Conway, NH: Replace and upgrade a fleet of low-cost alpine and Nordic rental gear for youth in the Mount Washington Valley.  
  • Coos Cycling Club in Gorham, NH in Gorham, NH: Support for a summer youth mountain bike camp.

Vermont 

  • Canaan Community Forest: Support for a new series of family-friendly community events on a 368-acre Community Forest.

New York 

  • Shredders MTB in Saratoga Springs, NY: Support for several sessions of “Shredders Trail Stewardship” camp, engaging youth mountain bikers in trail work.