Second Nature Adventure Challenge
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Second Nature Adventure Challenges are a great way to combine healthy outdoor activities with support for local service organizations. Twice a year, Maine West sets a community activity goal and encourages local residents to work together to reach the goal and secure funding support for local non-profit groups. Our motto is: Give Back When You Get Outside!
The 2024 Summer Challenge is open now until October 12th! The goal is for Maine West area residents to log 1,350 activies. If we reach the goal beneficiaries of the 2024 Summer Second Nature Challenge will each receive $1,000 in contributions. This year’s beneficiaries include:
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Since 2020, more than 1,425 people have teamed up to complete over 2,000 outdoor trail activities and secure $32,600 in community reward funding for food pantries and local afterschool programs in Western Maine. Recipients of the 2024 Winter Challenge included:
- Woodstock Elementary School to help fund a new set of snowshoes for K-5 students,
- Chisholm Ski Club to support Alpine and Nordic skiing for River Valley youth, and
- Oxford Hills School District to help purchase a new set of snowshoes for Pre-K students.
“Our kids, along with our staff, families, and community got outside for an awesome cause,” said Mahoosuc Kids Association Director Amy Connell. “What a way to promote health and well-being, and celebrate Maine, the incredible place we all call home.”
Click Here to learn more about upcoming Second Nature Adventure Challenges.
Click Here to learn more about upcoming Second Nature Adventure Challenges.
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For up to date information and photos, follow SNAC on Facebook!
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Recovery Outings
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Building on a series of successful pilot outings in 2022, the Recovery Outings Program is now in its third year of offering activities. These supported outings get adults in recovery – and their family and friends – together outdoors for fun activities in safe spaces. For up to date information on outings, see the HILLS Recovery Center event page. Participants can learn new skills, like fishing and cross-country skiing, or simply enjoy outdoor activities in community with others. Local partners working to make these outings possible include the Oxford County Wellness Collaborative, the Western Maine Addiction Recovery Initiative, and the Larry Labonte Recovery Center. For more information, contact Brendan Schauffler at [email protected].
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Summer Outings for Youth
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Two Maine West high schools – Mountain Valley in Rumford, and Dirigo in Dixfield – are providing skills-based summer-camp type experiences for high school students to support a healthy, substance-free lifestyle. Students learn to mountain bike, paddle a canoe, hike, camp, cook outdoors, and take care of each other through this program. The programs vary in length and focus but are all focused on empowering youth through outdoor experiences, peer-to-peer connections, and relationships with adult mentors.
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Outings for Older Adults
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The River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition is offering Wellness Walks for people over 50 in the River Valley for the third year in a row. The spring program ran for 6 weeks and session 2 will run from September 4 to October 9, 2024. Participants meet at Hosmer Field at 5pm each Wednesday and receive water bottles, fanny packs, cooling towels, spf lip balm along with health fruit snacks. For more information, contact Allie Burke at [email protected].
The Oxford Hills Summer Outing Program piloted in 2023 and is offering a series of weekly walks and hikes. 
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