Program Development
The Healthy Hometowns Approach:
As Mainers we enjoy a rich outdoor heritage. In an era when it's easier than ever to disconnect from the outdoors, Healthy Hometowns works to reconnect our youth and families with that heritage. Learning to ski, paddling a canoe, feeling at home in the Maine woods - these skills are not only important to understanding who we are as Mainers, they are also important to developing the self-confidence required for success in life.By working with Healthy Hometowns to establish or improve outdoor programs, communities are provided curriculum, equipment, program leader workshops, and on-site technical assistance. Our goal is to develop community-based programming across the state that meets the following critical success factors:
- Accessible - Programs supported by Healthy Hometowns ensure that barriers such as cost, transportation and prior experience are not prohibitive factors.
- Sustainable - By establishing collaborative community partnerships Healthy Hometowns ensures programs are offered season to season, year after year. This guarantees there is always an entry point to an active, outdoor lifestyle.
- High Quality - It is not enough to simply put a child in a kayak and hope they become a lifelong paddler. We help to ensure successful programs by providing thorough curriculum guides, leadership training and quality equipment all designed to create powerful experiences for participants.
What is a Healthy Hometowns Youth Program?
Our goal is to see consistent, effective programming offered in communities throughout the state that introduces youth and families to the outdoors. Working with schools, recreation departments, clubs and other organizations we strive to develop programming that meet the following requirements:- 2 to 8 weeks in length (4 to 16 sessions)
- Targeting youth from 4th to 8th grade
- Remove barriers such as cost and transportation
- Supported by Healthy Hometowns Curriculum
- Run by program leaders that have attended leader workshops
- Collaborative effort between schools, recreation departments, clubs and other key organizations
Youth programs directory
Coming Soon.
Curriculum:
Working with other leaders in outdoor recreation, Healthy Hometowns has developed curriculum guides to support a variety of co- and extra-curricular programming for youth. These guides are designed to serve as a supplement to the program leader workshops offered each season. To download a curriculum guide click on the link:
