Local student attends
Healthy Hometowns Teen Leadership Expedition
DEBSCONEAG LAKES — Nine Maine high school students and three leaders from Healthy Hometowns recently took part in a six-day backcountry canoe and hiking adventure into the Debsconeag Lakes and 100-Mile Wilderness region southwest of Baxter State Park.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Jacobs
Jacob Canney (Mars Hill), Natalie Palmer (Manchester), and Ivy Enoch (Farmington) — pictured from left to right — participants in the Healthy Hometowns’ Teen Leadership Expedition, consult the map during a paddle across Third Debsconeag Lake.
The trip was part of Adventure Initiative, a leadership development program through Healthy Hometowns that aims to increase knowledge, skill and appreciation for backcountry travel. The nine high school students were chosen out of a field of applicants that expressed interest in learning more about wilderness leadership and bringing their newfound knowledge back to their own communities. Another Maine organization, Teens to Trails, assisted by sharing information about the trip with high school outing clubs around the state. Participants — all entering grades 10 through 12 — had wide geographic representation, hailing from Fort Kent, Mars Hill, Hampden, Farmington, Hallowell, Farmingdale, Winthrop, Manchester, and Windham. Mars Hill student Jacob Canney was among the participants selected for the expedition.
The backcountry adventure featured a number of physically demanding challenges, including four portages along trails between the Debsconeag Lakes. Beyond the daily physical challenges, participants took on leadership roles for backcountry tasks such as treating water, making meals and setting up camp. They also presented mini lessons to the group in areas of importance, including minimal-impact techniques related to camp selection, fire building and trail use.
“We knew that parts of this trip would be challenging, but we believed this group would be capable of tackling it head-on,” said Healthy Hometowns coach Lauren Jacobs. “We were right. These nine students worked hard, supported one another and did a great job of dealing with terrain and weather challenges. Now we are excited to see the participants share their enthusiasm and knowledge of wilderness experiences back to their home towns.”
After returning home from the adventure, participants will begin work on an outdoor-based service project in their own communities. The trip leaders from Healthy Hometowns — Mike Smith, Josh Firmin and Jacobs — will work with participants individually to see these service projects come to fruition.
Healthy Hometowns is the community development division of the Maine Winter Sports Center. The mission of Healthy Hometowns is to empower communities to embrace a healthy, active, outdoor lifestyle year-round. Four critical areas of focus ensure success: Leadership Development, Club Development, Trail and Facility Development, and Program Development. More information can be found at www.mainewsc.org/healthy-hometowns.
