About

“Maine West Project Play” was founded as a response to the covid pandemic.  The social-emotional development setbacks in children resulting from the isolation of quarantine are well documented.  We believe that in western Maine we have one of the best tools imaginable to address the post-pandemic challenges facing our kids – access to the natural world.  We are working to create opportunities for cohorts of kids to explore the outdoors and develop the skills to cope with challenges, to bond with each other, and to be leaders in their community. 

In most communities, access to high-quality recreation opportunities has barriers to entry: exorbitant program fees, expensive equipment needs, or schedules that require a parent to dedicate working hours to get their kid to and from the programming.  ‘Maine West Project Play’ is not seeking to create new stand-alone programming.  Our goal is to bolster the programs that already work directly with kids to help them reach the goals of The Aspen Institute’s “Project Play.”

Our most successful collaboration to date has been with Mahoosuc Kids Association, which provides after-school care at Crescent Park School, our local elementary school. Together we offer mountain biking and XC skiing programming to our community.  

Mission

Maine West Project Play seeks to build healthy communities through sports. We are committed to working with our partners to increase youth participation in sports in our community.

“Sport for All, Play for Life” – Aspen Institute Project Play