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.  

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

Mission

Mica Project Fund was founded to remove barriers to outdoor recreation by taking risks and investing in community-led initiatives that connect kids and families to our local landscape. We invest in projects that get kids outside—expanding access to trails, gear, and recreation spaces so every child can experience the joy and pride of growing up in Western Maine.

Vision

We envision a future where every child in Western Maine grows up with access to inspiring and inclusive outdoor spaces. Through our initiative, Maine West Project Play, we align local youth recreation opportunities with the Aspen Institute’s national Project Play framework, ensuring that all children—regardless of income—are able to get involved and stay involved in sports.

Mica Project Fund exists to take the strategic risks that other organizations cannot—bridging the gaps in infrastructure that prevent participation in the outdoors. From purchasing passenger vans to overcome transportation barriers, to developing trailhead facilities for year-round programming at Gould’s Pine Hill trail network, to advancing the long-term vision for a community recreation center, Mica invests boldly and collaboratively to remove barriers and expand access to outdoor recreation.

Values

  • Access for All – Every child deserves access to our local landscape, regardless of income, background, or ability.
  • Play as a Pathway – Recreation is not a luxury, but a vital entry point to physical health, emotional well-being, and community connection.
  • Community Collaboration – We strengthen existing programs rather than compete with them.
  • Design with Purpose – We prioritize projects that combine beauty, function, and sustainability to deepen the bond between people and place.

Goals

  • Bridge Infrastructure Gaps: Invest in creative, high-impact solutions—from vans and gear libraries to trailhead facilities and recreation spaces—that make outdoor participation possible for all.
  • Enhance Programming: Invest in the people and partnerships that align local recreation programming with the goals of the Aspen Institute’s Project Play—ensuring kids are given every opportunity to get involved and stay involved in outdoor activities and sports.
  • Expand Access: Support the design and development of inclusive outdoor recreation spaces in the Maine West region.
  • Empower Local Partners: Build capacity within our local schools, nonprofits and recreation departments to sustain programming that aligns with the goals of Project Play.
  • Build Community Through Play: Use outdoor recreation as a unifying force to strengthen families, connect generations, and grow community pride in our local landscape.