Learn How These 2023 grantees used their funds to expand access and engage more children in outdoor activities

This grant allowed for the purchase of 10 sets of snowshoes and travel bags to help ensure ease of delivery throughout the county. This was the first step in building a stainable plan for outdoor winter recreation offerings and were added to our lending library resource, which is a lending system for all ACAP physical activity and nutrition resources available to children, families, and organized groups including early childhood education sites.

Bangor Parks and Recreation purchased 4 mountain bikes of different sizes that will be used for many years to come.

We hold two winter events – Family Ice Fishing Day and Winter Camp. Family Ice Fishing Day is a free public event where everything is provided to have an enjoyable day of ice-fishing. All holes, tip-ups, bait and a hot dog lunch are provided at no expense. WinterKids grant monies were utilized for supplies needed to make the events a success!

Mariners Soar! used the Downhill 24 funds to purchase repair tools and a storage shed for our school’s new mountain bikes, which are used by every DISES middle schooler, as well as students in grades 3 and up in the after school program at all of our sites- Deer Isle, Sedgwick, and Brooklin- at least once a week from September-December and March-June.

The WinterKids Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund grant went directly to supporting Pine Tree Camp’s open door policy, allowing Maine children with disabilities the opportunity to have barrier-free outdoor access through traditional summer camp programming and family programming in all four seasons – regardless of their ability to pay tuition.

This $500 award was used to help support the Quarry Road Ski Club’s youth Nordic ski program, which helped 65 kids get outside and active this winter in central Maine.

Rangeley Lakes Regional School was so pleased to receive the Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund grant for this year. We used the funds to help support our students get outside in fun and motivating ways.

We used the $5K to purchase stand up paddle boards for the community. We were able to purchase 5 of the 10′ boards from L.L. Bean. These also came with the appropriate paddles and leashes.

South Portland Middle School used their $10,000 grant through the 2023 Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund to purchase XC Ski gear, allowing them to expand their after school ski program.

The money we received from WinterKids supported our Fall programs to connect Maine’s middle and high school students with the outdoors. We work with 62 middle and high schools across Maine in every county except Knox.

The Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund grant was used to purchase a rope tow, revitalize the Millinocket Ski Tow. This project will go live for use December 2024. The rope tow will be free for use of anyone in the region.