A Day of Winter Sports Fun
February 20, 2018
On Friday, February 16th, Princeton Elementary School students were treated to a “Winter Sports Day,” learning how to use snowshoes, cross-country skis, and ice skates. Downeast Lakes Land Trust (DLLT) sponsored the day-long event, receiving partial grant funding from the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend’s (GMOW) School Partnerships Fund. The Great Maine Outdoor Weekend is a project of the Maine Outdoor Coalition, a group of organizations around the state of Maine that sponsor outdoor events and education programs. Now offering two full weeks per year of events, this winter’s GMOW ran from February 9 – 19.
Washington County Community College’s Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC) provided their gear trailer for the event, filled with winter outdoor equipment for all grades to try out during the day. DLLT Education and Outreach Manager Colin Brown and OAC staff Spencer McCormick helped provide instruction to P.E.S. students, and older students had a hand in teaching the younger grades. Even the Pre-K and Kindergarten students had their 7thand 8th grade “bus buddies” out to help them get on cross-country skis for the first time. With warmer-than-average temperatures on the horizon, snowy conditions held up for the event, and students had a great time exploring the outdoors from a new perspective.
Downeast Lakes Land Trust works with several local schools in Washington County, providing unique environmental education programs for students. In addition, public programs that highlight the natural and cultural history of the Downeast Lakes region are held throughout the year. To find out what’s happening next, please visit www.downeastlakes.org.
For more information about the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend, visit www.greatmaineoutdoorweekend.org.
For more information about WCCC’s Outdoor Adventure Center, visit http://www.wccc.me.edu/student-life/outdoor-adventure-center/.
