An appreciation of the outdoors gained at a young age can shape a lifetime. As the local land trust in eastern Hancock County, we believe it is our responsibility to provide opportunities for future generations to connect with, and learn from, the land that we help protect.

It can be a challenge for schools to include outdoor, place-based experiences into a regular school day, and students ultimately miss opportunities to establish deeper connections with the land. Place-based educational experiences are important because they build students’ capacity for empathy, verbal communication, resilience, curiosity, and fine motor skills.

We partner with local business Maine Outdoor School, L3C to provide sustainable and equitable nature-based education opportunities in every public elementary school within our service region. 

FBC’s approach inspires students and their families to recognize the assets of Downeast Maine and encourages them to become more engaged in conservation, and with their communities.