Second Annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit Empowers Maine Students with Disabilities to Dream Big

(Students from the Winslow High School Cheerleading Team pose with Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.)

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education held its second annual “I Belong” Youth Summit at Central Maine Community College on Thursday, May 29. This event brought together students from across the state with individualized education plans (IEPs) for a day dedicated to empowerment, connection, and celebration of student voice. Student participants ranged in age from 10 to 22 years old.

The summit is an initiative that happens through the Transition Maine program, which was developed by the Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education to provide accessible and inclusive transition services for students moving from high school into adulthood. The Executive Student Transition Committee, a team of students who assist with the Transition Maine program, plays a large role in the organization of this event, designed to amplify the voices of youth with varying abilities.“To see our students meaningfully engage and included in hands-on activities to help them imagine their future makes me and our team very proud,” Executive Student Transition Committee Co-Chair Connor Archer said, reflecting on the success of the summit. “As someone who received special education services right here in Maine, I know how unique and powerful this experience is.”

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows kicked off the summit by speaking with students about Maine’s new accessible voting machines, known as the ExpressVote.

The system allows voters to mark their ballots using a touchscreen or keypad, and it includes audio instructions for those who are visually impaired. It then prints a paper ballot that can be scanned and counted. Bellows emphasized the importance of civic participation and ensuring that all Mainers, including those with disabilities, have full access to the process.

The daylong event allowed students to discover post-secondary opportunities through engaging, hands-on activities. Career paths in trades, culinary arts, agriculture, health care, media, and more were highlighted throughout the day. Students practiced knife skills with chefs, pulled lobsters from traps, and planted vegetables. They participated in Central Maine Power’s “Safety City” demonstration, regarding safety around power lines, and joined the Maine DOE Rethinking Responsive Education Ventures (RREV) team, along with the Student Leadership Ambassadors of Maine (SLAM) from Nokomis High School, for mock media interviews, designed for those interested in journalism and broadcasting.

L.L. Bean introduced the students to the world of retail through an interactive clothing activity that focused on merchandising and apparel knowledge. The iconic “Bootmobile” was also on display, drawing students in and sparking conversations about careers in retail and outdoor recreation.

“I want to become an EMT. If that doesn’t work out, I want to work in a mortuary,” Abagail Giles, a student from Stearns High School, shared in an interview with NEWS CENTER Maine.

Educators and business partners at the summit emphasized the importance of creating inclusive pathways to employment.

“There is a ton of value, skill, brainpower, and I think it’s essential not to exclude a segment of the population,” Kim Cotta, Talent Development Manager at Darling’s Auto Group, said.

Titus O’Rourke, the Transition Specialist with the Maine DOE, emphasized the goal of the event in an interview with NEWS CENTER Maine: “[These students] belong in every single career pathway, and it’s important for students to understand what is available to them.”

By connecting students with real-world experiences and professional mentors, the “I Belong” Youth Summit helps to ensure that all Maine students with IEPs have the tools and confidence they need to shape their futures.

The third annual “I Belong” Youth Summit is set to take place in the Bangor area next spring. Due to the strong student participation from across the state for this event, Transition Maine and the Executive Student Transition Committee have plans to expand the “I Belong” Youth Summit.

For more information about the Maine DOE Transition Maine program, click here. Educators interested in connecting with someone about the Transition Maine program may contact her Titus O’Rourke at titus.orourke@maine.gov.

Empowering Students: Workforce Development and the Dignity of Risk

Pictured (left to right): John Post, Kameron King, Danica Wooster, Kay Fearon, and Arnold Bulley.

At the core of teaching is a central question: How can we ensure that every student gets the best education possible? This was the theme of the Maine Department of Education’s Inclusive Education Conference, focused on supporting students with disabilities throughout their pre-K-12 schooling and into meaningful adult lives.

Held at the Augusta Civic Center, the conference provided an opportunity for attendees to sit in on a variety of panels and workshops, centered around some key questions: How can we rethink classroom spaces to make them more accessible to students who are receiving special education services? How can we rework individualized education plans (IEPs) to ensure inclusion across all settings? How can we ensure that students with disabilities have the same opportunities in school as other students?

One such panel was on the topic of “Dignity of Risk for Students with Disabilities.” The panelists included a variety of people from different backgrounds, including educators, employers, employment specialists, and a young employee with lived experience, each offering valuable perspectives on how risk impacts the development and success of students with disabilities.

Liam Danaher, ELO Coordinator at Noble High School discusses the dignity of risk and supporting students in their journey with career exploration — *Liam Danaher, ELO Coordinator at Noble High School, discusses the dignity of risk and supporting students in their journey with career exploration.*

Janet May, Coordinator of Transition and Adults at the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, opened the discussion asking panelists, “What is dignity of risk?” Each panelist responded with varying perspectives on the discussion; however, a common thread emerged: Students should be allowed to take risks, make mistakes, and fail, because it is often in that moment of failure that people truly grow. Panelist John Post, a vocational rehabilitation counselor said, “It is okay to have a negative impact from a risk. What’s important is to learn how to come back from it.”

Each panelist shared their own experiences, encouraging students to embrace manageable risks. Kamron King, who works in an apprenticeship program for high-skilled labor jobs, shared that starting out in the program was tough, but being allowed to fail helped him to grow. Danica Wooster, a Student Support Specialist at the Mid-Coast School of Technology, is a woman working in a male-dominated field. She emphasized the importance of pushing yourself and learning from personal challenges; Arnold Bulley, a Human Resources and Safety Manager at Shiretown Solutions in Houlton, noted that he always sets goals for students to help them grow, letting them take risks. Liam Danaher, Extended Learning Opportunities Coordinator at Noble High School, recalled his six-year-old son learning how to mountain bike with the mantra, “No risk, no reward.”

The panel went on to address many other questions about the balance between growth and support. In the end, it was a productive conversation about how to tackle these delicate and necessary challenges.

Another panel question involved striking the right balance between providing necessary support, while still allowing for the dignity of risk and personal growth. As discussed by Wooster and Danaher, this balance is rooted in the belief that meaningful learning and growth happen through experience, especially through mistakes. The support should be individualized and dynamic, adapting to each student’s needs. King’s experience further emphasized this. He talked about how his vocational rehabilitation counselor supported him in his journey to becoming a welder at a shipyard, which, with many ups and downs, demonstrates how support helps individuals to flourish.

Bulley added, “To me, a balanced support means pulling back on those parents and job coaches and employment specialists in order to let a person learn and grow.”

Ultimately, balancing support with risk is about building a toolkit that, as Kay Fearon, Diversified Occupations Instructor at Portland Arts and Technology High School described, helps students to adapt and find their own ways of achieving success, even in the face of limitations and challenges.

Conference panelists emphasized that it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach; it’s about guiding students to recognize their strengths, confront their fears, and know that setbacks are part of the path to confidence, independence, and personal fulfillment.

For both employers and individuals alike, inclusive workplaces are essential. When people with disabilities and other diverse backgrounds are fully included, organizations across industries unlock greater potential—for their teams, individual employees, and the broader workforce.

This article was written by Vagni Das, a rising senior at Yarmouth High School. As part of her extended learning experience, she is working as an intern at the Maine DOE.

Reminder: School Registration Open for Second Annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit

Are you ready to open doors to boundless possibilities for your students? Consider registering for the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education’s (OSSIE) second annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit, scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Maine Community College.

This Summit invites schools across Maine to join a transformative initiative, designed specifically for students with disabilities who are at the age of transitioning from school to their future. This dynamic gathering goes beyond traditional career fairs to offer meaningful exploration, skill-building, and work-based learning opportunities, tailored to each student’s interests and abilities.

Making a Difference Together

By participating in this summit, you become part of a statewide movement to reshape post-secondary pathways for ALL Maine students with disabilities. Your involvement creates ripple effects of opportunity:

Students discover career paths they may never have considered, building confidence and practical skills for their future.
Educators gain valuable resources, evidence-based practices, and direct connections with industry partners.
Businesses develop tomorrow’s workforce, while fulfilling community engagement goals.

Join the Movement

Help your students find where they belong in Maine’s future workforce. The ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit provides a student-centered environment for youth to explore career pathways at their own pace, connect with potential employers, and envision new possibilities for their lives after school.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of something extraordinary! Together, we can create a more inclusive, opportunity-rich future for Maine’s students with disabilities.

Maine middle and high schools may register their students here if they plan to bring them to the second annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit.

For more information, please contact Maine DOE Transition Specialist Titus O’Rourke at titus.orourke@maine.gov.

MEDIA RELEASE: Hundreds of Students, Guests Attend 95th Annual Maine FFA State Convention

The two-day event, themed, “Plowing New Paths, Harvesting Dreams,” celebrated youth leadership in agriculture and natural resources.

The Maine FFA Association proudly concluded its 95th annual State Convention on May 9, 2025, following two vibrant days of student-led events, competitions, and career development activities held in the Greater Bangor/Orono region. Hosted primarily at the University of Maine campus in Orono, the convention welcomed more than 300 FFA members, advisors, guests, and supporters from across the state.

This year’s convention theme, “Plowing New Paths, Harvesting Dreams,” guided a full schedule of programming that highlighted youth leadership, innovation in agriculture, and meaningful community engagement. The event featured career and leadership development opportunities in 19 unique areas, including, but not limited to, environmental science, veterinary science, public speaking, floriculture, and tractor driving. Students also participated in community service projects with Maine Harvest for Hunger, the Bangor Humane Society, and Good Shepherd Food Bank.

“This year’s convention theme couldn’t be more fitting, as these words capture both the hard work that defines agricultural life but also the hopeful vision that drives us forward,” Megan Welter, Maine DOE Associate Commissioner of Public Education, said to students during the convention’s opening ceremony. “Since last May, Maine proudly welcomed three new FFA chapters: Poland, Dexter, and Sanford. That expansion brings the State of Maine to 14 chapters, which is a 15% growth in one year. That’s not just a number; that is a testament to the enduring relevance and growing importance of agriculture education in our state.”

Also in attendance during the convention’s opening and closing ceremonies were Deputy Commissioner Nancy McBrady of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry; Dean Diane Rowland of the University of Maine College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences; and National FFA Secretary Luke Jennings, along with State Officers from FFA chapters across Maine. The convention celebrated the achievements of these FFA chapters and installed the 2025-2026 State Officer Team.

“FFA has been the best thing that has happened to me individually, but I also get to watch a lot of other students grow, as well,” Maine FFA State Vice President Haley Mayne said. “I am so proud of everyone, and I think that being in FFA will not only prepare you for things in agriculture but also for real-world experience. It’s such an awesome organization to be a part of.”

Additional highlights from the two-day event included livestock evaluation, an ag mechanics competition, the National FFA Officer workshop, and hands-on activities in aquaculture, horse evaluation, and floriculture.

For more information about FFA, visit the Maine DOE Website.

Washington County Expands Its Extended Learning Opportunities for Youth

(Pictured: Youth at the DownEast Teen Leadership Camp.)

Thanks to an Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) Expansion grant from the Maine Department of Education (DOE), Healthy Acadia is working to provide more ELO opportunities to young people in Washington County in a variety of ways.

Last July, forty-three teenagers from Downeast Maine enjoyed Healthy Acadia’s 2024 DownEast Teen Leadership Camp (DETLC), a weeklong overnight summer camp experience at the Cobscook Institute in Trescott. DETLC is primarily a camp for youth, led by youth. The program challenges and empowers youth by providing them with the skills necessary to be leaders and workers in their communities.

The program begins months before the actual summer camp experience in January, when a youth advisory team takes the lead in planning the camp’s activities, ensuring that campers have a say in shaping their own experiences. This unique approach allows for the camp to feel personalized, as activities and discussions are specifically designed to reflect the interests of the participants.

Throughout the week, campers engage in various activities to promote leadership, community bonding, and holding space for healthy discussions. Students participate in workshops sponsored by regional and statewide businesses and organizations, as well as other physical team-building exercises that further build self-confidence and community. These immersive activities help campers to explore new interests, push their comfort zones, and form lasting connections.

“One of my favorite parts of camp as a youth staff member is the family groups,” Naomi Eyerman, DETLC 2024 Student Staff Media and Arts Coordinator, shared. “It’s great to get to know campers on a more personal level. Family groups really foster connections and are safe spaces where campers can have fun, as well as open up and get deep. DETLC overall has so many unique experiences that make camp truly memorable.”

Family group time plays an important role in the overall philosophy and structure of DETLC. Through Community Sessions and Mini-Workshops, students begin to develop an awareness of relationships, coping skills and issues with substances and other sensitive topics. Family Group is a place to question, discuss, and put into practice what campers learn in the community sessions and mini-workshops. This can be done by questioning and discussing workshop content, relating issues to their personal lives, sharing thoughts and feelings, practicing life skills, and building on their self-esteem.

ELO coordinator Corrie Hunkler, who works for Healthy Acadia, spearheaded DETLC. In her recent endeavors, Hunkler has also worked with the Coastal Washington County Institute of Technology (CWCIT) and Maine Youth Action Network (MYAN) to further her work with ELOs in Washington County and the surrounding areas.

Hunkler is helping to create tangible pathways for students to explore their interests and career aspirations. This hands-on support is reflected in the 53 students she has helped to engage in meaningful work opportunities, such as coordinating the Washington County Leadership Challenge, which allows students, teachers, and civic leaders to collaborate to formulate plans and create goals to address relevant local civic issues; and group trips like the Maine Youth Leadership Conference, which brings eight students to Augusta, providing workshops and guest speakers to help participants learn valuable leadership skills.

Through programs like these, ELOs continue to open doors for young people in the region. The Early Childhood Education program at CWCIT has embedded ELOs into its Wednesday class time, for example, ensuring that even more students are introduced to these vital opportunities—and that those opportunities remain accessible to all students in the region.

*Students at the Coastal Washington County Institute of Technology.*

“We don’t have classes on gender studies; we don’t have classes on environmental science; and so it’s [ELOs] allowing kids who maybe have an interest or passion to be able to do what they’re interested in, and I think that’s so important,” Hunkler said. “This work is just so key in places that don’t have as much access to things.”

*Corrie Hunkler presents on ELOs at the Youth Development Summit held at Washington County Community College on April 29, 2025.*

These efforts are integral to broadening the horizons of students in Maine who may otherwise lack the resources and opportunities to explore their passions. Providing these pathways for personal and academic growth is vital for creating a more inclusive and empowered future generation, especially in rural communities like those in Washington County.

*Students at Maine Youth Action Network.*

To view a short clip of ELOs in Washington County and to learn more about Healthy Acadia and its ELO community support, contact Corrie Hunkler at corrie.hunkler@healthyacadia.org.

For more information about Extended Learning Opportunities, contact Lana Sawyer at lana.sawyer@maine.gov. Healthy Acadia was an awardee of Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan grants, starting in 2022, that supported 26 programs across Maine, covering 13 counties.

School Registration Open for Second Annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit

Making a Difference Together

Students discover career paths they may never have considered, building confidence and practical skills for their future.
Educators gain valuable resources, evidence-based practices, and direct connections with industry partners.
Businesses develop tomorrow’s workforce, while fulfilling community engagement goals.

Join the Movement

Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of something extraordinary! Together, we can create a more inclusive, opportunity-rich future for Maine’s students with disabilities.

Maine middle and high schools are invited to fill out a school interest form, if they are planning to bring students to the second annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit. (Registrations for individual students will be sent directly to schools that complete the interest form.)

For more information, please contact Maine DOE Transition Specialist Titus O’Rourke at titus.orourke@maine.gov.

The Success of the Maine Out of School Time Career Exploration Grant Program

Between June and September of 2024, 267 students in fourth through sixth grade participated in the Maine Out of School Time (MOST) Career Exploration grant program. Through this program, these students engaged in activities that allowed them to explore diverse career paths in their communities in a hands-on and intentional way. This happened through more than 60 visits to different employers and businesses, as well as visits from several guest speakers, including a clinical psychologist, a Maine guide, and a cartoonist. Students were introduced to fields ranging from health care and technology to trades and the arts, giving them a broad understanding at an early age of careers they might explore in the future.

Eight groups across Maine participated in the MOST grant program:

Alan Day Community Garden in Norway provided career exploration opportunities to participants through gardening, local tours, guest speakers, and community immersion.
The Boys & Girls Club of Bangor developed and incorporated a Virtual Reality Career Exploration component into its program in addition to community-based career exploration.
The Boys & Girls Club of Kennebec Valley held themed weeks, and high school mentors helped to guide youth in their career exploration.
The Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine incorporated career exploration into its Bridge to Success program to help youth successfully transition to careers and college.
The Intercultural Community Center in Westbrook hosted a “Power Summer” with field trips, diverse guest speakers, and project-based learning.
MCD Global Health Baileyville Community Connections Center held community-immersed trips for participants to explore businesses in Washington County and neighboring counties.
North Haven Community School explored green businesses and provided opportunities for youth to learn about careers focused on environmental sustainability.
Tree Street Youth in Lewiston integrated career exploration into its WILLOW workforce program, providing participants with soft skills and career exploration, ranging from guest speakers to employer visits to “on the job” opportunities.

The MOST grant program was funded by the Maine Department of Education (DOE) through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding, provided by the American Rescue Plan Act. The Maine After School Network supported this work. Building on the success of the career exploration experiences of high school students in Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO), this grant program provided career exploration opportunities specifically for younger students.

By exposing young learners to potential careers early on, the MOST grant program aimed to build a foundation for students to gain confidence, develop aspirations, and make informed educational and career choices. Participants reported an increased understanding of themselves and what they might like to pursue professionally. They also said they learned something new about careers and/or career pathways and that they felt better prepared for career exploration.

While visiting the Passamaquoddy Tribal Warden Services, a ten-year-old participant in the MCD Global Health program in Baileyville said, “This is so neat! I want to work here when I’m 17!”

At Tree Street Youth, one of the participating students was interested in news, reporting, and videography. They were able to help create, produce, and direct a video public service announcement encouraging people to stop vaping. This student interviewed community members, utilized large filming equipment, and practiced interviewing skills. Tree Street Youth won the Healthy Community Coalition award for this video project.

Students at the Intercultural Community Center visited WisMaine Farm in Westbrook weekly, developing a better understanding of and appreciation for local food systems around their community. They created themed career exploration topics, like “Future Foodies”.

At Alan Day Community Garden, students were prompted on the first day of the program to write down or draw a picture of what careers they wanted to pursue. At first, several students said they wanted to become YouTube content creators, but by the end of the program, these students had identified other career options, including a chef, a teacher, and a job in the military. One student said he was interested in becoming a musician and shared lyrics for a song he recently wrote. Parents frequently pulled staff aside to express their gratitude for what the MOST grant program provided, as students who were once chronically identified as disruptive in a classroom setting thrived in this community-based and hands-on environment.

When the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine visited the Portland Fire Department, firefighters there presented career exploration talks. One child enjoyed the experience so much that he didn’t want to take off a fire helmet and insisted he hopes to wear it again someday when he becomes a firefighter.

The success of the MOST grant program highlights the importance of not only introducing children to career possibilities but also the power of fostering curiosity and helping young people to connect to their communities. This program served students from all parts of the state with different backgrounds and experiences. Of the 267 students served, 88% were identified as economically disadvantaged, 62% were BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), 42% were multi-lingual learners, and 17% of the students were experiencing homelessness.

The Extended Learning team at the Maine DOE worked with Black Fly Media to produce a short video, showing how the Maine Out of School Time Career Exploration grant program engaged students this summer!

St. George School Receives Production Grant to Create Immersive Field Trips

St. George MSU Seal St. George Municipal School Unit (MSU) Superintendent, Mike Felton, applied for a production grant through an organization called CareerViewXR last year. After an application and interview process, the PK-8 school was selected as one of three winning schools from across the United States. The prizes awarded to the school included one 12-month subscription to the CareerViewXR platform, two HTC VIVE virtual reality headsets, and two field trips produced in their region.

CareerViewXR works with students, educators, businesses, and state agencies to develop immersive virtual reality experiences that allow students to explore careers across sectors – especially in the trades and technical fields. Using footage of real professionals doing real work in real world work environments, they create interactive, web-based field trips that can be accessed by any device as well as virtual reality videos for VR headsets.

The two companies that will be featured in the virtual field trips in Maine are Steel-Pro, in Rockland and Cushman Lobster Corporation in Port Clyde. Through the grant prize, St. George MSU students will also have access to virtual field trips in other locations across the United States.

Felton shared that he felt fortunate for the opportunity to be working with CareerViewXR and that he is looking forward to “working together to find new ways to innovate, engage students, and support our local businesses.”

The collaboration aligns with St. George MSU’s Career & Technical Education (CTE)/ Makerspace Project – a partnership with MidCoast School of Technology to develop a PreK-12 CTE Program and construct a CTE/Makerspace Building next to St. George School. The new building will have a shop space for carpentry, metalworking, and boatbuilding as well as a Makerspace with 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, robotics, and sewing machines. The goal for the project is to provide a model for transforming education by ensuring all students, PreK-12, have access to hands-on and minds-on, technical learning connected to career and community.

Through Steel-Pro, students will be immersed in the manufacturing of stainless-steel tanks, biopharmaceutical equipment, vacuum chambers and other custom designed equipment. “Steel-Pro being 100% Employee Owned, we’re all about our employees and that includes our future employees,” stated Steve Ladd, Steel-Pro President and CEO. “Collaborating with St George MSU, giving kids exposure to hands-on technical career opportunities has been an awesome experience. We are thankful to St George for letting us take part in their CTE journey.”

Aboard the Fishing Vessel RYLEEFINN with Michael Cushman and Cassie Clough, students be able to experience what it’s like rising before dawn to spend the day hauling lobster traps in Penobscot Bay. “We are very happy to be helping with this project,” shared Cassie Clough.

“Our hope in being involved from the fishing side is to show that even with all of the challenges this industry is facing (over regulations, offshore wind, etc.), it can still be a career worth pursuing. Our coastal communities in Maine rely heavily on what lobstering brings economically to the area and it is still a very important part of Maine’s identity.”

St. George Students

Dakota Student VR Headset

The CareerViewXR Production grant will allow St George MSU to enhance students’ learning experiences and career exploration opportunities.

“Through the use of VR immersive experiences, CareerViewXR will provide a new, innovative way to engage students in learning connected to career and community,” explained Superintendent Felton. “Working alongside local tradespeople and businesses, while utilizing cutting edge technologies, we’ll move toward our goals of re-engaging students in learning, helping them understand career opportunities in their community, and, ultimately, strengthening our local economy.”

This story was submitted by St. George Municipal School Unit. To share good news from your school, please fill out this form.

Maine FFA Advocates in Washington, DC

The Maine FFA state officer team traveled to Washington, DC, for the 2024 State Officer Summit this summer. The Summit is a five-day training event during which hundreds of students representing all 50 states, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico engage in conversations about leadership, agriculture, and advocacy. This experience prepares the state officer team and the Maine FFA Association for a successful year.

While in Washington, D.C., students strengthened their understanding of federal policies related to agriculture, connected with agricultural leaders, and served as delegates for upcoming FFA Committee work. After building their knowledge, the officers met with Senator King and staff from Congresswoman Pingree and Representative Golden’s offices.

Outside of training, students learned more about American history and took advantage of all that the nation’s capital has to offer. Julia Pierce, a 2024-2025 State Officer, shared, “State Officer Summit was a great experience. It provided many opportunities for the officers to work on advocacy in the FFA. Some of the activities we got to take part in included a night tour of all of the Monuments, visiting the Holocaust Museum, and one of our favorites- touring Arlington National Cemetery.”

As the team reflected on their experience, many reiterated the importance of connection to their peers. Julia added, “We had the privilege to talk to officers from all over the US and see how different FFA can be in other places. We were able to make lots of new friendships and learn new skills that we hope to use in the future.”

During the State Summit, two of Maine’s officers were assigned Committee roles as part of the delegate body at this year’s National Convention. One of Maine’s delegates, Lane Carmichael described his experience: “State Summit was an opportunity to expand our horizons as state officers. We were able to step up and realize that although Maine may be smaller than others in membership, we can still have the same impact on National FFA.”

The Maine FFA was able to send all six current state officers to Washington, DC, this year thanks to the generous support of local sponsors, Maine Agriculture In the Classroom, and the National FFA Organization.

The Maine FFA is a student-led organization focused on premier leadership, personal growth, and career success. State Officers represent the Maine FFA throughout the 2024-2025 school year and work closely with local FFA chapters. For more information about the Maine FFA Association, please visit https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/ffa or contact Emily Doughty, State FFA Liaison, at emily.doughty@maine.gov.

North Haven Students Explore ‘Green’ Businesses in Maine Thanks to Maine DOE Career Exploration Grant

With support from the Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Maine Out of School Time grant, upper elementary and middle school students from North Haven Community School, located on North Haven Island, visited and explored a variety of Maine businesses this summer.

The grant was funded through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, a statewide expansion of extended learning programming to engage students throughout the state in real-world career exploration experiences.

North Haven Community School Principal Shaun Johnson did most of the planning, logistics, and drove the school van on all trips over the course of the two-week, first of its kind, “camp” experience. The opportunity allowed students to participate in early career exploration in various aspects of Maine’s “green” economy, giving students the chance to learn more about businesses and jobs focused on environmental sustainability.

Students went on off-island visits, including tours of Robbins Lumber, Front Street Shipyard, Lyman Morse, Midcoast School of Technology, GoLogic, Revision Energy, and Bowdoin University’s Office of Sustainability. Students were also visited on the Island by businesses, such as EcoMaine.

Students also got to experience environmentally sustainable efforts closer to home. North Haven Community School’s high school science teacher, Samantha Taggart worked with students in the school garden and gave them a tour of Cider Hill Farm on North Haven, which is owned by community member Becky Bartovics. School board member and local contractor Morten Hansen gave students a tour of Congresswoman Chellie Pingree’s house near Turner Farm. Local Island Institute Fellow Claire Oxford talked to students about how climate change will impact flooding and tide levels over the next several decades.

Here are a few pictures from the two-week opportunity:

One student, having such a good time, remarked, “Why can’t this camp be longer?”

Johnson says that finding local and school-related enrichment activities for students on the island during the summer, especially those who are too young to work, can be a challenge.

“This grant opportunity really gave us the motivation and support we needed to make something happen,” said Johnson.

The Maine Out-of-School-Time grant opportunity is available through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, funded in its entirety by the American Rescue Plan. It is a part of Maine’s Whole Student Pandemic Response.