Photo courtesy of Edmunds Consolidated School, one of the four Life Happens Outside® Challenge-winning schools

To promote mental health awareness and build lifelong habits of outdoor time, Teens to Trails hosted its second-ever Spring Life Happens Outside® Challenge for Maine middle and elementary schools (grades 5-8). The Challenge ran from May 9-16, 2025, and encouraged students, staff members, and teachers from across the state to get outside, as research shows that spending time outdoors significantly benefits both mental and physical health.

This year’s Challenge was a tremendous success, with 30 schools from 12 counties and one Maine Indian Education school participating and collectively recording nearly 5 million minutes of outdoor time. That equals more than 82,000 hours–or nearly 9.5 years spent outside in just one week!

During the Challenge, 6,454 students enjoyed outdoor classes, playing sports, spending time with friends and pets, riding bikes, and simply taking moments of quiet in nature. Here’s what some students shared about their experiences:

“I like outside.” – 6th grader, Saco Middle School

“Stepping away from screens and routines gives my brain a reset.” – 8th grader, Marshwood Middle School

“I now know that even short moments outdoors make a big difference in how I handle stress and stay focused.” – 8th grader, Boothbay Region Elementary School

“Spending time outside made me more happy and focused.” – 8th grader, Messalonskee Middle School

Thanks to the generous support of lead sponsor Unum and legacy sponsor First National Bank, the four schools with the most outdoor minutes per student were awarded $1,000 each to invest in future outdoor programming.

The winning schools are:

• Sipayik Elementary School, Pleasant Point
• Washburn District Elementary School, Washburn
• Edmunds Consolidated School, Dennysville
• The Ecology Learning Center Bridge Program, Unity–recognized by Teens to Trails as a Trailblazer in Alternative Education for logging more than 4,000 minutes of outdoor time per student during Challenge week!

“We’re incredibly proud of these schools and all the students who participated,” Alicia Heyburn, Executive Director of Teens to Trails, said. “The stories we heard about feeling refreshed, happier, and more relaxed confirm what research tells us: Time outdoors is essential to mental and physical wellbeing. We hope these students continue to embrace the outdoors long after the Challenge.”

Teens to Trails would like to extend a special thanks to everyone who made this event possible and who helped foster a culture of outdoor time in schools across Maine.

To learn more about the Challenge or winning schools in your area, please reach out to Connor Huggins, Teens to Trails Outreach and Communications Manager, at connor@teenstotrails.org.

The original Maine DOE Newsroom article for the Challenge can be found here.

At Gray-New Gloucester Middle School, students aren’t just being asked what they want to be when they grow up; they’re being shown how to get there. On April 17, 2025, more than 500 students in grades five through eight participated in the school’s second annual Career Day, a highlight of a month-long career exploration effort that has become a cornerstone of the district’s advisory program.

This event capped off a series of advisory lessons designed to help students explore their interests, discover career pathways, and understand how today’s choices shape tomorrow’s opportunities. It’s part of MSAD 15’s three-year initiative to build a comprehensive advisory program that prepares students not only for high school but for life beyond graduation.

Career Day began with an engaging keynote by Betsy Libby, President of Central Maine Community College, who shared career trends, educational pathways, and information about Maine’s community college programs—all in a style that was interactive and accessible for middle schoolers. Her session set the tone for a day full of hands-on experiences and personal connections.

Students then rotated through four sessions, each offering a menu of career presentations. With more than 50 professionals volunteering their time, including engineers, firefighters, Zumba instructors, oyster farmers, journalists, therapists, and even FBI agents, students had no shortage of inspiration. The school’s four wings transformed into career exploration hubs, allowing students to interact with professionals in a wide range of fields.

Breakout sessions included interactive demonstrations like flower arranging with a florist, learning bus maintenance from a district mechanic, coding, and meeting animals brought in by the local humane society and therapy dog handlers. Unsurprisingly, the sessions with animals were among the most popular.

Student feedback painted a clear picture: Career Day was a hit. Many said they liked “everything!” Others shared that they appreciated “learning more than regular schoolwork” and being able to “actually experience jobs.” One student remarked, “I learned what I want to do for my backup job if the NFL doesn’t work out.” Several noted how presenters “answered all our questions” and that it was “interesting to learn what jobs do for the community.” The biggest takeaway was how many students walked away saying, “Now I know what to do when I’m older.”

Behind the scenes, Career Day was a true all-hands-on-deck effort. From custodians and kitchen staff to school counselors, teachers, and administrative assistants, every part of the school community contributed to making the day a success. Planning took nearly four months, but the result was a meaningful, memorable experience that left students inspired and informed.

Grounded in Maine’s Life and Career Ready standards, the advisory program at Gray-New Gloucester Middle School continues to connect classroom learning to the real world. With plans to make Career Day an annual event, the school is helping students to dream big and understand the steps it takes to get there.

This story was submitted by Gray-New Gloucester Middle School. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.

On May 27, students in Dirigo High School’s Marine Biology Class swapped the mountains of western Maine for the salty sea air of Bar Harbor, embarking on an unforgettable cruise that brought their classroom studies to life in the most immersive way possible.

The two-hour Lobster Fishing and Seal Watching Tour, operated by Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company, was more than a scenic ride along Maine’s coast for these students. It was a dynamic learning experience, as they engaged with real-world applications of marine science concepts. After studying marine ecosystems, the impact of climate change, and population regulation in class, this trip was a chance for these students to see the living proof of those lessons just beyond the boat rails.

As the boat glided across Frenchman Bay, students watched in awe as lobster traps were hauled in, revealing not only lobsters but also the important role that sustainable practices and long-standing community traditions play in Maine’s fishing industry. The crew explained the complex rules and etiquette of lobstering, emphasizing conservation efforts and the way that climate shifts are changing lobster migration patterns and yields.

One of the biggest thrills for students was the chance to see and hold a live, pre-banded lobster, a hands-on experience that sparked laughter, excitement, and surprise.

“The lobster tickles!” one student shouted, adding a memorable and light-hearted moment to a deeply meaningful day.

The educational impact didn’t stop with lobsters. The timing of the tour couldn’t have been better; it was seal pup season, and students were treated to views of harbor seals with their young, lounging on coastal rocks and swimming alongside the boat. The tour guides shared information about the life cycles, behaviors, and habitats of Maine’s native seal species, deepening students’ understanding of marine mammals and the fragile ecosystems they inhabit.

This experience was made possible entirely through grant funding, meaning the trip came at no cost to students or their families. For a rural district like RSU 56, where many families face economic challenges, the opportunity to offer this kind of enrichment is rare and deeply valued. By taking learning outside of the classroom and into a real-world marine setting, this field trip helped students form lasting connections between science content and the environment around them. From biology of lobsters and seals to the socioeconomic realities of Maine’s fisheries, students were able to see, touch, and understand their curriculum in a completely new way.

This is the second time that Dirigo High School’s students have been able to participate in an experience like this, thanks to grant support. Each time, it opens new doors, for curiosity, for confidence, and for a deeper sense of place. By connecting lessons from western Maine to the ecosystems of the coast, Dirigo’s Marine Biology Class proves that the best learning happens when students explore beyond the classroom and into the world.

This story was submitted by Dirigo High School. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.