According to a recent Maine Integrative Youth Health Survey, only 46 percent of youth in our region feel like they matter to people.

The Skowhegan River Park is an investment in the next generation.

Across rural Maine, communities face growing challenges related to workforce development, youth retention, and career exploration. At the same time, the outdoor recreation economy continues to grow, creating opportunities in fields ranging from guiding and environmental education to recreation management, hospitality, conservation, and outdoor business development.

The River Park will help create new pathways for young people to engage with the outdoors, develop leadership skills, explore career opportunities, and build meaningful connections to their community.

Through Main Street Skowhegan's Skowhegan Outdoors initiative, hundreds of young people already participate in outdoor recreation programs, paddling instruction, environmental education experiences, volunteer projects, and community events each year. The River Park will expand opportunities for these experiences by providing new access points, learning environments, and recreation infrastructure along the Kennebec River.

The project also supports workforce development initiatives such as CANOE (Career Access through National Service and Outdoor Education), Main Street Skowhegan's outdoor recreation career pathways program. Through service, training, certifications, college credit, and hands-on experience, participants gain the skills and professional networks needed to pursue careers in outdoor recreation, conservation, education, and related industries.

Future opportunities may include paddling instruction, event management, environmental stewardship projects, trail maintenance, outdoor leadership development, recreation programming, and other experiences that connect young people to both the river and potential career pathways.

By investing in youth today, the River Park helps create a stronger workforce, a healthier community, and a future generation of leaders, stewards, and outdoor enthusiasts who will continue to shape Skowhegan's future.