Last year, Maine lost a true wilderness icon, Dana Richard Shaw (1934–2024). A veteran Maine Guide, master canoe builder, expert riverman and dedicated conservationist, Dana’s life was a testament to adventure and purpose. To honor his enduring spirit and deep connection to the Allagash, his grandson, Joshua Shaw, has created...
Read moreNew outdoor education law could propel expansion of YOTA program A new state law signed by Governor Janet Mills on May 23 will provide immersive outdoor education opportunities for Maine students in grades 4-8. LD 895, "The Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program," a bipartisan effort spearheaded by Senator Rick...
Read moreYOTA's advanced expedition: Five days of growth on the Allagash The Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation is thrilled to announce the successful completion of our first Youth on the Allagash trip of the season: our annual advanced leadership expedition. This five-day journey offers a deeper dive into wilderness skills and regional knowledge...
Read moreThe Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation is offering an extraordinary opportunity for local students to hone their leadership skills and deepen their connection to nature through our 2025 Advanced Leadership Trip, a key component of the Youth on the Allagash program. This five-day, fully outfitted canoe camping adventure is tailored for students...
Read moreGet ready for an unforgettable wilderness experience. The Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation (AWWF) is thrilled to announce the opening of registration for the 2025 Youth on the Allagash (YOTA) program. This incredible opportunity allows eighth-grade students from Madawaska, Fort Kent, Wisdom, and Ashland school districts to immerse themselves in the pristine...
Read moreThe successful AWWF Youth on the Allagash (YOTA) trips were expanded in 2023 to include an Advanced Leadership Wilderness Trip. Guided by Canoe the Wild, the leadership trip was a fully outfitted multi‐day paddling and camping trip for high school students from the St. John Valley. Priority was given to...
Read moreStarting in 2016, Youth on the Allagash has connected middle school students in the St. John Valley with multi-faceted Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), project-based, learning units for a new generation of environmental stewards informed about the causes, impacts, and responses to climate change. The initiative also...
Read moreSince 2017, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation has worked with partners to provide opportunities for local youth to build wilderness skills, explore the Waterway, and learn about its history. This fall, we again partnered with Chewonki and local schools to provide multi-day, fully funded guided river trips to 16 youth from the St. John...
Read moreThis year, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation (AWWF) partnered with Chewonki of Wiscasset, Maine, to offer two all-expenses-paid paddling and camping trips on the Waterway for youth living in gateway communities of the Waterway. With the generous support of local partners, the Quimby Family Foundation, and the Defoe Fund, 18 students from the Katahdin...
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