Launch Day: St. John Valley students embark on the Allagash

FRENCHVILLE — The paddles are officially in the water. On Tuesday morning, a historic journey began for 34 eighth-grade students from the Allagash Wilderness Waterway gateway communities of Fort Kent, Frenchville, St. Agatha, and Madawaska as they launched the 2026 Youth on the Allagash expedition.

Following a thorough orientation and gear-up session on Monday at the Frenchville Community Center, students arrived at school early this morning with packed gear in hand. By 10 a.m., they loaded into vans and headed out into the North Maine Woods.

To preserve the quiet, wilderness character of the waterway and ensure a high-quality experience, the students have been divided into five distinct trip segments spread across different sections of the river. Guiding these five small-group expeditions are the wilderness educators from our long-standing partner, the Chewonki Center for Outdoor Education.

Over the next three days, these young adventurers will learn backcountry camping, master river canoeing skills, and explore the rich cultural and natural history of the Allagash.

This life-changing experience is free of charge to all participating families, made possible by the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation in close partnership with the Valley Unified School District, local educators, and our incredibly generous community sponsors.

AWWF’s Youth on the Allagash program is proudly supported by Acadia Federal Credit Union, our 2026 YOTA Presenting Partner, alongside the Dorr Foundation, the Quimby Family Foundation, Widgeon Point Charitable Foundation, NBM Railways, NorState Federal Credit Union, Daigle Oil, and numerous individual donors who believe in investing in the next generation of wilderness stewards.

The students will spend Tuesday and Wednesday nights camping under the stars before exiting the river and returning to their home schools Thursday afternoon, just in time for the normal bus ride home.