We're standing right now in the middle of downtown Lewiston-Auburn, which was one of the industrial epicenters
in the industrial revolution. At a time that made this river one of the ten most polluted
rivers in the entire country. As you have these beautiful industrial communities, great downtowns,
beautiful architecture separated by land that's been predominately undeveloped. We have a
clean river, what do we want to do with it? Let's showcase what we've done and enjoy what
we've done to reclaim this river. We're a neighborhood group like the Tree Street
Center, they want to continue to find outings so that their kids can get out and explore.
We want to be that resource. We want to be that resource for the Androscoggin River.
We're a new non-profit organization located in downtown Lewiston. During the summer time
we serve upward of 200 students. The majority of our students are immigrant and refuge youth
from Somalia. They have come here to escape different turmoils and war and things going
on in their country. Most of the kids like their experience with the outdoors is in Lewiston
so it's very limited in their perception of what real woods is.
And this summer in partnership with the National Park Service, the Androscoggin Land Trust
is going to be taking the Tree Street Youth Center to a local park, a state park, and
we'll finish up in a National Park, Acadia National Park.
Often times our kids don't even understand or recognize some of the natural beauty and
resources is like real close to their homes. Even within walking distance. So we started
last year in partnership with Androscoggin Land Trust to walk them from Tree Street here
down to the riverfront of the Androscoggin and we taught them how to fish, how to cast,
how to tie worms on.
This was my first time fishing.
Then all of a sudden they've got their first one and they just start hopping onto the riverbank.
And they're like, I've got one! I've got one! I've got one! They just like exploded and
then all the kids would come running and watch and cheer on that one person reeling one in.
I catch two. They were just like this big.
He's lying.
My family took me fishing all the time, especially my dad and I learned a lot from those experiences.
How to be patient. You get rewards but you have to work hard for it. It doesn't always
come instantly.
To see the look on the face of a kid when he catches his first fish. It all sort of
comes home when you see that happen.
The Androscoggin Land Trust got it's start here at the river lands when this property
came up for sale and the people of Lewiston-Auburn said this property needs to be preserved.
Back in 1927 it was actually a village at the end of this trail where people from the
town of Turner lived and farmed.
We are on a very fun hiking trip...I love the outdoors so I'm all about it.
When the kids found the frogs they were kind of excited and they were yelling, "I found
a frog! I found a frog!"
We saw a butterfly We found different types of mushrooms
We learned that people used to live here and this was like a farm
Hiking is really fun. You should try it.
Left, left, left, right, left.
They had to flood out this town, this whole village had to migrate out of here, they had to
leave their homes.
I think it's really important for members of this community, visitors to this region,
to really see that the river isn't just a place in one community. It's really a connector
of the stories not only along the river but along the river's history.
The Park Service, they were hooking us up with all kinds of different stuff. They made
sure that we had all the equipment that we needed. That the rain didn't phase anyone.
Within 5 minutes of being here they saw a rabbit hop through our campsite. And everyone
was just like Wow! Oh my gosh! We're in the woods.
All was exciting, like our hiking in the mountain.
Like I seen so many stuff that I never thought that I will be there at the beach and so many
cool rocks, different rocks and all that. It was amazing.
For me that's the most rewarding part of my job. Is watching students elbow deep in the tide
pool or out in the forest listening to the bird song or putting their toes in the sand
at Sand Beach. We're looking forward to beginning to shape a generation of students that will
help care for the national parks into the next century.
It's amazing to come to see ocean. And the first time I'm going to ride the boat.
The water was nice and we got to see a lot. And then also we got to hear some animals
in the night and don't be scared. I'm going to try and rally up my friends and
make a trip back up here because they would love it too. Just to get away, hang out in
the woods.
I've seen a lot of transformation in a lot of these kids. Which is exactly like the first
day of work. You don't know what you're doing, you're not sure. Can I do this right, am I
doing this? To like just be confident and it's like I'm just going to go for it.
I feel like people abuse the environment too much. Like we always shape it to the way
we want and it's so essential that the government protects the national parks like this.
If you can get high school kids with their friends going outside, they will turn on to
it. And it will be forever their secret medicine for health and happiness.
We were able to see this summer how much of an impact we can have on the future of
a community just by getting outside and getting kids outside. And there is huge potential,
huge growth potential to do more of that whether it's new trails that connect to the existing
parks, new fishing access, new boat access. Or protecting some of the wonderful views
that make that experience that the youth had this summer so unique. It changes people's
lives, it really does and to see that with the youth that are not only present in this
community but are the future stewards of this community is really important for us.
It's unmatched. Like you can't, you can't take this experience away from them and what
they're able to learn from it.
And I say thank you for everyone.
Even though you live in a city. You can still get outdoors.