Hannah Anthony works on a poetry writing exercise at the Waldoboro Public Landing on the Medomak River Estuary. She and her classmates in Nicola Taylor’s sixth-grade class at the Miller School in Waldoboro took part in the Quebec-Labrador Foundation’s Questing to Learn program. Photo courtesy of the Quebec-Labrador Foundation
The Maine Community Foundation believes that the health of individuals is tied to a healthy environment. Through competitive and donor-advised funds, the foundation supports projects and programs -- from the creation of a Nordic ski trail on Ragged Mountain in Camden to educating kids about coastal maritime forests in York County -- that connect Mainers with the outdoors.
Quebec-Labrador Foundation’s Questing to Learn program encourages youngsters to explore the Medomak River watershed where they “sink into place” through exercises in writing, science, and history. With support from the Marshall Dodge Memorial Fund, this innovative program is engaging schools, kids, and communities in a journey of learning.
Other Ways the Community Foundation is Working For a Healthy Environment
- In partnership with the Maine Philanthropy Center, the community foundation oversees the innovative Environmental Funders Network. The network’s goal is to help to identify and create ways to improve and sustain Maine’s natural environment. In 2009, the network launched its Quality of Place Initiative, whose goal is to support projects that strengthen the link between the natural and built environments, emphasize public engagement, and help public and private sector organizations build and sustain collaborations that preserve Maine's unique quality of place. Since then, the network has made more than $1 million in grants to organizations throughout the state of Maine.
- The Maine Community Foundation provides grant support to address environmental issues in Maine using a range of resources including designated, agency, and donor-advised funds. Since 1990, the community foundation's Fund for Maine Land Conservation has been helping land trusts be more effective in their services.
To learn more about how the Maine Community Foundation is working to build a healthy environment and how you can support this work, contact Ellen Pope by e-mail or by phone, toll-free, at 877-700-6800.