WESTBROOK, Maine — Mentorship, leadership, and having fun are the goals of a program for kids in Westbrook. Now, the Westbrook Adventure Club is looking for its next group of adventurers.
The Adventure Club connects first responders with youth, guiding them on the path in life and the path to new activities.
For the past two years, Westbrook Public Safety has taken groups of kids ages 10-14 on "adventures."
The program aims to create positive interaction with public safety officials like police officers and firefighters, putting them in a mentorship type of role.
The club runs for about a year and takes kids on excursions like hiking, snow tubing, archery, and much more.
Janelle Hall, who started the program, said a recent kayaking trip is one of her favorite memories. The group went kayaking in the ocean and two of the kids were afraid to go, but once they got out there, Hall said they changed their minds,
"Then we started kayaking in open water and they ended up loving it, they didn't want to come back," she explained. "So finally, when we got back to the truck they were like, 'Oh my gosh, I want to buy a kayak. I want to go out there and get active.' So I think it's just opening these youth up to a whole new world, because it's not something they would do and now they get to learn to love it."
Applications for the Westbrook Adventure Club are being accepted until Sept. 9.
This program is geared toward residents of Westbrook, but children from other communities will be considered.
Parents should send an email with their child's name and information. The interested child should also write up a short essay explaining why they want to join the program.
That info can be sent to community policing coordinator Megan Perry. Her email is mperry@westbrook.me.us.