Trails to Tomorrow: The Value of Outdoor Sport

 

Mike Smith | OSI Executive Director

Some days I marvel at how much time I spend living inside a screen. From emails and zoom calls, to podcasts and apps, the digital world can feel all-consuming. The need for experiences grounded in reality feels urgent and profound. This is why I love our work in outdoor sport, it’s all about getting real –

  • Real trails coming to life.

  • Real learning with emerging leaders.

  • Real partnerships to activate community.

In short, it’s about people coming together in the real world because they care. This work takes funding, though, and your support is a critical piece of the puzzle. By making a donation this season, you’re ensuring our work can continue.

This year alone we were able to serve more than twenty-five Maine communities working to create greater access to the outdoors. Here in the Katahdin Region, we continue to work with an incredible network of partners to make the area a model for community-based outdoor recreation. Regional initiatives like the Katahdin Gear Library, Katahdin Area Trails, and collaborative youth programs are transforming the local landscape and inspiring progress across Maine’s rural spaces.

Check out our 2025 recap to learn more.

Looking forward, I believe we’re all going to need more to keep us grounded in what is real. This means -

  • More trails that are purpose-built, sustainable, and easy for communities to access.

  • More people trained and mentored in growing and sustaining outdoor recreation in their communities.

  • More partners coming together to support positive outdoor opportunities for all ages and abilities.

The outdoors and outdoor sport is a way forward for us and our communities – it helps root people to place and each other, physically not virtually. We are working to build a future where we’re side-by-side and face-to-face with the outdoors and each other. This is what strong communities have always been about, and your support will help us all get there.

Donate Now

You can also make a donation by:

  • Mailing a check to P.O. Box 112, Caribou ME 04462.

  • Visiting us in-person at the Katahdin Gear Library (215 Penobscot Ave, Millinocket) during the Millinocket Marathon on December 6th.

 
OSI CommunityWebsite Administrator