An overview of a first-of-its-kind outdoor recreation workforce & education pathway.
Maine’s outdoor economy needs a reliable, local pipeline of skilled leaders. CANOE (Career Access through National Service & Outdoor Education) is our response: a Certified Pre-Apprenticeship that pairs a 450-hour AmeriCorps service term with 200 hours of non-service instruction and culminates in automatic acceptance into UMF’s ORBA program with opportunity for credit alignment.
Designed with employers, educators, and community partners, CANOE removes common barriers—cost, access to gear and training, and mentorship—while producing job-ready, civic-minded professionals.
The pages that follow outline how partners can contribute modules, host practicum experiences, and help shape a workforce that keeps Maine’s outdoor assets thriving.
About our organization
Skowhegan Outdoors is a program of Main Street Skowhegan and expands access to outdoor sports, skills, and stewardship for people of all ages. We facilitate free and low-cost programs, maintain a community gear lending library, and partner across the region to connect residents with the gear, knowledge, and community needed to recreate in Maine.
Mission and Vision
With the goal of community transformation through outdoor recreation in mind, Main Street Skowhegan launched the Skowhegan Outdoors AmeriCorps Program in 2019 in partnership with Volunteer Maine, the Outdoor Sport Institute, and other local organizations energized by the prospect of ensuring access to the outdoors via free, guided outdoor activities and gear. Through this initiative, we are catalyzing a shift toward a healthier and more active lifestyle accessible to all Somerset County area residents.
Our Work So Far
Since 2019, we’ve turned that mission into daily practice. AmeriCorps members now lead year-round, free, guided outings; maintain our Basecamp Gear Library to remove equipment barriers; and support stewardship along the riverfront and nearby trails. In 2023 alone, we served 1,810 residents—youth, families, and adults—building skills, confidence, and community. These efforts are shifting norms toward active, outdoor living while laying clear pathways for participation, leadership, and entry into Maine’s outdoor economy.
What is CANOE?
CANOE (Career Access through National Service & Outdoor Education) is slated to be a Certified Pre-Apprenticeship that turns passion for the outdoors into national volunteer service, real credentials, paid experience, and college credit.
Participants serve as AmeriCorps members with Skowhegan Outdoors while completing non-service certifications and instruction that are funded by Skowhegan Savings Bank, Main Street Skowhegan and University of Maine Farmington via NBRC Catalyst.
Graduates are matriculated into University of Maine at Farmington Outdoor Recreation Business Administration (ORBA) program and have the opportunity to to align transcripted credits to CANOE training.
Paid Service:
AmeriCorps living allowance of $6,875 for the 450-hour term
No-Cost Instruction:
200 hours of non-service training & certifications
Education Award:
Segal Education Award upon successful completion of service
Real Experience:
Supervised program delivery & operations with documented competencies
All gear & certs covered:
Access to required equipment; certification costs included
College Credit:
Official, transcripted credits from the University of Maine at Farmington & automatic acceptance into UMF’s ORBA program
PRE-Apprecnticeship & Portfolio
Leadership Project artifact, stackable certifications, & supervisor/employer references to apprenticeships
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Discover, Apply & Enroll
Attend an info session; confirm eligibility & track interests
Submit application → Interview process → Acceptance
Complete AmeriCorps enrollment process
Program orientation
Baseline skills & goal-setting
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Complete Core Curriculum
Complete trainings in the Core Curriculum
Work from standardized syllabi with clear outcomes & competency checklists
Begin service term with Skowhegan Outdoors via program facilitation & gear library support
Begin scoping ideas for a Leadership Project
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Choose Track & Build Skills
Select pathway:
Technical Outdoor Skills or Outdoor Business & Leadership
Complete track-specific modules mapped to industry competencies
Earn certifications where applicable
Finalize individual learning plan & the scope/timeline for a Leadership Project.
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Serve & Lead
Complete 450-hour service term with Skowhegan Outdoors.
Complete 200-hours of track specific training.
Participate in weekly mentorship & reflection
Execute Leadership Project to meet an identified community need.
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Validate & Transition
Verify competencies
Close out Leadership Project
Acceptance into UMF’s ORBA program confirmed
Credits posted to transcript
Segal Education Award paperwork filed
ORBA enrollment advising; Apprenticeship matching; Interview prep
How your partnership works
Why you?
You’re either a training provider; Employer; Registered Apprenticeship sponsor; or Outdoor Recreation Industry partners who wants a job-ready pipeline aligned to real competencies
What you provide:
Clear competencies and assessments in coordination with Skowhegan Outdoors and University of Maine Farmington; qualified instructors/supervisors; site-specific safety plan; dates/capacity.
What Skowhegan Outdoors provides:
Compensation for your effort and time; professional development opportunities through UMF; workforce pipeline and network to job seekers
4-Step Process
Co-design a module (you + Skowhegan Outdoors)
Use our one-page syllabus template (objectives, competencies, hours, assessment, safety).
Academic review (Skowhegan Outdoors + University of Maine at Farmington)
UMF confirms learning quality and alignment
Deliver & document (you + Skowhegan Outdoors + student)
You teach/host and validate skills; we supervise students, track hours/competencies, and handle records.
Follow-through (University of Maine at Farmington + Skowhegan Outdoors + you)
UMF evaluates credits and confirms ORBA acceptance; we debrief and iterate; you provide hiring pathways or preferred interviews.