CANOE

Career Access through National Service & Outdoor Education

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.

PORTLAND, Maine (August 21, 2025) – A new statewide survey of 100 Maine-based outdoor companies and organizations offers fresh insights into the state’s $3.4 billion outdoor recreation economy. In collaboration with Maine Outdoor Brands (MOB) and the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation, the 2025 Workforce Needs and Assessment Survey highlights growing demand for talent across the sector–especially in guiding, customer service, and leadership roles. The report highlights Maine’s position among the top ten states for outdoor recreation employment, while also uncovering ongoing challenges in attracting and retaining talent. An overview of a first-of-its-kind outdoor recreation workforce & education pathway.

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 hosted 202 free programs and 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 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-Apprenticeship & Portfolio

Leadership Project artifact, stackable certifications, & supervisor/employer references to apprenticeships

Program Timeline & Structure

  • Weeks 0-1

    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

  • Weeks 1-6

    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

  • Weeks 6-10

    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.

  • Weeks 10-21

    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.

  • Weeks 21-23

    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


PATHWAY A

Technical Outdoor Skills
This pathway is ideal for individuals interested in hands-on, field-based work outdoors. It emphasizes technical certifications, safety training, guiding, equipment maintenance, and trail work.

Specialized Focus Areas within this track:

  • Water and Wilderness Program Facilitator:
    Emphasis on guide certifications, paddling, safety, and remote trip leadership.
  • Bicycle and Ski Technician / Outdoor Gear:
    Management: Focus on bike/ski maintenance, tuning, repair, and gear library systems.
  • Trail Building, Maintenance, and Conservation:
    Training in trail design, land stewardship, mechanized maintenance, and volunteer leadership.

PATHWAY B

Outdoor Industry & Leadership
This pathway prepares participants for leadership roles within the outdoor recreation economy, including entrepreneurship, nonprofit administration, event planning, marketing, and organizational operations.

Specialized Focus Areas within this track:

  • Marketing for the Outdoor Industry:
    Digital content creation, brand strategy, event marketing, and outreach for outdoor brands and businesses.
  • Outdoor Hospitality and Event Management:
    Planning and executing events, customer experience, and managing outdoor tourism services.
  • Finance, Operations, and Grant Writing for the Outdoor Industry:
    Training in nonprofit finance, budgeting, administrative operations, and fundraising.

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

4-Step Process

1. Co-design a module (you + Skowhegan Outdoors)

Use our one-page syllabus template (objectives, competencies, hours, assessment, safety).

2. Academic review (Skowhegan Outdoors + University of Maine at Farmington)

UMF confirms learning quality and alignment.

3. Deliver & document (you + Skowhegan Outdoors + student)

You teach/host and validate skills; we supervise students, track hours/competencies, and handle records.

4. 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.