Building a Future Through Adventure: MYC Awarded Community Health Improvement Fund Grant

Posted on September 24, 2025

The Midcoast Youth Center is honored to announce that our “Building a Future Through Adventure” project has been awarded funding through the MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital – MaineHealth LincolnHealth Community Health Improvement Fund (CHIF) for 2025–2026

This exciting opportunity will allow us to decrease barriers and expand access to adventure-based programs that foster resilience, leadership, and belonging for middle and high school youth.

What This Funding Supports

With CHIF’s backing, MYC will:

  • Strengthen our skatepark with physical improvements, keeping it safe, welcoming, and vibrant.
  • Offer lessons and camps at little to no cost so more youth can discover skateboarding, scootering, and snowboarding.
  • Provide accessible equipment for youth of all abilities.
  • Support young adult leadership by training Skatepark alumni and participants as peer instructors.
  • Collaborate with Bath Middle School to bring action sports into intramural sports or PE offerings.
  • Partner with Morse High School’s Unified Physical Education program to make skateboarding and action sports more inclusive.
  • Expand adventure opportunities with trips to Lost Valley and other outdoor recreation spaces

 

Youth Voice at the Center

This initiative was designed with direct youth input. From middle schoolers who asked for more skatepark time, to parents who’ve seen their children grow in confidence, their voices helped shape this project. As one participant put it:

“I would have chosen to learn to skate/ride over taking an ordinary gym class, hands down. This would have led to me pursuing a membership to the park earlier and increased my skill level at a rapid pace.”

Community Partnerships

This effort is made possible by collaboration with organizations and individuals who share our vision, including:

  • First Push Syndicate, providing trauma-informed instruction and training youth leaders.
  • Maine Skateboarding Association, lending expertise in program design and event series.
  • Plant a Park, led by Tobias Parkhurst, guiding thoughtful skatepark improvements.
  • Bath Middle School and Morse High School, expanding opportunities for youth through school.
  • Local families and educators, helping us ensure programming is youth-centered and inclusive.

Charlie Bingham, Unified Physical Education teacher at Morse High School, shared his excitement about the partnership:

“In the past, I’ve brought my Unified PE class to the Skatepark, and it has been such a positive experience for my students. I’m really looking forward to getting them back into the park more often this year. I also appreciate how the Midcoast Youth Center & Skatepark continues to reach out and work with us to create an even more accessible space for all learners.”

Looking Ahead

With these investments, we’re not just building ramps—we’re building confidence, leadership, and lifelong community. This project will sustain itself through camps, mentoring, and partnerships, ensuring youth have ongoing opportunities to thrive.

We’re deeply grateful to MaineHealth and the CHIF fund for their commitment to youth health and engagement. Together, we’re making sure every young person has the chance to explore, grow, and adventure.

 

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