Project Grant NA25NMFX008G0018

TITLE: MEANINGFUL WATERSHED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ASH AND ASH STEWARDS OVERVIEW: THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO EMPOWER YOUTH IN MAINE, PARTICULARLY WABANAKI YOUTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BY INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS SCIENTISTS, LAND MANAGERS, WABANAKI BASKET MAKERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PRESERVE ASH TREES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. OVER THE TWO-YEAR PROJECT, THEY WILL BRING TOGETHER A COHORT OF 12 TEACHERS ACROSS 8 COMMUNITIES IN MAINE TO BUILD TEACHER CONFIDENCE IN SUPPORTING YOUTH THROUGH MWEES DESIGNED TO PROTECT BROWN ASH STANDS AND THE WATERSHEDS THAT RELY ON THEM. THIS PROJECT INCLUDES MULTIPLE PARTNERS INCLUDING THE ASH PROTECTION COLLABORATION ACROSS WABANAKI (APCAW), AN INDIGENOUS-LED LAB AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE; THE WILD SEED PROJECT, AN ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH THE PUBLIC TO INCREASE THE PRESENCE OF NATIVE PLANTS GROWN FROM WILD SEED; AND THE MAINE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION, AND FORESTRY (DACF). OVER THE COURSE OF 2-YEARS, THIS PROJECT INTENDS TO CONNECT 800-1000 MAINE AND WABANAKI YOUTH TO THEIR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT, INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS SCIENTISTS, AND A BROAD SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY THROUGH MEANINGFUL WATERSHED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES.