Farm Credit of Maine and the Northeast Farm Credit AgEnhancement Program support many programs that educate youth around the State of Maine, such as the following program:

We help sponsor the Teachers' Tour, an ongoing project allowing Maine teachers to tour woodlands and logging operations and to visit paper and sawmills. The tour is a product of the Maine TREE Foundation's Long-Term Education About Forests (LEAF) program, which encourages respect for all forest values, including wood, recreation, wildlife, aesthetics, soil and water quality and biodiversity of plant and animal species.

During the three-day Teachers' Tour, educators roll their sleeves up and really get down to work in practical hands-on workshops. They also visit an outdoor classroom where they see forest management firsthand and learn to design outdoor classrooms as "windows" to the forest.

Sherry Huber, executive director of Maine TREE, says, "Teachers participating in the tours tell us that they never appreciated the amount of planning required to harvest trees before participating in our program. They also tell us that they return to their classrooms eager to develop new perspectives on forest resources in their students. The result is a multilevel educational experience that reaches students, teachers, peers, parents and other adults."

For more information about this program and the Maine Tree Foundation visit www.maineTREEfoundation.org.

Farm Credit also contributes to the "scholarship fund" for Ocean Adventure! Founded and owned by Phil Averill in Bristol (near Damariscotta in mid-coast Maine), this program has shown up in classrooms around the State since 1991. Phil says, "Farm Credit AgEnhancement grant money has allowed

Ocean Adventure! to grow significantly, especially through our early years. The scholarship fund helps us take our programs to schools and libraries that can't afford the full cost of the program." Ocean Adventure! offers in-school marine programs for all ages. The informative, hands-on programs present information on Maine's ocean and commercial fishing heritage.

According to Phil, the "Live Animal Touch Tank" is the most popular program. While live ocean animals from local waters are available to observe and hold, the program emphasizes respect for other life forms, history of the animals, habitats and niches occupied and the commercial importance of the species.

Another popular program is "How Fishermen Catch Fish." Highly interactive, this program notes the economic importance of commercial fishing to Maine and also addresses fisheries management and current environmental issues.

Teachers describe Ocean Adventure! with glowing reviews from "You captured their curiosity." to "Phil Averill is the epitome of a great teacher: very knowledgeable with a great sense of humor."

For more information on Ocean Adventure!, visit their Web site at www.oceanadventure.org.

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