Concept: Facility renovation and development on the Greenville Schools campus to allow for delivery of nationally-recognized outdoor educational programs rendered to the visiting public, the community member, and the Greenville Public School student.

Facility Name & Location: Moosehead Outdoor Leadership School (MOLS) – Greenville Schools, Pritham Avenue, Greenville.

The Moosehead Outdoor Leadership School (MOLS – name can certainly be adjusted to meet the desire of all partners) – would be a common facility offering a wide-range of educational opportunities for a wide-range of age groups. All offerings would be focused on outdoor education, science, technology, and recreation. Existing programs in the Greenville community would be offered through this venue, and would be further integrated into the Greenville public schools. A major facility upgrade would occur on campus, and the physical grounds would be developed to meet the needs of this Academy.

Facility Changes

• Addition to High School To Accommodate Elementary School and Gymnasium Functions

  Following the vision of Mr. Louis Oakes years earlier, the Greenville Schools would seek funds through the State of Maine Department of Education to add onto the main high school building. The addition would house the elementary school and the gymnasium in their entirety. The new playground and current parking areas would have to be relocated, as would access to the skating rink and tennis courts. The largest challenges to this proposal are securing funding from the state, and ensuring that the entire high school does not need to be renovated as part of this project. Considering the new school construction models, it is possible to fund this without any local contribution.

• Renovation of Gymnasium and Elementary School

  The current Nickerson Elementary School would be reduced in size (roughly by ½) to accommodate a new parking lot and swing driveway at the front of the building. The remaining building would be renovated to allow for modern classroom space. The gymnasium would be renovated and expanded (possibly with some outside cold storage) to accommodate large events inside and specific training / instruction opportunities (climbing wall, orienteering instruction, etc.).

• Programming would be accomplished through a variety of service providers organized by a common board or overseer of the facility. Such programming would begin with that which is currently offered and expand to the extent possible to other activities. The quality of programs offered through the Moosehead Outdoor Leadership School (MOLS) would have to be nationally-recognized as high quality programs. These programs would include, but not be limited to:
  1. Current NREC programming of outdoor education sessions (typically evening presentations).
  2. Current Evergreen Enrichment Collaborative programs during and outside of the school year (including summer camp program).
  3. Appalachian Mountain Club programs such as currently provided through EEC and importing more programs from curriculum used at New Hampshire facilities.
  4. Junior Maine Guide Program as provided by EEC and AMC.
  5. Backcountry medicine programs offered by such providers as SOLO and Wilderness Medical Associates.
  6. Consider outdoor leadership programs as offered by SOLO, AMC, Outward Bound, and others.
  7. Consider various conservation programs such as the Bryant Pond Conservation School, others, to be offered here.
  8. Consider modern forestry curriculum similar to that offered at Foxcroft Academy.
  9. Consider new program offerings suitable to the topic and to the region (e.g., young entrepreneur training; hospitality training; etc.).
  The Moosehead Outdoor Leadership School (MOLS) could be funded through a variety of foundations and partners including, but not limited to: Libra, Kresge, Other Foundations, AMC, local capital campaign, other sources.

  The Moosehead Outdoor Leadership School would create a desirable niche for the Greenville Schools and Community and establish the Greenville Schools as the center of our community. Greenville would become known nationally and internationally for its programming and would become a desired location to live and to raise a family. Desired outcomes would include:

  • Increased student enrollment over ten year period.
  • Increased year-round population of community.
  • Increased workforce capacity.
  • Increased tourist visitation across four-seasons.
  To make this happen, the first step would be to complete the proposed Natural Resource Education Center with the knowledge that there will be a home for this organization and its programs at the MOLS. The proposed NREC site COULD be used for the following (in association with MOLS):

  Natural Resource Education Center – Route 15, Greenville

  This Route 15 location would be created with MDOT Transportation Enhancement Funds; private donations; federal appropriations to house the following entities:

  Common Customer Service Person from the State of Maine to provide information on hunting and fishing licenses; open burn permits; campsite and general information about parks and public lands.

  North Maine Woods, Inc. customer service person to explain the resources offered and managed by NMW, Inc. Possibly sell NMW permits and merchandise.

  Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce Visitor's Center and Staff.

  General Visitors services such as bathrooms, parking, map of the area, kiosk space for commercial attractions in the area (MLRCC); natural resource attractions in the area (BP&L); Exhibit Space for resource managers and owners such as Forest Society of Maine's West Branch Project; AMC's land base and programs; Plum Creek's Resource Plan; others.

  The Route 15 facility would also serve as a trailhead for multi-purpose trails leading to and through the Plum Creek Land Base; the AMC land base; and NREC's ownership. Such trails would be available for non-motorized recreational uses such as: hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, sled dog mushing; snow-shoeing, etc. These trails would connect to the proposed peak-to-peak hiking trail of the Plum Creek project, as well as to the facilities of the AMC at Little Lyford Pond Camps.

  If compatible, the facility would also allow creation and maintenance of separate motorized recreation trails for snowmobiling. Such a trail system would connect to the ITS to the east and be maintained by the Town of Greenville.

  The location would be connected to the downtown area via a paved shoulder / bike path adjacent Route 15. If a better path could be identified and developed, it would be.

  The facility would be owned and operated by NREC and follow its proposed development plan. Revenue for maintenance of the facility would come from cost-sharing with the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce and the State of Maine. Both entities would also pay some modest amount of rent. Exhibitors would pay rental fees annually. It would be profitable to consider vendor space for rent within the visitor's center.

  It may be appropriate to consider taking over the MDOT rest area and assuming that property as part of this site.