PARIS – The University of Maine Cooperative Extension, in partnership with the Snow School, SAD 72, Telstar High School, SAD 44, and the Hartford/Sumner School, SAD 39, received three 21st Century Grant grants administered through the Maine Department of Education.

The grants are for five years, with slightly decreasing amounts in years four and five. Funding will help each of the schools build an after-school program designed to provide students with academic support and enrichment programs in a program after-school, during vacations and in the summer.

In addition, the grants will contribute to the after-school students’ participation in a school-based and summer outdoor educational camp and leadership program at the new UMaine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond.

The program will begin by hiring new staff and enrichment teachers. The programs will also develop new advisory boards, which will work toward the creation of each new program site.

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension has been helping communities develop programs since 1991 and has arranged for the Hartford/Sumner and Snow schools to model their new programs after the Mahoosuc Kids Program started in Bethel and the surrounding communities more than seven years ago at the elementary level. The program is given a five-year grant time frame to ensure sustainability beyond the grant.

In addition to academic support for students, enrichment programs in the performing arts, international cultures, crafts, sciences and in cross discipline areas will be the focus of the programs.

For more information about the program or to explore the possibility of volunteering with one of the projects, contact Susan Jennings, Extension educator, at 1-800-287-1482.