LifeJackets is a community based youth development program built upon the foundation of youth serving youth and community collaboration. LifeJackets offers youth opportunities to build trust, mutual respect, dignity, life skills, and self-esteem. LifeJackets offers a safe, nurturing, peer-helping culture, which empowers youth to take personal responsibility for their choices and actions. Through peer helping, community service, wilderness adventure, and mentoring, youth in LifeJackets are equipped to make choices that help them better navigate the waters of life.

What is a LifeJackets Module?

Each LifeJackets Module is a nine-month program that involves up to ten participants ages 12-15, two to four high school peer leaders, and two adult coordinators. Each nine-month module includes the following components:

• Weekly Meetings: During these three-hour sessions, participants gather in a safe environment with peer leaders and the youth coordinators to discuss, discover, and experience their development as young citizens. Youth learn to make positive choices, to show respect for themselves and others, and to work effectively as team members.
• Physical Challenges: Physical challenges and activities form a key part of the weekly routine. This can range from very simple exercises to more advanced outdoor activities which offer additional opportunities for physical challenge, problem solving, and building trust as the group discovers what it takes to complete a task as a community of people.
• Community Service: By participating in community service projects, LifeJackets participants learn the importance of giving back to the community in a positive manner. At least two service projects are done by each LifeJackets group– one environmental and one directly serving people.
• Outdoors Skills Training: Throughout the year, participants are taught outdoor skills which they will use during their summer wilderness expedition. Among the skills taught are: outdoor shelters, wet/dry fire building, cooking, axemanship, map and compass, and canoeing.
• Wilderness Expedition: The wilderness expedition gives participants a chance to use and enhance the skills they have learned during the program. This weeklong trip involves living and traveling together as a community in the Northern Maine Woods.

Peer Leadership Component

Peer leaders are high school students who help lead and facilitate each LifeJackets Program Module. Each peer leader is trained and encouraged to be a positive influence on the development of the group. This is a growing and rewarding experience for these young leaders and is a critical element in the delivery and success of each LifeJackets Program Module.

Junior Maine Guide Component

Interested participants and peer leaders aged 15 and older are offered advanced skills training to prepare them to earn certification as a Junior Maine Guide. This training is conducted in collaboration with several other organizations such as Maine Audubon and the Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Funding Sources

LifeJackets fulfills a need not met by other groups in our communities. In order to ensure access for anyone wishing to participate, the program is free of charge to all. Donations and grants fund the program.

Funding for LifeJackets is provided by:

• Department of Health and Human Services
• United Way of Eastern Maine
• Bangor Savings Bank
• Eastern Maine Health Systems
• Jobs for ME Grads
• Sewall Foundation
• SmartWool
• Hudson Foundation
• Piscataquis County Commissioners

Contributions may be made to the LifeJackets program directly to the Charlotte White Center or by credit card by visiting our donation page.

Access

At present LifeJackets is working in five local school districts to identify, recruit, and work with children 12-15 years old who have an interest in the LifeJackets experience.

The LifeJackets office is located at:

148 East Main Street
Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426

The LifeJackets Youth Group Coordinators can be contacted by phone or e-mail at:

(207) 564-0133
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