BRYANT POND (March 13): The canoe slid gently onto the rocky shoreline with one easy stroke of the paddle.

It had been a long, yet rewarding day on the river. A day that had started well before the sun had fully crept over the tall pines on the eastern horizon. There had been breakfast by the campfire, the campsite had been cleaned up, and the group had packed and set off for a day of learning in the wilds of Maine.

This group of Maine youngsters was developing skills once learned as a natural part of growing up in Maine. Knowing such skills is no longer a priority for most youth who spend their time behind computers, playing video games and dealing with an ever-more complicated society that often involves the unique pressures of a single-parent household.

Fortunately there is a one-of-a-kind, low-cost, proven way to regain those lost skills that for centuries Mainers took for granted. It's called the Maine Conservation School.

The school in Western Maine is nestled on the shores of Bryant Pond. This 200-acre facility was donated to the state in 1956 by Lillian Rogers Waterhouse with the intention that it be used as a conservation education facility. It has definitely lived up to her wishes.

Today campers of all ages and backgrounds take part in numerous activities that not only give them an enjoyable summer camp experience, but also teach them valuable lessons on living with nature.

"Each year over 1,000 young people attend programs here at MCS," said Scott Olsen, the school's executive director. "We combine hands-on instruction in traditional outdoor activities with basic safety and first aid and contain an underlying conservation message in the hopes that these young people will become the future stewards of Maine's fish, wildlife, woods and waters."

At the Maine Conservation School, children in the Junior Explorer program begin taking their individual paths of learning and living in the outdoors at the age of 8. The camp's programs follow three learning paths as they move students from basic outdoor skills to more advanced ones. Most campers develop an appreciation of nature that stays with them all their lives.

These paths are Woodcraft Skills, Primitive Skills and Naturalist Skills.

Woodcraft Skills are those generally used by hunters, anglers, guides and other outdoor recreationists. Primitive Skills are for primitive living, self-sufficiency and survival, with an emphasis on living with the earth. Naturalist Skills are those used by individuals interested in learning more about the ecology of the world we live in.

Camp sessions range from one to several weeks, with prerequisites that often require the completion of a lower level of learning before moving up to a more advanced level. Many campers return year after year, not only because they are learning about our natural world, but also because they are having fun.

Junior Maine guides
The top level at MCS is its renowned Junior Maine Guide program, which is the highest achievement available to a young person in the outdoors. This outdoor path, open to youngsters ages 15 to 18, is an intense, four-week program that teaches and tests on a wide range of outdoor skills.

The JMG program is a unique, leadership-training program that teaches outdoor skills and wilderness safety. It is designed to equip students with the necessary skills and abilities to secure a Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife junior Maine guide certification.

Former Lincolnville resident Rick Rogers, who now lives in Phillips, is the lead instructor for the JMG program. Rogers, a registered Maine guide and regional safety coordinator for the DIFW, has seen the value of the program and its effect on youngsters during his five years at the school.

"Completion of the four-week program is a major achievement for these young people," said Rogers. "This program is an excellent confidence builder."

For three weeks, JMG students are based at a lakeside shelter in the woods at the school's Bryant Pond campus. They live in tents and practice skills in the woods and learn campsite management. All youngsters participate in some traditional summer camp activities such as swimming and paddling and join other campers for meals in the dining hall.

This year JMG participants will take part in a multiday backcountry canoe/camping trip meant to be an exciting yet educational experience.

During the fourth and final week of the JMG program, campers and MCS staff head out to an encampment on Swan Island in the Kennebec River to demonstrate their skills in a variety of areas.

The campers are reviewed on a number of outdoor skills including axmanship, canoeing, shelter making, fire starting, map reading, understanding the map of Maine, packing and choosing trip equipment, first aid, cooking, and group encampment. Other skills they are judged on include backpacking, Maine issues, starting a fire with wet wood, tree identification, equipment knowledge, environmental concerns, minimum impact camping, wilderness regulations and general outdoor knowledge.

During this final week of testing and evaluation, JMG candidates cook three meals a day. Experienced staff members visit each campsite and evaluate meals for nutritional value, presentation and taste.

Not all the participants will receive the coveted junior Maine guide certification, but each participant will have learned more about Maine's natural wonders than most youngsters living in the Pine Tree State today. In fact, students who successfully complete the JMG course are most likely better prepared to live in and enjoy Maine's outdoors than the majority of the state's adults.

There are also opportunities throughout the year for adults and educators to learn valuable outdoor skills. Adult programs include the American Wilderness Leadership School (designed for educators), Maine Guide School, Bow Hunter Safety certification, Winter Outdoor Skills and Canoe Tripping.

Camp sessions range in price from $475 for one-week sessions to $2,200 for the four-week JMG program. Even though the prices are low compared to some private camps, some youngsters and their families still need financial help. Fortunately, through donations and DIFW support, 60 percent of the youngsters receive some financial help. There is even a special scholarship program for Midcoast youth, including those living on the offshore islands, that can cover up to 50 percent of the costs.

To learn more about the Maine Conservation School, call 665-2068 or visit: www.meconservationschool.org.

If you're thinking about a summer camp for your youngster this summer or have a son or daughter interested in a career that involves the outdoors, take the time to check out the Maine Conservation School. This might just be their best summer adventure ever.