OUTDOORS: Local program up for $20,000 award

This spring, the Friends of the St. Croix Headwaters spearheaded an effort to get more kids outdoors to enjoy nature. The group founded a new program called Canoes on Wheels (COW), which provides eight canoes along with life vests, paddles and a canoe trailer for schools and youth groups to use at no cost.

Now the COW program is among the finalists to earn one of five $20,000 awards.

“We are honored that Canoes on Wheels has been selected as one of fifty finalists in the Tom’s of Maine Community Sponsorship Program,” said Scott Peterson, executive director of Friends of the St. Croix Headwaters.

To win one of the awards, the COW group needs community votes. You can vote once each day at www.tomsofmaine.com/community-involvement/project-sponsorships.aspx?tab=vote from now until Oct. 30. Select the “Community” tab from the page and look for the Canoes on Wheels program.

Canoes on Wheels offers free educator workshops to help teachers and instructors learn to manage canoe outings and integrate activity-based aquatic ecology, history and physical education activities into their curriculum. The program’s ultimate goal is to ensure all children in Douglas County have a chance to enjoy and learn about the outdoors through canoeing.

Tags: rec, sports, northland, outdoors