YOUTH

Organizations of youth and for youth, providing services for young people and opportunities for growth and change. See also: Children and Childbirth for groups working primarily with pre-school age children, and Family Services for groups concentrating on relations between youth and parents.

Amnesty International Student Groups--See International

Blunt/Youth Radio Project
92 Bedford St., WMPG-FM, PO Box 9300
Portland, ME 04104
767-1785 
cholman@maine.edu
www.wmpg.org
Claire Holman
Teaches 40 teenagers to produce a weekly call-in, public affairs radio show on WMPG-FM.  The award-winning show features reports by teen reporters and teen hosts interviewing guests on many issues.  Members handle reporting, on-air hosting, the choosing of topics, studio production, broadcast engineering, and producing music and poetry competitions.

Building Alternatives--See Justice and Legal Rights

Camden-Rockport Youth Arts--See Art, Music, and Culture

Child Abuse and Neglect Councils--See Violence Prevention

Children's International Summer Villages
PO Box 95
Orono, ME 04473
942-3558
plamhut@adelphia.net
Penny Lamhut
CISV offers international and local programs that foster global friendships and cross-cultural understanding. Youth ages 11-18 participate as delegates in international summer programs as well as local mini-camps and junior branch events. Children ages 6-10 can participate in our 5-day local summer program, Passport to the World

Children's Museum of Maine
142 Free St.
Portland, ME 04101
828-1234 
Year round museum.  Call for details on current displays and programs.

Children's Museum of Portsmouth
280 Marcy St.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
603-436-3853  Fax: 603-436-7706
staff@childrens-museum.org
A year round arts and science museum offering children a world of fun and learning.  Exhibit themes range from dinosaurs, space and lobstering, to music and sound, communications, and world cultures.  There are also computers, an art gallery, and other activities.

Children's Rainforest--See Environment

Children's Theatre of Maine--See Art, Music, and Culture

Civil Rights Team Project--See Justice and Legal Rights

Community Service Opportunities
110 Main St. #1400
Saco, ME 04072
286-2662 fax: 286-2655
A York County juvenile justice program to help youth who are mandated to do community service to connect with youth in their communities. Also works with behavior management and training with adult mentors.

Crisis and Information Hotlines/Youth and Adults--See Self-Help, Support, and Advocacy

Day One
1000 Shore Rd., PO Box 231
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
767-0991; TTY 800-437-1220 Fax: 767-0995
info@day-one.org
We work to reduce substance abuse among Maine youth. We offer services for youth and families affected by alcohol and other drugs, through programs that include prevention and education for youth, parents, schools, and communities; community-based outpatient treatment and services; juvenile justice programs; and year-long residential treatment.

Diversity Coalition
c/o Dotty Foote, PO Box 688
Rockport, ME 04856
236-9681
A youth group within Camden Hills Regional High School. Sponsors programs and activities for students and the larger community on tolerance and respect for all students.

Diversity Leadership Institute
c/o HHRC, PO Box 4645
Augusta, ME 04330
993-2620 fax 993-2620
hhrc@gwi.net
Youth provide interactive presentations and theater to other youth, teachers and police which promote prejudice reduction, development of tolerance, and celebrating diversity to create safer and healthier schools and communities. Annual gathering each summer at Bates College.

East End Kid's Katering
215 Congress St
Portland, ME 04101
871-8810  Fax 828-9455
eekk@midmaine.com
Lynn McGrath
All proceeds from our catering help to provide nutritious affordable meals to children in the Greater Portland Area.  Full-service catering division as well as food service for childcare centers, schools, etc.

Ellsworth Area Communities for Children
78 Union St.
Ellsworth, ME 04605
667-1175  Fax: 667-1175
eac4c@acadia.net
Five promises we make to children are: a caring adult whether tutor, mentor, or coach, a healthy start, safe places with structured activities for out-of-school time, marketable skills through effective education, and opportunities to give back to communities through service.

Fair Harbor Residence
YWCA, 87 Spring St.
Portland, ME 04101
874-1130 
www.ywcaptldme.org
One of several shelters in Maine providing temporary housing for youth ages 14-17. Others in Lewiston (New Beginnings), Portland (Salvation Army), South Portland (Youth Alternatives), Farmingdale (St. Michael's), Rumford (Rumford Group Home), Bangor (Shaw House), and Skowhegan (Youth and Family Services).

Friends Camp
Lakeview Dr., South China, PO Box 84
East Vassalboro, ME 04935
445-2361, 873-3499 (winter) Fax: 445-5451
director@friendscamp.org
http://www.friendscamp.org
Nat Shed
We welcome all youth regardless of race or religion to this international community. Program includes drama, sailing, canoeing, crafts, pottery, amateur radio, and non-competitive sports. Campers build the community through group discussions, consensus, work projects, and creative programming. Residential, co-ed, ages 7-17. Two-week sessions. Camp owned by the Religious Society of Friends/Quakers. *Camp also available as a conference center in May-June and September-October.

Game Loft, The
78 Main St.
Belfast, ME 04915
338-6447  Fax: 338-3801
Ray Estabrook
We are a youth and community center focusing on non-electronic games.  Through a wide range of social, educational, and cultural opportunities, the Loft creates new opportunities for the young people of Waldo County to understand themselves and the world in which they live.

Girl Scouts
Nationwide organization with two councils for the state of Maine.

Abanaki Girl Scouts
156 N Main St.
Brewer, ME 04412
989-7474  Fax: 989-7478
abnaki@midmaine.com
Jo Stevens
Girl Scouts is the pre-eminent organization dedicated solely to girls. In an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world.  In partnership with committed adults, girls develop qualities like strong values, social conscience and conviction about their self worth.

Kennebec Girl Scout Council
PO Box 9421
South Portland, ME 04116
772-1177, 800-660-1072  Fax 874-2646
kennebec@kgsc.org
Serves girls ages 5-17 in ten southern and western Maine counties; works with adults through volunteer and leadership opportunities.

Good Will-Hinckley
PO Box 159
Hinckley, ME 04944
238-4300  Fax: 238-4302
mikehg@mint.net
Michael Hinckley-Gordon
Residential homes for disadvantaged youth 11-21, with family-style cottages, school, work-study, and transitional living programs.

Hardy Girls/Healthy Women
PO Box 821
Waterville, ME 04903
861-8131
info@hardygirlshealthywomen.org
http://www.hardygirlshealthywomen.org
Karen Heck
We organize daylong conferences for girls in grades 5-8 to celebrate what it means to be female in our society today.

Homeless Youth Intervention Program, Volunteers of America--See Housing and Shelter

Institute for Practical Democracy
c/o Portland Housing, 14 Baxter Blvd
Portland, ME 04101
773-4753 ext. 259 
Victoria Mares Hershey
Teaching leadership skills and democratic decision-making for youth, primarily but not entirely immigrants and high schoolers.

Job Corps--See Labor

KIDS Consortium--See Education

Kids First--See Family Services

Kids World of Fun and Wonder
138 Franklin St.
Rumford, ME 04276
364-8277 
A children's museum program, started in 1994, run by volunteers.  Includes a resource room of donated, non-recyclable, commercial and residential waste materials.  Visitor fee is $1; open part-time or by appointment for groups.

Kidspeace National Center of New England
73 Mariaville Rd., PO Box 787
Ellsworth, ME 04605
800-992-9KID; 667-0909  Fax 667-3648 
admissions@kidspeace.org
www.kidspeace.org
Residential treatment and care for troubled children ages 11-17.  Acute multidisciplinary assessment with specific recommendations for future treatment.  Extended residential program offering an integrated continuum of psychiatric, psychological, education, and therapeutic recreational treatments.  Licensed and approved on-site school. Also has a South Portland office (below) and program offices in Orono, Augusta, Lewiston, and York.

343 Gorham Rd.
South Portland, ME 04106
771-5700  Fax 771-5750

Knox County Parents Education and Family Services
231-B Park St.
Rockland, ME 04841
594-1980 Fax: 594-7682
Jackie George
Our mission is to improve the lives of young parents and their children through the efforts of home visitation, parent education, and a caring, trained adult volunteer.

Listen…/How on Earth
PO Box 540
Blue Hill, ME 04614
326-7957 
howonearth@aol.com
Sally Landry
Dedicated to creating lasting social change through compassionate choices for the Earth, animals, and all people.  Projects include How on Earth! Online alternative youth website, youth empowerment workshops, and educational outdoor adventure and service programs.

Maine Children's Rights Advocacy Council--See Justice and Legal Rights

Maine Children's Trust--See Violence Prevention

Maine Coalition for Safe Kids
PO Box J
Temple, ME 04984
800-706-SAFE, 778-2251  Fax: 778-5097
mainesafekids@msn.com
Debra Norton
We are fighting the #1 killer and disabler of children - preventable injuries.  We sell low-cost safety equipment like bike helmets, smoke alarms, and escape ladders.

Maine Discovery Museum
74 Main St.
Bangor, ME 04401
262-7200  Fax: 947-6281
www.mainediscoverymuseum.org
The largest such museum north of Boston, this new children's museum, which opened in February 2001, has three floors of exhibits especially for children ages 2-12.

Maine Youth Action Network
c/o PROP, 510 Cumberland Ave.
Portland, ME 04101
800-698-4959 x303
byvonne@propeople.org
http://www.propeople.org
Established as a project of PROP to train, support, connect, and advocate for youth organized to affect positive change through school and community-based youth peer programs throughout Maine. Addresses issues such as smoking and health and student leadership.

Maine Youth Campfire Collective
c/o Rebecca Kushins, 491 Bates College
Lewiston, ME 04240
rkushin@bates.edu
Listserve: campfire@abacus.bates.edu
An email listserve that publicizes and brings together activist students and non-students in teens and early 20s to fight for social, economic, and environmental local and global change.  Also meets monthly, more often for organizing efforts.

Mainely Girls
11 Forest Glen Dr.
Rockport, ME 04856
230-0170  Fax: 230-0170
megirls@midcoast.com
www.mainelygirls.org
Mary Orear
A statewide organization with two focuses:  working with rural communities to assist them in focusing on girls' needs in a preventative, proactive, and positive manner, and working on the state level to bring about positive change for girls. Sponsors gatherings of/for girls; founded in 1996.

Mid-Coast Children's Museum
5 Kerygma
Rockport, ME 04856
594-4730 
Shirley Powell
Currently a museum without walls but seeking a permanent location at the Lincoln St. Center for the Arts and Education in Rockland.

New Beginnings
436 Main St.
Lewiston, ME 04240
795-4070 
We serve youth with comprehensive approach to the needs of abused, neglected, and homeless youth and their families.  Private, non-profit.  Emergency Shelter, Transitional Living Program, Outreach Services, HIV Prevention Education.

Out and About--See Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning

Outright--See Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning

People's Free Space--See Community Development

Positive Turning Points for Youth
PO Box 106
Farmington, ME 04938
778-3787 
turnptf@exploremaine.com
Patty Schoen
Supports and assists teens, ages 13-19, in Farmington area in crisis or conflict with their living situation.  Volunteers work directly with teens on basic needs, short and long-term goals, self-help, and independent living skills including, but not limited to, alternative housing.  Also sponsors Kerr House for pregnant and parenting teens.

Preble Street Teen Center
17 Chestnut St.
Portland, ME 04101
874-1197  Fax: 842-6898
Christine O'Leary
Provides accessible, barrier-free services (education, health, recreation, substance abuse, etc.) to empower homeless and low income youth.  Part of a collaborative that includes the Portland Street Academy, a youth health clinic, and free meals program.

Rippleffect
PO Box 441
Portland, ME 04112
791-7870
http://www.rippleffect.net
Mission is to promote positive youth development through learning adventures in living classrooms.

Root Cellar
94 Washington Ave.
Portland, ME 04101
774-3197  Fax: 874-0140
info@therootcellar.org
http://www.therootcellar.org
Youth services program. Teen drop-in, teen mothers, after-school for elementary school children. Training for those who want to work with youth.

South Portland Advocates for Social Action
1359 Highland Ave.
South Portland, ME 04106
799-8888  Fax: 741-2842
We are a substance abuse and violence prevention team working to make children's lives better, especially in South Portland.

State Alliance Youth Interactive Theatre (SAY IT)
PO Box 776
Rockland, ME 04841
596-0287 
dowling@midcoast.com
Keith Dowling
Networking and annual gathering of interactive theatre groups using skits and dialogue with the audience to promote awareness of social concerns.  Primarily based at high schools. Directory available.

Street Program
YWCA, 87 Spring St.
Portland, ME 04101
874-1130 
www.ywcaptldme.org
A low barrier counseling program for at-risk, homeless youth.

Teen Center
PO Box 831
Camden, ME 04843
230-0866  Fax 230-0866
teencntr@midcoast.com
www.midcoast.com/~teencntr
Through partnership with the community, the center provides a safe and comfortable environment that fosters mutual respect and responsibility for youth, ages 11-18.

Teen Yellow Pages--See Information and Referral

Transitions: Living Through Loss and Grief--See Family Services

Wabanaki Youth Program--See Racial and Ethnic Groups

Young Fathers program--See Men

Youth Activist Gatherings
c/o ROSC, 161 Stovepipe Alley
Monroe, ME 04951
525-7776
Breanna Norris
Organizing for youth activism through get-togethers, actions, and cultural events.

Youth Adelantando
170 Park St.
Bangor, ME 04401
947-4203  Fax 947-4203
youthadelantando@yahoo.com
www.pica.ws
Bjorn Claeson
Group of Bangor area youth organizing for a youth voice in the community, through projects such as community discussions and work with youth in Bangor's sister city of Carasque, El Salvador.  Also works closely with the Bangor Clean Clothes Campaign.

Youth/Adult Camps, Maine Audobon Society
20 Gilsland Farm Road
Falmouth, ME 04105
781-2330  Fax: 781-0974
info@maineaudubon.org
www.maineaudubon.org
Choose from adventure, day, or residential camps for youth (ages 6-18), families, and adults.  Sites include Borestone Mountain, Gilsland Farm, Hog Island, Mast Landing, and youth adventure trips throughout Maine and NH.  Call to request a camp brochure.

Youth Alternatives
PO Box 596
Portland, ME 04112
874-1175; TDD 874-1180  Fax: 874-1181
At our five residences we work toward safe, healthy, happy childhoods and positive family relationships.

Youth and Family Outreach
PO Box 10008
Portland, ME 04104
874-2370 
We provide services for youth and their families in Greater Portland through the Teen Adventure Program (recreation for ages 11-15) and the Preble Learning Center (ages 6 weeks-5 years).

Youth and Family Services
PO Box 502
Skowhegan, ME 04976
888-420-9605, 474-8574  Fax: 474-5148
yfsinc@somtel.com
Qualified staff provide interventions that assist in improving family functioning and reducing individual problems using group, family and/or individual sessions.  Mental health, substance abuse, and youth shelter services available.

Youth Crisis Stabilization/CHCS
42 Cedar St., PO Box 425
Bangor, ME 04402
800-499-9130 
24-hour, everyday crisis hotline for children/youth to age 18 (20 if still in school) with mental health and behavioral problems, and their families.

Youth Resiliency Project
c/o PROP, 510 Cumberland Ave.
Portland, ME 04101
874-1140 
admin@propeople.org
www.propeople.org
Chris Trout
Our mission is to practice, teach, and advocate for strategies which help young people to recognize and build on their innate resiliency and strengths, regardless of the circumstances which may impact their lives. Four current projects:  Peer Leaders, Parkside Neighborhood Youth Project, Cary Project, and a Statewide Network of Peer Programs.
YouthBuild Portland--See Education

Youthlinks
420 Broadway
Rockland, ME 04841
594-2221  Fax 594-2221
yloffice@youthlinksonline.org
www.youthlinksonline.org
Stephanie Henke
We provide teens with community-based educational opportunities through programs of community service, enrichment, and mentoring.  Our mission is to encourage youth to commit themselves and their community through a program of service learning and volunteering.

YWCA Intervention Program
130 East Ave.
Lewiston, ME 04240
795-4054   Fax: 795-4053
Services for adolescents (ages 11-18):  peer facilitator training, counseling, pregnancy and parenting project (for both males and females up to age 20), family mediation for parent/adolescent conflicts.  Preschool day-care and after-school care.  Full aquatics program for adults and children.