Hearty Roots, a nonprofit fostering resilience in Maine youth through outdoor adventure and social-emotional programming, has raised $500,000 toward a permanent Campus for Mindful Adventure. The Peter Alfond Foundation provided an initial $250,000 matching grant.

“Hearty Roots is an innovator in youth development. They offer something that all Maine youth, actually all of us, can benefit from,” said Adam Burk, Peter Alfond Foundation’s executive director in New England. They went on to share, “we’re proud to invest in their work, and congratulate them on completing the matching goals of this grant.”\

In 2017, Hearty Roots’ founder Haley Bezon recognized a need for her school’s students to get outside, away from the stress of the day, social media, and screens. “Helping kids connect with nature in a way that helps them develop a toolbox for resilience is inspiring,” Bezon said. “Kids know what brings them peace and true connection, and we make a space for that mental wellness in our work,” she added.

What began as a small, nimble program grew to serve over 250 kids annually in Lincoln and Knox County, with growth projections to double that number while still maintaining intentionally small outing groups. It’s time for the organization to create its Campus for Mindful Adventure, which Hearty Roots says will be an exploratory place where mental health comes first, where kids can learn to be good stewards of the land and their mental wellness.

“Thanks to the Peter Alfond Foundation and other inspired donors, our campus will be a place where kids, families, and community members will be invited to disconnect from the stimulation of busy lives to look inward to connect with themselves, their peers, and the natural world. We owe this to our kids and grandkids: promoting hope, health, and joy, which serve as protective factors–or barriers–against suicide, substance abuse, and mental health challenges,” Bezon said, adding: “We’re excited about where we’re headed.”