Hancock County Youth Watershed Forum

An open exchange of information and ideas about the watersheds we live in by students in grades 4-12.

Roundtable Discussion (pdf)

Video Clips

2002 Forum

2004 Forum: Healthy Watersheds Healthy People:

The forum was held Thursday, May 20th, 2004 at the MDI Bio Lab. Watch video clips from the 2004 Youth Forum here:

Low Quality

High Quality

Flash 6 or greater required to view video:

Keeping the Gulf of Maine Healthy

What does “Healthy Watersheds/Healthy People” Mean?

We all know we need clean water to drink, but there is more to it than that. Here in Maine, we use water for many different purposes. Some people fish in it, some people swim in it, some people relax by it. Whatever anyone does in or around the water affects its health, and whether you eat food from it, or swim in it, or simply enjoy gazing at it, the health of the water comes back to affect your physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Why hold a youth forum?

Today’s youth are tomorrow’s water defenders. If youth care and are involved in keeping their watershed healthy, then the future of the watershed looks bright. However, these young people need support. They need to feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves. The youth watershed forum gives that to them.

What is that “something bigger”?

At the State of the Gulf of Maine Watershed Summit in October, 2004 in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Dr. Jane Disney shared the ideas and insights that emerged from the youth forum discussions.