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BMS outdoor club approved for overnight Appalachian Mountain Club trips with $5,000 grant
Summary
RSU 25’s board unanimously approved two overnight BMS Outdoor Club trips to the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Meta Whistler Lodge after staff secured a $5,000 Journey Fund grant to cover lodging, food and gear; school leaders outlined safety, chaperone and transportation plans.
The RSU 25 School Board unanimously approved two overnight outdoor trips for the BMS Outdoor Club to the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Meta Whistler Lodge, funded primarily by a $5,000 Journey Fund grant awarded to the school.
The BMS teacher leading the trips told the board the grant covers lodging, transportation, food and gear for Title I students and said the goal is to give students extended outdoor experiences many would not otherwise have. "This is really about getting kids outside having them get opportunities that they wouldn't normally get," the teacher said, describing multi-hour daily outings for cross‑country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking.
The teacher outlined logistics: students would stay in a private 16‑person bunkhouse split by gender with school chaperones on site, and the AMC will provide linens and meals. The presenter said an inventory shows the school has enough cross‑country skis and snowshoe equipment for participants; additional gear could be sourced from a registered nonprofit gear‑share in Brunswick if needed.
Transportation to the remote lodge proved a key planning item. School staff said driving district vans raised reliability and safety concerns in winter conditions; the board was told that using a local shuttle operator from Greenville (estimated at $40 per person) in combination with a school bus to Greenville keeps the trip within the grant budget while relying on experienced winter drivers.
The presenter described student selection priorities tied to Title I eligibility and recommended limiting participation to eighth graders the teacher knows well. Safety measures include a school‑issued first‑aid kit for each chaperone, written emergency contact lists, a plan for parent communication and on‑site AMC phone/Wi‑Fi access for emergencies.
A board member moved to approve the trips as presented; the motion passed with all members voting in favor. The teacher said they will present trip details to students, create a vetted candidate list and proceed with parent communications and packing lists once approvals are finalized.
Next steps: staff will finalize transportation arrangements, confirm chaperone assignments and circulate permission and packing information to families.
