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21st Century After School Program & Fort Fairfield Frontier Heritage Historical Society

As part of a Global Youth Service Day project, students in the fifth grade 21^st Century After School group learned about local town history. Members of the Fort Fairfield Frontier Heritage Historical Society shared some of their own stories about growing up in Fort Fairfield. The students documented the oral histories by writing the stories and creating illustrations to go along with them. A public demonstration of what was learned and the stories they had illustrated occurred on April 29^th following the Global Youth Service Day weekend.

This event and project were made possible through a $500 GYSD grant provided by the Maine Commission for Community Service. The funds helped the 21^stCentury program purchase art supplies that will be used to carry this project forward. The students that were part of the inaugural group for the Fort Fairfield history project event were Sam Butler, Riley Clough, Austin Cote, Isaac Fox, Wyatt Keegan, Cammi King, Bailee Mallet, Erica McEwen, Kendall Poitras, Amber Sherwood, and Jacob Walker. Their teacher, Patricia Smith, and the high school mentor that works with the group, Victoria Plourde, helped to make the entire project a success. The group would also like to thank Jim Everett and Jackie Tomlinson for sharing their stories.

The world's young people served and celebrated as part of the 25th anniversary of Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). At least 1 million children, teens, and young adults in more than 100 countries across 6 continents lead service or service-learning projects as well as events celebrating the good work youth are doing in their communities year-round. Global Youth Service Day shines a bright light on the unique perspective, compassion and creativity that young people contribute to their communities. This is a time for young people to find their voice, take action, and serve -not as the leaders of tomorrow, but as the leaders of today.

The anthology of illustrated, oral histories is available for the public to view at the Fort Fairfield Elementary School’s library. If you have any questions about this project or would like to become involved, as the book will be added to each year, please contact the 21^st Century After School Program at207-472-3290 ext. 1009.