So you think you’re a Mainer…
Annual ‘Mainer Challenge’ issued to GSA students includes lugging a cutout of a lobster up a mountain and harvesting your own meal.
From left, GSA students Donavon McMullen, Eddie Crownover and Oliver Boit accepted the challenge of lugging a cardboard lobster up a mountain. (Full disclosure, Boit is the son of Rising Tide editor John Boit.) Photo by Jacob Allen.
BLUE HILL—Every year, George Stevens Academy history teacher Caroline Richards leads her students through a yearlong “Mainer Challenge.” The goal is to have students interact with the community, history, and people that make up a Maine experience.
“They research and they explore; they talk; and they participate in their community,” Richards says.
Jacob Allen, a senior at George Stevens Academy, took this photo as part of Challenge #6: “Take the most Mainer Maine picture in the most Maine place-evah!!!!”
The challenge consists of several dozen prompts, documenting what they find. Some are creative, like “Take the most MainerMaine picture in the most Maine place–evah.” Others encourage civic participation, like attending a town meeting. And some are whimsical, like hiking a mountain while carrying a large wooden cutout of a lobster.
The list for this year’s challenge is below.
Explore something weird/unusual!
Take a picture/video next to the oldest [fill in the blank] in Maine. (“Don't use our Twinkie, please,” Richards says, referring to the school’s famous glass-enclosed Twinkie, now 50 years old).
Hike one of Maine Coast Heritage Trust's trails or another marked trail.
Visit one of Maine's Fairs or Festivals
Make ONE of the following: a Whoopie Pie, a Blueberry Pie, a Needham, a Seadog Biscuit, or Indian Pudding and give it to someone you love.
Take the most Mainer Maine picture in the most Maine place-evah!!!!
Visit a town meeting in your town or another town on the Blue Hill peninsula.
Interview a Mainer over 60 about a Maine childhood memory.
Head outside and engage in an activity you've NEVER tried before, (Geocaching, birding, snowshoeing, etc...)
Honor a veteran living or dead from your town or the Blue Hill peninsula.
Interview a local business owner with over 50 employees and ask them about the best and hardest things about their business.
Visit your local fire station/public safety building and find out what it takes to be a volunteer firefighter.
Read an Ellsworth American or a Bangor Daily newspaper from the week you were born.
Take a picture near the coolest [fill in the blank] in Maine.
Shake hands with the most famous person in Maine, (this is subjective).
Participate in a Maine competition. Think: run, bike, swim, chowder cook-off, pie bake-off, etc.
Create a Christmas ornament that a tourist would think 'Maine!' and might buy...then try and sell it!
Visit a Maine museum, (the Boston Museum of Fine Art is ok for this challenge).
Visit a historical site and ask a TON of not-annoying questions.
Learn-by heart all the Maine counties and their seats.
Interview a business owner with less than 50 employees about the best AND hardest things about their business.
Take a tour of a Maine college or university.
Write and send a letter to your local representative in Augusta about a concern you have...or call them and talk to them...or visit them and talk to them.
Take a picture or video of Maine wildlife.
Pick a Maine charity or organization you think is doing great work and help them in some way.
Take a fun picture with as many common Mainer-invented items as you can.
Read a great Maine-authored short story.
Watch any movie set in Maine...and critique how accurate the location is!
Read a children's book by a Maine author to a child or a group of children.
Read or listen to a Stephen King short story in a dark room or outside on a dark night using the light of a flashlight or camping lamp.
Climb a Maine mountain while carrying the following: a piece of wood decorated to look like a lobster bigger than the smallest person you climb with.
Create a visual timeline of Maine history using archival photographs.
Create a crafted object with birch bark, balsam fir, or white pine or Upcycle an item.
Harvest a meal–and eat it!
Memorize and recite a Maine-authored poem.
Walk out your door one early morning and don't go inside any building until dark, (except to use the bathroom or pick-up food).
Listen to a new album by a Maine artist or group.
Visit a Maine State park or our one National Park or our one National Monument.
Listen to a Maine-developed or Maine-focused podcast.
Milton Bradley was born in Maine. Grab a game invented by his company, invite family/friends over...and play!
Take a beautiful Maine picture and create postcards or holiday cards with it.
Take a picture dressed as Paul Bunyan at the Paul Bunyan statue.
Spend two hours in a boat on the water.
Your own idea.
“This is what is available in your town. Isn’t it awesome? And the people in your town. Aren’t they grand? I think that might be the heart of the project–community,” Richards says.
If your business or organization would like to participate, reach out to Carole Richards at c.richards@georgestevens.org.
