Passion For Life
we work with
We focus on those most in need.
We ask mentors to refer kids to us who need special attention, have a physical or mental impairment, and / or are going thru a family or personal crisis.
Parents
Schools
Boys & Girls Clubs
Teen Centers
Community Centers
Scouts
Libraries
Kids in Crisis
Kids with Disabilities
Therapists
School Counselors
Hospitals
Other Non-profits
Ethnic Groups
history
&
What we do today
We were founded in 2020 to address the "indoors epidemic," kids today being on screens over 7 hours a day. Screen time (and social media) has led in part to our kids being less healthy than ever. Childhood obesity, anxiety, diabetes, depression can all be linked in part to a huge decrease of outdoor time, and a huge increase in screen (indoor) time. We call this the “indoors epidemic.”
Today, in our 4th year of operation, our focus is on getting kids off screens, fostering an appreciation for nature, introducing kids to some really cool outdoor passions, building self-confidence & resiliency, and giving them the framework needed for life success.
We do this by introducing kids to outdoor passions while simultaneously incorporating life skills education. We teach effective communication skills and money management skills by observing the habits of successful people. It's a dynamic, powerful combo that is delivered seamlessly, and we’re finding it to be much more impactful than traditional methods. Retention is magnified because kids want to emulate successful people whose habits we bring to their attention (Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg are the ones you’d recognize; kids today have many others, such as Mr. Beast, a famous YouTuber).
the impact we're having
George and his team were amazing teachers with a wealth of knowledge and patience that made the experience an unforgettable one for both me and my son.
- Regina Montefeltri, Single Parent - Cape Elizabeth
​
The kids loved George and immediately wanted him back.
He kept them fully engaged and did a great job simplifying what for many is a complicated topic.
- Christina Byther, Teacher - Westbrook High School Compass Academy
​
​
My son left the experience being the happiest I had seen him in a long while.
On the way home he commented, “This was the best day ever!”
- Simone Yamauchi, Single Parent - Kennebunk
​
​
If it weren’t for my dad introducing me to the great outdoors, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
I don’t think there’s anything more valuable, more life changing, than getting kids off electronics and into nature. And there’s so much here in our backyard that most kids never discover.
- Joe Capozza, Volunteer - Falmouth
​
​
I was interested in everything he talked about and would like him to come back.
- 9th Grade Student
video
why we introduce kids to outdoor passions
The Social Media Addiction, Its Consequences & Our Solution
The world of social media has overtaken and effectively replaced our natural world and is having a devastating impact on our kids. Anxiety, depression & suicide have skyrocketed due to this total disconnection from nature and unprecedented lack of human connnectivity.
Click arrow above to watch a video from our founder
What happens when kids are on electronics for over 7 hrs a day?
-
Unprecedented Childhood Anxiety, Depression & Suicide – The suicide rate among girls aged 10 to 14 years tripled from 1999 through 2014.
​
-
Unprecedented Childhood Obesity & Diabetes – Childhood obesity has increased for four decades. In 1980, about 5 percent of the country’s children were obese, now that number is hovering at 20% - a 400% increase!
​
-
Unprecedented Lack of Human Connectivity – Human interactions have been decimated. Even when individuals are physically close together, they are virtually far apart because of their inability to separate themselves from their mobile devices.
​
-
Unprecedented Need for Environmental Stewardship – How can we expect our future leaders to protect the environment when so many are never exposed?
Is it really any surprise?
The Benefits of the Outdoors
National Parks & Rec
​
Children today spend less time outdoors than any other generation, devoting only four to seven minutes to unstructured outdoor play per day while spending an average of seven and a half hours in front of electronic media. As a result, child obesity has reached unprecedented levels and continues to rise. Children are carrying this sedentary lifestyle and a disconnection with nature into adulthood which creates a troubling national trend for the future of conservation, our economy, and the health and wellness of our communities.
​
Portland Press Herald
The outdoors has been more than just a way to get out of the house; it is a reminder of deep ties that make us feel alive, more authentically connected with others, more linked to the natural landscape we call Maine. If the outdoors has been this critically important to adults, it’s doubly so for youth. Even before the pandemic, youth were in need: The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that young teens spend an average of nine hours per day on a screen and, according to social scientists, fewer than 10 minutes outdoors. Research shows that in addition to serving the mental and physical well-being of youth, learning outdoors brings academic benefits, including enhanced critical thinking skills and improved test results. When youth have the opportunity to spend significant time outside, they benefit now and in the future.
