Waypoint is Midcoast Youth Center’s Aspirations Incubator program that supports rural Maine youth from seventh grade through high school graduation. The program proves that when young people are given consistent mentors and real opportunities to lead, they rise to meet them. Waypoint’s impact shows up in returning students and in a growing number of young people stepping into leadership roles of their own.

The Youth Development by Design program, led by Rural Youth Institute Executive Director Meg Taft and former Trekkers Training Director Diane Sternberg, allowed training participants to learn more about the concepts they interact with in youth development initiatives. At the end of this training, participants designed and carried out a capstone project rooted in their own site, using what they learned to meet a real need for the young people they serve.

For 32 years, Trekkers has committed to building meaningful and lasting connections between youth and adult mentors through consistent touch points and outdoor-based adventures. Its impact shows up in the lives of students and in the numbers, demonstrating the need for programming that affects rural youth in positive ways.

Following the announcement for the Aspirations Incubator Request for Proposals in December 2025, the Rural Youth Institute has awarded the Cobscook Institute with grant funding to propel their programming and growth in 2026, in addition to three other Maine-based organizations.

In this article, the Rural Youth Institute celebrates the leadership of women across the Aspirations Incubator Network, whose vision, commitment, and collaboration are strengthening opportunities for rural youth and shaping the future of youth development.

Grounded in pillars that emphasize enrichment, community, relationships, new skills, and endless possibilities, Dreamcatchers provides opportunities for rural youth to explore the world around them and become engaged in civic projects.

Following the announcement for the Aspirations Incubator Request for Proposals in December 2025, the Rural Youth Institute has awarded three organizations with grant funding to propel their programming and growth in 2026.

Uplifting rural youth takes more than a single spark. Programming, mentorship, and inspiration are all made possible by community collaboration and group action — a partnership like the one formed by the Rural Youth Institute and AmeriCorps is proof that working together can help bring impact to a new level.