The Great Bay Foundation’s newest grantee is the Smokey House Center, an organization that for the past 34 years has taught middle and high school students real world skills in the areas of science, math, ecology, communications, reading, writing, problem solving, critical thinking, responsibility, and teamwork. On 4,500 acres of land used for farming, forestry, and education programming, disadvantaged youth are engaged in the active care and hands-on management of the natural resources that surround them. The alternative setting and instructional approach has proved effective in helping thousands of young people graduate from high school and develop the academic, social, and workplace skills to become contributing members of society.
Smokey House participants work in teams of six, guided by an adult leader, in a variety of farm and farm-related tasks: growing organic vegetables, blueberries, and Christmas trees; making charcoal and maple syrup; and raising sheep. Smokey House takes a two-pronged strategy to increasing individuals’ self-reliance: the organization provides its youth workers both a minimum wage and academic credit for their work, the latter of which is possible due to the organization’s strong relationship with area schools and the academic learning it incorporates into the various work tasks.
Lynn Bondurant, Smokey House’s Executive Director, approached Great Bay about obtaining funding to support the organization’s Maple Sugaring Business. Smokey House has operated this business for as long as the organization has provided work-based learning programs to disadvantaged teens. However, increases in fuel costs have made it difficult for the maple sugaring business to operate in the black. Staff and students have recently researched ways to retrofit the business so that it can once again succeed. Lynn asked Great Bay to provide $51,380 to be used to increase the efficiency of the sugarhouse and improve and expand the sugarbush. This effort will include purchasing a wood evaporator, adding 250 taps, reconfiguring other aspects of the business’s sap collection system, and hiring marketing and design consultants and a forester.
Of the 56 revenue-generating projects Great Bay has supported since 1998, this is the first to involve teens in a line of work with such a strong tradition in New England. Smokey House’s and, more specifically, the Maple Sugaring Business’s clear social and business goals make it a perfect fit for our funding.
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