IDEAS

Here's where we collect ideas and suggestions for projects and events that Kennebec River communities, citizens, and interested others may be inspired to initiate. Note that most of the following ideas can be combined in many ways to make up a single community event. If you have an idea (or ten) send it along in an e-mail and we'll add it to the list. Most importantly - if you know of any individual or group actively planning a River-related event, especially if it's listed here, please let us know so we can tell folks about it and report on its progress.

Ideas for Kennebec River Communities:

Plan a Kennebec River Day (or rename a regular annual event).

Work with summer reading programs at schools or the library. Focus on books and other literature related to your town and the Kennebec River.

Offer live performances of all kinds on or near the riverfront.

Have a costume pageant in which citizens dress in the styles of certain historical periods in your town.

Hold a River View art show with categories for beginners, amateurs and professional artists. Display the work on the riverfront if possible, or ask local businesses to display works in their store or office.

Join with others in a neighboring community to organize a canoe or kayak promenade along the section of the river that connects them.

Hold a public photo contest with modest prizes for the photos that best represent the beauty and spirit of the Kennebec River.

Collaborate with one or more of the nineteen River Communities to offer worth while awards for River-related essays organized by age groups in the schools. Hold an Awards Night where participants are offered the opportunity ot read their essay to an audience.

Ideas for children and youth groups (Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, church groups, school classes):

Interview folks you know who fish in the river, and build a list of all the fish species the live there. Make models, or paintings, or drawings of each species and display them somewhere in town, maybe in a store front or office, or a public building, or outdoors in season.

Build a table model of a sizable section of the river with images representing all the towns and historic places along the way.

Same as above, but make it a map rather than model.

Survey a stretch of the river and ask people who live there about the birds that are commonly seen in, over, or alongside the River. Make up a special Kennebec River Birds handbook from what you learn.

Take your group on a guided trip on the River. This may require some fundraising, but a trip on the river is an experience you'll never forget.

Collaborate with your friends to read up on history of the river and your home town, write a short play about it, then invite the whole town to the premier performance.

Ideas for Fraternal and Community Service organizations:

Compile a pamphlet outlining the history and accomplishments of your organization as it relates to your community and especially to the Kennebec River.

Sponsor a local children's or local youth group and help them carry out one of the projects or events listed here.

Ideas for Town Officials and Municipal Governments of the Kennebec River Communities:

Try to imagine what your town would be like without the Kennebec River.

Keep abreast of local events and activities relating to The River and support and help promote those efforts loud and often.

Elected officials and municipal employees should be encouraged to get involved - as individuals - to whatever degree is comfortable for them.

Ideas for conservation, preservation, history, business, recreation and other special interest organizations:

Your name may be well-known, but how well does the public really understand your purpose?

Hold riparian-related displays, conferences and other events in Kennebec River Communities. Do it in the smaller River communities where you'll not get lost in the crowd. Modern communications and ease of travel along the river will keep folks in touch.

Keep an ear to the ground about what's happening in the Kennebec River Communities and, when the activity is relevant to the River, step forward to offer your help and support in whatever ways you can.

Ideas for the rest of us - individual historians, preservationists, artists, writers, entrepreneurs, specialists of all kinds:

Get involved with the river and it's Communities - Give generously of your imagination, your energy, your enthusiasm, your time, your talent.

... and keep the ideas flowing!