PATTEN, Maine — Students at Katahdin Middle-High School were walking the streets of downtown Patten Saturday, Nov. 17, as part of a “Shop Local” event.
“This is a student led project focusing on youth entrepreneurs and the importance of supporting your local economy,” explained Kala Rush, education and engagement coordinator for Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters. “It’s all about connecting kids to local businesses and their community. That way they will be more invested and our communities will stay strong.”
The students were part of the After School program at Katahdin Middle-High School in Stacyville, said Erin Schmidt, a teacher at the school.
“Kala came in to our program and we discussed with the students ways that we could help our local economy,” Schmidt said. “It’s fun to get the kids out and show them what our local communities have to offer. We don’t have to do our shopping in other towns or online. There is cool stuff right here in our hometown.”
Schmidt said it was important to get youths interested and invested in the local community with the hope that they will either stay or later return to their hometown.
Rush added that the students researched how shopping local affects the local economy versus purchasing from other locations or online.
“We studied things like, ‘What percentage of your dollar stays local when you shop local?’” Rush said. “What the students learned is that $68 out of $100 stays in the local community. Retailers are also very happy to see you, which is something you do not get at the big box stores.”
Working with the students in the After School Programs is something that the Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters has targeted as a key area for education.
“Classes will have us come in to talk about community revitalization,” Rush said.
Emma Schmidt, an 11-year-old, sixth-grader who lives in Patten is one of those students who benefitted from those discussions. She said she felt it was important to shop local as the holidays approach.
“Shopping local means giving back to our community for all they do for us,” student Emma Schmidt said. “My favorite store is probably the Red Moose. I think it is good that we are embracing what we have here in our community.”
