Ketcha Outdoors

02/24/2026

Big news from the Farm & Forest School! 🌲✨

Due to the growing demand for our unique outdoor preschool program, we are expanding one of our classrooms to welcome a few more young explorers.

With this expansion, we now have 2 openings for our Monday–Thursday morning program (8:00–12:00) for the 2026–2027 school year.

If your child thrives with mud on their boots, curiosity in their pockets, and plenty of time to learn through play in nature, this could be the perfect fit.

Spots are limited and tend to fill quickly.
👉 Learn more and submit an inquiry today! 207-883-8917

11/06/2025

We are excited to share the Ketcha Shop, so many have asked —and we finally found a partner to help us. This is not a pop-up shop but a year-round shopping experience.

When you wear a Ketcha tee, sip from a Ketcha water bottle, or cozy up in a Ketcha hoodie, you’re part of something bigger. You’re saying yes to adventures, yes to community, and yes to the outdoors. Let us know if you'd like to see any additions; new products are being added weekly.

https://ketchaoutdoors.org/shop/

09/25/2025

What an incredible day at Prouts Neck Country Club! Thanks to the overwhelming support of our sponsors, golfers, and in-kind partners, this year’s Ketcha Outdoors Golf Tournament raised over $35,000 to support our mission of providing equitable access to outdoor experiences and gear.

With more than 80 golfers joining us on a beautiful day by the water, the tournament was filled with good energy, great shots, and plenty of fun.

https://ketchaoutdoors.org/a-beautiful-day-on-the-course-thank-you-for-supporting-ketcha-outdoors/

07/10/2025

🌿 Exciting News! A Spot Just Opened in Our Farm and Forest Preschool 🌿

If you’ve been considering a nature-based preschool experience for your child, now’s your chance. We have an unexpected opening for the upcoming school year!

At Ketcha Outdoors, our Farm and Forest Preschool combines early childhood education with daily outdoor exploration, animal care, and play-based learning. Children spend their days immersed in nature, building confidence, creativity, and a deep connection to the world around them.

🐐 Care for farm animals
🌲 Explore forests and fields
🖍️ Engage in hands-on, seasonal activities
🌦️ Learn outside every day — in all weather!

This is a rare opportunity to join a vibrant, supportive learning community. For ages 3–5. Contact us to schedule a tour or learn more:

📍 Camp Ketcha | Scarborough, ME

05/06/2025

🌿 Ketcha Outdoors' Leadership Series 🌿

We’re excited to share our new Leadership Series, where we highlight the people who bring heart, vision, and passion to our work every day.

Mike Vincent and Ian Tovell, two longtime outdoor leaders at Ketcha Outdoors. In this video, they reflect on what first inspired their love for outdoor education, how they connect with young people through nature, and why this work continues to fuel their purpose.

Their stories are a powerful reminder of the impact that meaningful outdoor experiences can have on kids, and on the adults who guide them.

05/02/2025

✨ Conversations with Ketcha Leaders ✨

Over the next few weeks, we’re bringing you inside the heart of Ketcha Outdoors with a special series of conversations with our leadership team!

In this series, we’ll hear from:

Laragh Kavanaugh - Executive Director

Mike Vincent - Director of Youth and Camp Programs

Kailina Mills - Farm and Forest Preschool Director

Ian Tovell - Development Director

Each of them will share what drives their passion for this work, what inspires them, and what’s on the horizon for Ketcha Outdoors in 2025. Most importantly, they’ll talk about how YOU can get involved in making a difference. 🌱💬

Stay tuned for these inspiring stories, and be part of our journey to create lasting change in the lives of the families and communities we serve.

04/11/2025

🎭 This week at Farm & Forest School, Kailina Mills, EdD, captured a sweet moment of student-led play: a game of Charades sparked by one of our preschoolers during free play!

In her reflection, Kailina highlights how games like Charades support a wide range of learning standards, including performing arts, social-emotional development, and approaches to learning. It’s a beautiful example of how meaningful learning happens through play, creativity, and connection with peers.

🌱 Featuring Kailina Mills, EdD, Farm & Forest School Director.

This week, Kailina captured a moment in the classroom where a student initiated a game of Charades with peers during free play. She explains some of the many...

03/28/2025

🌿✨ Play is powerful learning! This week, Dr. Kailina Mills takes us to the seesaw that our students built by the Ice House and shares the incredible ways children explore physics and develop gross motor skills through play. From balance and weight distribution to teamwork and problem-solving, this simple structure is full of rich learning opportunities!

📚 Watch and learn alongside our young engineers!

🎥 Kailina Mills, EdD, Farm & Forest School.

03/14/2025

In this week's Deep Dive video, Kailina shares a simple game you can play when you have unexpected down time (whether on a hike, in the car, or waiting somewhere) that helps build foundational cognitive skills, like phonemic and phonological awareness. Even down times are times when we can learn!

Featuring Kailina Mills, EdD, Farm & Forest School Director.

In this video, Kailina shares about a simple game you can play when you have unexpected down time (whether on a hike, in the car, or waiting somewhere) that ...

03/10/2025