Meet our Fall 2024 THOR Student Fellows
McKenna Chappell, University of Maine Orono
Major (minor/concentration): Parks, Recreation & Tourism with a Minor in Studio Art
Career Plans: I plan to get my MBA with a concentration in Outdoor Industry Management, then work in a national park as a guide, outdoor educator, art instructor, or business owner.
Summary of fellowship project: I will be researching U.S. national parks to gather data about arts programming and partnerships.
Abby Lavoie, University of Maine Orono
Major (minor/concentration): Parks, Recreation & Tourism with a Graphic Design Minor
Career Plans: My career plans involve a job outside where I am able to connect with people and give back to our lovely planet!
Summary of fellowship project: I’m working with UMaine and Backcountry Squatters and will share more about my project soon.
Laini Frager, University of Maine Orono
Major (minor/concentration): Environmental Educator in a park setting, interpretive ranger
Career Plans: Park Ranger/social science research/outdoor leader/educator
Summary of fellowship project: I will be working with the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association to research current strategies used to involve tourists with working waterfronts around the world and seeing if any of these strategies could be implemented on Maine’s working waterfront. I will also be surveying tourists in Portland to gauge visitor interest in the working waterfront.
Jordan Potter, University of Maine Orono
Major (minor/concentration): Biomedical Engineering and Outdoor Leadership
Career Plans: Something with health and the environment.
Summary of fellowship project: I am going to go to wilderness areas in the Bangor/Orono area and share about my experiences. This will give people a broader awareness of ways they can experience and enjoy nature close by too.
Meet our Summer 2024 THOR Student Fellows
Molly Bogner, University of Maine Orono
Major (minor/concentration): Master’s in the School of Forest Resources
Career Plans: Park Ranger/social science research/outdoor leader/educator
Summary of fellowship project: I will be working to expand a statewide outdoor program marketing plan for schools in Maine. I will be advocating for students spending more time outdoors, and how Teens to Trails can provide an opportunity for these programs. I will be reaching out to schools and other outdoor youth groups to encourage participation with Teens to Trails.
Erin Ciampa, University of Maine Orono
Major (minor/concentration): Parks Recreation and Tourism with a Nature-Based Tourism Concentration and an Outdoor Leadership Minor
Career Plans: Hoping to work within the outdoor education field!
Summary of fellowship project: I’m working with THOR fellow Molly Bogner to gather data on people’s experiences at the summits of Sargent and Cadillac mountains in Acadia National Park. We are asking visitors about the soil vegetation restoration project, Save Our Summits, among other things. I will also be doing a bi-weekly blog post about my experiences!
Laini Frager, University of Maine Orono
Major (minor/concentration): Environmental Educator in a park setting, interpretive ranger
Career Plans: Park Ranger/social science research/outdoor leader/educator
Summary of fellowship project: I will be working with the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association to research current strategies used to involve tourists with working waterfronts around the world and seeing if any of these strategies could be implemented on Maine’s working waterfront. I will also be surveying tourists in Portland to gauge visitor interest in the working waterfront.
Jordan Potter, University of Maine Orono
Major (minor/concentration): Biomedical Engineering and Outdoor Leadership
Career Plans: Something with health and the environment.
Summary of fellowship project: I am going to go to wilderness areas in the Bangor/Orono area and share about my experiences. This will give people a broader awareness of ways they can experience and enjoy nature close by too.
Amanda Rock, University of Maine Orono
Major (minor/concentration): Kinesiology – Outdoor Leadership
Career Plans: I plan to attend PA school after my undergrad and maintain my passion for outdoor recreation by joining the field of wilderness and emergency medicine. I hope to continue working towards bringing my communities to the outdoors but with the education and medical knowledge needed to be safe and keep our environment safe too.
Summary of fellowship project: For this summer’s THOR project, I will be working with the organization Teens to Trails to create a compilation of best practices in the outdoors for students and teachers new to the outdoor communities. I will also be working on creating a flowchart for teachers (and older students) to create an accessible, user-friendly guide on how to find training and what training they may need to be a well-rounded outdoor leader and be prepared for whatever their specialty may throw at them.
Meet our Spring 2024 THOR Student Fellows
Emily Kidd, University of Maine Orono
Major (minor/concentration): Kinesiology and Physical Education (Concentration in Outdoor Leadership)
Career Plans: Guide for an organization such an NOLS or work as an outdoor educator in the High School setting.
Summary of fellowship project: During my time as a THOR Fellow I hope to work in conjunction with pre-existing organizations in order to create more job access for Maine high schoolers, specifically rural Maine high school students. My goal is to provide them access to various employers within the outdoor industry and to share with them other young people’s experiences working for such companies.
Ashley Meggett, University of Maine Orono
Major (minor/concentration): Earth and Climate Sciences major, Earth Science concentration, Outdoor Leadership minor
Career Plans: Something in the realm of outdoor conservation and public relations
Summary of fellowship project: Assisting Teens to Trails organization with public outreach, advertisement, and support at planned outdoor events
Amanda Rock, University of Maine Orono
Major (minor/concentration): Kinesiology and Physical Education: Outdoor Leadership
Career Plans: I hope to study and share the impact of physical activity and time outdoors on our mental and physical wellbeing. I plan on attending PA school after graduation.
Summary of fellowship project: For my THOR Student Fellowship project, I will be attending the NENA CHRIE tourism and hospitality conference as THOR’s Orono campus student representative. I will be assisting as needed with planning, set up, presentations, and wrap up. In addition, I will be creating and sharing my own small project relating to Maine’s outdoor recreation opportunities at the conference. I am looking forward to sharing my experiences and ideas as well as gaining new perspectives and inspiration from the other attendees!
Jessica Williams, University of Maine Machias
Major (minor/concentration): Majoring in Outdoor Recreation and Leadership with a minor in Marine Biology
Career Plans: Any exciting opportunity to share my love for the outdoors with others.
Summary of fellowship project: I am creating an outdoor recreation program for LGBTQ youth in Washington County, Maine.
About the Fellowship
A collaboration among all seven of Maine’s public universities, the THOR Institute aims to strengthen workforce development and educational opportunities related to the tourism, hospitality, and outdoor recreation industries. This fellowship is intended to support students committed to applying their experience and interest within the THOR related academic disciplines to connect more broadly with the community.
All undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree, major, minor, or certificate related to the THOR academic disciplines at any of the University of Maine System institutions are eligible.
For more information visit the THOR Institute Fellowship Application page here.
Fellows will work on project-based outreach and research initiatives during the semester. Some examples of possible projects:
- Connecting with Maine’s K-12 schools by organizing an event (class visit, field trip, career fair, etc.) designed to share more about careers in THOR and the University of Maine System pathways
- For example, some fellows might design a presentation to give at a local school that highlights the many different jobs in Maine related to tourism, hospitality, and outdoor recreation while sharing more about their own educational experiences within the University of Maine System.
- Working with the THOR Institute and/or industry partners analyzing industry trends, conducting research, and problem solving
- For example, some fellows might work on developing a survey to be completed by local businesses to identify workforce development and training needs within the industry.
- Pursuing your own project! Students are welcome (and encouraged!) to submit their own ideas for a fellowship project aligned with their own interests and creative outlets
Fellows will meet with the THOR Institute Program Manager to discuss and outline a plan to complete the fellowship. Since there are a variety of different projects and activities students may work on, and there is flexibility for students to pursue projects that align with their specific interests, fellowship plans won’t all look the same and will be unique to each student.
Potential Project Options: Spring 2025
- USM Arboretum Project – Tour Planning
- THOR Conference (June 2025) – Event Planning
- Maine Mapping Project – Hiking Trail Use
- Other options TBD
Expectations
During the term, students are expected to:
- Attend monthly meetings with THOR Program Manager
- Actively participate in fellowship project throughout the semester (specifics to be determined at the beginning of the fellowship) and attending periodic meetings with mentor or other collaborators
- Maintain a weekly time log of working hours
- Participate in culminating event at the end of the semester to share their work and accomplishments
How to Apply
We are currently accepting applications for our Spring 2025 cohort! The deadline to apply is January 21, 2025. For more information, visit the THOR Institute Fellowship Application page here.
Questions?
If you have questions, please reach out to Emily Zider, THOR Institute Program Manager at emily.zider@maine.edu