St. John Valley eighth graders will explore the Allagash starting next year

THE COUNTY • November 21, 2025

Thanks to a new program, nearly a hundred St. John Valley students will experience Maine’s renowned Allagash every year. Eighth graders in the region will embark on a three-night canoe expedition through the Allagash Wilderness Waterway as part of an initiative starting in 2026, approved by school districts representing Madawaska, Fort Kent, St. Agatha and Frenchville. The expedition is part of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation’s “Youth on the Allagash” initiative, which since 2016 has provided more than 300 students with guided trips through the northern Maine wilderness.