Meet a Member of Youth Advisory Council

Kaelyn Langlois, a senior at Edward Little High School, shares what it’s like to be a member of Teens to Trails’ Youth Advisory Council.

A few years ago, Kaelyn Langlois accidentally joined her outdoor club at Edward Little High School. Two friends encouraged her to go to a meeting, and before long she became an active member. Her involvement in the club eventually led to her joining the Teens to Trails’ Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Langlois has formed strong friendships with fellow YAC students, and the experience supports her passion of connecting her peers outside. 

Langlois recalls her first hike with outdoor club. “[I thought the hike was] going to be awful, but then I went and it was actually a lot of fun, and not nearly as hard. Everyone was really nice and was like, ‘You got it!’” As she joined more outdoor adventures with her club, she realized, “This [being outside with friends] is really fun, it’s so peaceful and calming.” The experience changed her perspective on the outdoors, and how being outside positively impacts students and their school community. 

She believes that being outside also helps her mental health; “You kind of forget everything else because you’re in nature and you don’t have to worry about anything. There are always people around too, and if not there are trees.”

During the 2022-23 year, Langlois was one of six high school students throughout Maine participating in the YAC. The group gathers monthly for one-hour Zoom meetings, and meets up in-person at Teens to Trails events throughout the year.

Kaeyln Langlois (right) with fellow YAC member Kristian Keef (left) judging at the 2023 Adventure Bound S’Mores Competition.

When asked if she is close with other YAC members Langlois said, “Yeah, surprisingly. We only met twice, but one of the times, we had a sleepover. We didn’t even really know each other well, but after 10 minutes of talking, it was like we had been friends for years.” After volunteering at Bow Ties & Bean Boots, she and other YAC members stayed up until 4 a.m., talking, playing card games, and drinking hot chocolate.

As part of the YAC, Langlois and her fellow members help brainstorm ways to get teenagers outside. They help determine logistics such as what time a teenager would reasonably wake up in the morning to go on a rafting trip. They also decide what types of outdoor activities someone their age might enjoy. Langlois says that some students might prefer playing by a lake more than going on a hike, so adapting to individual needs is important.

Langlois is excited to serve as a member of the YAC again this coming school year. When asked if she has any advice for someone who is thinking about joining she said, “Meeting other people from other schools, who also enjoy the same things you do is really rewarding… everyone is really nice, supportive, and it opens you up to outdoor opportunities. It’s not a ton of work, and it’s a lot of fun!”

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the YAC, click here for more information! Apply for the 2023 YAC before October 1st.