CAMDEN – The nonprofit One Community Many Voices (OCMV) and the organizers of the Ragged Mountain Scuttle donated $4,500 to the Camden Snow Bowl to support the fourth-grade learn to ski program for the 2017-2018 season.

The 4th annual Ragged Mountain Scuttle, which was presented by Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital, was held Sept. 24, and featured more than 300 competitors tackling 20-plus obstacles on a 5K loop on the Ragged Mountain trails at the Snow Bowl. Planning is already under way for next year's 5th annual event happening Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018. The event benefits OCMV.

OCMV is a 501c3 charity that provides gap funding when no other resources are available to help neighbors in need resolve a hardship related to employment/skill building, youth aspirations, elderly independent living, transportation, or well-being.

The donation was made Tuesday, Nov. 21, at Camden's Select Board meeting.

The Snow Bowl's ski program is free and open to all fourth-grade students at participating schools in Knox, Waldo, and Lincoln counties and currently serves 15 elementary schools.

"This money will allow our area youth to experience skiing and riding at the Camden Snow Bowl," said Beth Ward, Camden's Parks & Recreation director.

According to the Snow Bowl, the program consists of three visits by each school, during the school day, with complementary rental equipment, ski lessons and lift tickets. The only cost to the school is bus transportation. The program has been running for more than 20 years and many regular skiers at the Camden Snow Bowl first started in the fourth-grade program.

The fourth-grade ski program represents a direct expense of more than $100 per student, according to the Snow Bowl. About 40 percent of this expense is offset by fundraising and donations by the Ragged Mountain Ski Club. About 10 percent is offset by the raffle tickets that elementary students sell as part of the program. In the past, the Snow Bowl has subsidized the rest of the funds for the program. The $4,500 donation from the Ragged Mountain Scuttle organizers covers that expense this year. Last year, OCMV donated $4,400 to support the program.

"The Scuttle has grown year after year and I'm excited for us to head into our fifth year; I love that the Snow Bowl is where we hold the event and grateful that we are able to do so," said Jennifer Michaud, race director for the Ragged Mountain Scuttle. "It's a place that I enjoy running and skiing at so it means a lot to be able to give back and support their programs. My oldest, Morgan, is a fourth grader and will be able to join the rest of her class this winter to participate in the learn to ski program. I appreciate and want to thank everyone who participates to help us raise funds."

Reade Brower, founder of OCMV and one of the original organizers of the Ragged Mountain Scuttle, thanked the town for allowing OCMV to hold the event at the mountain.

"I want to personally thank the town of Camden for supporting us," Brower said.
I'm happy any time we can use the resource of the Camden Snow Bowl for other things ... I want to thank the town for having an open mind and allowing groups like ours to use the mountain for the good of the town."

For more on OCMV, visit www.ocmv.org or sign up for the monthly email list by sending a request to join by emailing info@onecommunitymanyvoices.org.

To register for the 2018 Scuttle, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/ME/Camden/5thAnnualRaggedMountainScuttle.