WEST PARIS — After more than a year of shifting among temporary locations, the West Paris Explorers extended school program has finally landed in a permanent home — in back of the former Ledgeview Nursing Home at 141 Bethel Road.
Director Eileen Storck, who has led the program for 17 years, said the program was originally housed at Agnes Gray School, but when the building closed abruptly in February 2024, the Explorers were forced to relocate to the Legion Memorial School. When that wasn’t available, the program relocated to the small community room at the Town Office, the yurt behind Agnes Gray School, the West Paris Library, or Fire Department.
The official move June 23 to 141 Bethel Road is thanks to a federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Center grant dedicated specifically to extended school day and summer programs, like this one. Additional financial support came from the Agnes Gray Alumni Bobcat Committee and townspeople approving an annual award.
Storck said the community-minded Ledgeview owners were supportive as well. “Some of the staff I have right now were my former students — that speaks a lot about the programming that has happened here over the last 20 years.”
Citing the importance of the program, Storck said, “Some of these kids would not get swim lessons if we were not here in the summer, or go on a field trip to the bowling alley … some of these kids have never been to the ocean.”
Before entering the education field, Storck owned a hair salon. But when her youngest child left for college, she returned to school, earning an associate’s degree in early childhood education. Shortly after, she joined the West Paris Explorers team — and has led it ever since.
She oversees a staff of four teachers, occasionally stepping in to teach when needed. Annual funding, including the recent 21st Century grant, helps keep the program accessible, with participation fees at $25 per day. Swim lessons are $35 for the four weeks.
Storck led a tour of the new space, which has an administrative office, two bathrooms, a storage room with shelves of games, hula hoops and two baskets of LL Bean rubber boots. There is a storage room, the main classroom and three additional rooms used for tutoring in math, art and literacy learning.
Currently, 30 children — from rising kindergarteners to rising sixth graders — are enrolled in the program, which is licensed to accommodate up to 31.
The program runs from June 23 to Aug. 8. It begins at 8:45 a.m., though children can arrive as early as 6 or 7 a.m. By 5:30 p.m., most students have gone home — though Storck often stays as late as 9 p.m.
At lunchtime, students line up for meals delivered by Maine School Administrative District 17. After eating, they head to Bryant Pond for swimming lessons. Outdoor activities include basketball, climbing on a half-moon jungle gym, and participating in karate classes on the playground every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
As students walk into their new building, they’re greeted by murals of feeder school mascots: the Paris Elementary cardinal, the Rowe School tiger, and the Agnes Gray bobcat.
Storck remains realistic about the challenges ahead, especially the ongoing need to secure federal funding. “We have to fight for federal funding every year. These are the programs that tend to get cut first,” she said. “But something beautiful came out of the transition to this space … The community support is ongoing and so appreciated. It takes a village.”
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