Who we are
We are people who believe in the power of relationships. We are people who believe in youth.
Our goal is to connect kids to supportive mentors, to meaningful experiences, and to inspirational adventures that change their lives forever. Every youth who walks through our door is respected where they are, and challenged to grow.
Our goal is to connect kids to supportive mentors, to meaningful experiences, and to inspirational adventures that change their lives forever. Every youth who walks through our door is respected where they are, and challenged to grow.
What we do
We get kids out there. We mentor. We support. We guide. We help kids build up their self-confidence, their skills, their resiliency, and their love for learning. It’s all about flipping that switch from deterred to determined. It’s all about sitting in that passenger’s seat as they learn to “drive.”
Why we do this
Every child has a unique spark burning deep inside. Sometimes, it takes some coaxing to bring it out but it’s always, always there. And with encouragement, that child’s spark will ignite.
We believe that relationships are the best way to kindle that spark, and that new experiences fan it to a flame. We believe the world will be stronger and more vibrant with each flame a full-on bonfire.
We believe that relationships are the best way to kindle that spark, and that new experiences fan it to a flame. We believe the world will be stronger and more vibrant with each flame a full-on bonfire.
You belong here
If you are in 5th grade through high school — 10-18 years old at any school, including home school — join us! You don’t need to live anywhere in particular or need to qualify for anything. You just need to follow our Accountability Expectations to keep everyone safe. (Don’t worry, you can do it!)
How we’re different
Have you ever heard youth programs say they “get kids off the streets?” We’re different because we do the opposite! We’re working every day to get our kids ON the streets (trails, roads,...) in healthy, contributory, engaged ways. We’re also meeting them where they are (like at school), teaching them the skills they’ll need to contribute and engage the rest of their lives.
And we’re different because we are deeply invested in our youth and in giving them a voice in their own learning. Every youth is working to develop skills they have identified as important to them, using our Apex Progression of Skill Development. (www.apexyouthconnection.org/programs-overview.html)
And we’re different because we are deeply invested in our youth and in giving them a voice in their own learning. Every youth is working to develop skills they have identified as important to them, using our Apex Progression of Skill Development. (www.apexyouthconnection.org/programs-overview.html)
And we love being outdoors!
Whether through a mountain bike ride, climbing a rock face, or just a game of four-square, we work to get youth outside, developing in them a love for the outdoors as deep as our own. Believe it or not, that makes us different, too!
Our story from the beginning . . .
We weren’t always called Apex Youth Connection.
In 2001, Andy Greif, a social worker, had an idea: he wanted to use bicycles as a way to connect with kids in the community. So he started a program in his garage and called it the Community Bicycle Center (CBC).
Because of his experience, he was able to mentor those kids and support them in the kinds of challenges every kid faces. And he did it very well. So well, that the program began to grow...
In 2001, Andy Greif, a social worker, had an idea: he wanted to use bicycles as a way to connect with kids in the community. So he started a program in his garage and called it the Community Bicycle Center (CBC).
Because of his experience, he was able to mentor those kids and support them in the kinds of challenges every kid faces. And he did it very well. So well, that the program began to grow...
From a garage to 6 acres
As the CBC grew from just a dozen to hundreds of kids, Andy recruited volunteers to help out. In 2006, the CBC purchased what’s now our current property at 45 Granite Street, on six acres abutting Clifford Park. It includes a rock climbing wall and a bike skills course.
New programs were added - programs that didn’t have anything to do with bikes invited youth to get “out there” in more ways than ever before. So now anyone, not just youth who like riding or fixing bikes, but anyone who wants to connect can join a program.
Andy grew this organization from a volunteer-run program in his garage to a thriving youth development center embedded in the fabric of Biddeford, Maine. What vision!
But even Andy recognized we needed a different name. Too many people were confused. So, after years of thought and one very busy year of development, we changed our name in October, 2019 to Apex Youth Connection. And we know it is good because Biddeford classroom students helped us choose it! Now our name tells you who we are and where we're going: Getting kids to their apex — ready, able, and excited.
New programs were added - programs that didn’t have anything to do with bikes invited youth to get “out there” in more ways than ever before. So now anyone, not just youth who like riding or fixing bikes, but anyone who wants to connect can join a program.
Andy grew this organization from a volunteer-run program in his garage to a thriving youth development center embedded in the fabric of Biddeford, Maine. What vision!
But even Andy recognized we needed a different name. Too many people were confused. So, after years of thought and one very busy year of development, we changed our name in October, 2019 to Apex Youth Connection. And we know it is good because Biddeford classroom students helped us choose it! Now our name tells you who we are and where we're going: Getting kids to their apex — ready, able, and excited.