Impromptu game of kickball spurs movement to level the playing field.
Aug 18, 2026
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop.
TREMONT—It was just an idea that “came off the top” of Jayson Clough’s head as “an opportunity for kids and families to do something.” A game of kickball to be held on the ballfields behind the Tremont Consolidated School.
In the two weeks since that kickball game, Clough and other members of the community have seen a need, rough ideas have been formulated, offers to help have been received, and at its August 17 meeting, the Tremont Select Board had the opportunity to hear about and weigh in on starting a Tremont youth/community assistance program.
That first game Clough organized was held Sunday, August 2, and roughly 15 kids and adults showed up. While the inaugural game did not draw a large crowd, it created a lot of fun and it revealed a need to Clough. The next day he made a video and spoke about his thoughts on the game and he posted it to Facebook.
“I’m reflecting back on yesterday’s kickball game, and it was awesome,” Clough said in the video. “Here’s these kids out here playing kickball and they are such great athletes. They’re working hard; they’ve got athletic ability; they’re coachable,”
“Things are harder over here than people think. Families don’t have the money to provide for their children,” Clough said. “These kids yesterday … I had kids there who didn’t have a pair of shoes.”
That video did not go unnoticed and immediately began drawing support and offers of donations of not only money, but shoes and other sports gear. Soon, Clough was meeting with Town Manager Jesse Dunbar who recognized the large amount of support behind Clough’s shared thoughts and knew that in order for this support to be effective the town needed a way to accept, track, and manage monetary donations.
The August 17 Select Board meeting’s first item of business was the proposed youth/community assistance program and Clough, who was in attendance, soon found himself standing in front of the Select Board.
Clough told the Select Board about his kickball game and how he noticed that there were a lot of kids there “that really didn’t have the things they probably needed. One kid didn’t even have shoes.”
“We had an outcry of support, people that wanted to help out, to make sure that these kids had basic things they needed,” Clough said. “I have been talking to Jesse a little bit and wanted to start a fund because we got a lot of people who do want to donate, that can contribute to these kids in need if they need it. For example, sports equipment, winter coats, whatever the need may be.”
“I don’t want this to be abused,” Clough said. “I want it to be for the basic needs of the kids because they deserve it around here. I think it would be great; I think a lot of people would donate because the community is really about helping others.”
“Is it going to be just cash or are you going to take equipment too?” asked Select Board member Kevin Buck.
“I have already had people dropping off sports equipment at my house. I am gathering all kinds of stuff just in case we want to throw together a softball game or something like that. So no, I have been storing stuff in my shed and this will be like, the town office will be just for cash donations or whatever,” Clough said. “If I get so much equipment that I have to find someone else to help, I am sure they would.”
“I think that is an awesome idea and thanks for all that you do with all the kids and I mean, that’s just awesome. That’s a great thing,” said Chair Jamie Thurlow. “Sports programs, like in the summer time, if someone can’t afford a sports camp, maybe there could be help there.”
“Exactly,” said Clough. “That is a problem over here in Tremont. Lots of kids, they would love to go to these camps, but their families can’t afford it.”
For working families or for those without cars, there are also transportation issues getting kids to events, camps, or games during the summer or to activities throughout the island during the school year.
Select Board member Ben Harper made a motion to authorize the town manager to draft a youth/community assistance program which was seconded and passed unanimously.
Like most good things, this process will take some time and likely would not be officially finalized until after a town meeting vote in May. After the motion was made and prior to the vote, Chair Thurlow asked if the town could set up a reserve account right now to start collecting money.
Dunbar replied that the town could probably set up a reserve account once he has drafted a plan and the Select Board has approved it, but prior to a town vote. That way, with an approved plan in place, the town knows what the details are and how the program will be run.
Dunbar said that he will try and have a draft ready for the Select Board to review at its first September meeting.
“I want to make sure that we do everything we can to make it happen. If the donations are a little slow coming in then, we can just throw some money in there. We will figure it out, we want to help whatever we can,” said Chair Thurlow.
Harper’s motion passed unanimously.
The next kickball game will be August 29, 1-3 p.m. at the ballfields behind the Tremont Consolidated School. Clough said that he has already people dropping off bottles of water, Gatorade, and snacks at his house for the upcoming game.
“There are some people who are going to do hot dogs, ice cream. This is going to be a good event I think,” Clough said.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
Cluffer’s Facebook video about the upcoming kickball game. In the video he says the game is August 30 but it will be on August 29.
Cluffer’s Facebook video about his reflections on the first kickball game.
All photos: Carrie Jones/Shaun Farrar/BHS
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