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About Riverview Foundation

Ankle beachRiverview began in 1989 along the Topsham banks of the Androscoggin River as a small school that offered a unique path towards a peaceful, healthy life. Riverview was the realization of the founder’s life-long dream: to provide a non-competitive martial arts training experience in an outdoor setting that would improve the quality of life for others through an ancient, holistic tradition. Much has changed with Riverview and the education it provides over the years, but its ultimate purpose, inner spirit, and core values have stayed remarkably true.

Riverview Foundation today is a community-based organization providing educational and wilderness programs for youth and adults throughout Southern, Central and Mid-coast Maine. With state-wide teaching locations, programs, partners, and community networks, Riverview is proud to be taking our founding mission and sharing it with the communities of Maine each year.


Our Programs

Adult class in Topsham dojo

Universal Movement (adult martial arts)

Universal Movement is the flagship and primary martial art program at Riverview. A non-competitive art, Universal Movement is an eclectic ancient fighting and healing art emphasizing both hard and soft movement. Training is both indoors and outdoors year-round, with a blend of technical martial skills, meditation, connection with nature’s energies and beauty, and Chi Gung (cultivation of one’s internal energy - “Chi”)

Contact the program director, Carol Mecsas via email or call (207) 729-7399 ext. 303
Download a brochure [pdf]

Indoor kids shaolin classUniversal Movement (youth & teen martial arts)

Universal Movement is an afterschool non-competitive, peaceful martial art program for children and teens ages 6-18. This program offers weekly classes teaching valuable life skills for injury prevention, self-confidence, physical health and fitness, wilderness education, and the development of a strong, positive character through community service events.

Contact the program director, Carol Mecsas via email or call (207) 729-7399 ext. 303
Download a brochure [pdf]

Tai Chi

Tai chi is a gentle form of exercise that originated in china centuries ago, and today is widely enjoyed throughout the world. The health benefits include stress reduction and relaxation, increased circulation and energy, lowered blood pressure, improved balance and mental focus and concentration. Beginning students to Riverview Foundation Tai Chi Program learn the traditional 24 move Yang Style Form to achieve their personal goals at their own pace.

Contact the program director, Lynn Pulsifer via email or call (207) 729-7399
Download a brochure [pdf]

Silouettes on the pond

The 21st Century Program

The Riverview/Brunswick 21st Century Learning Program provides afterschool community learning centers for the Brunswick public schools ranging from grades 3-8, through an active partnership with the Maine Department of Education. Serving over 200 children per year, activities focus on health and cultural education, academic improvement, and community service learning.

Contact the program director, Nina Henrikson via email or call (207) 729-7399 ext. 322
Download an Aspire brochure [pdf] / Aspire application [pdf]
Download the Excel brochure [pdf] / Excel application [pdf]

AIM kids class

The Excel Program

Riverview’s Excel program is an afterschool program designed specifically to help meet the needs of middle school youth. Now in its 11th year of programming, Excel is the newly re-named and re-designed successor of our award winning A.I.M. program. Excel was tested in 2010 in partnership with Maine Department of Education at our 21st CCLC Brunswick site, and is now branching out with Maine DHHS to serve both Biddeford and Mt. Ararat middle schools for the 2011-2012 school year. Please see brochures or call us for more info.

Contact the program director, Marissa Leighton via email or call (207) 729-7399 ext. 328
Download the Biddeford Excel brochure [pdf] / Biddeford Excel application [pdf]
Download the Mt Ararat Excel brochure [pdf] / Mt. Ararat Excel application [pdf]