Building Community Since 1910
For more than a century, the Kennebunk Beach Improvement Association (KBIA) has helped children and families build confidence, friendships, leadership skills, and lifelong connections while strengthening the Kennebunk community.
Founded in 1910, KBIA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching lives through educational, recreational, and community-building experiences. Each year, nearly 700 children and more than 400 families participate in KBIA programs that foster personal growth, healthy activity, character development, and a deep appreciation for Maine’s coastal environment.
Located at Mother’s Beach in Kennebunk, Maine, KBIA serves as a gathering place where year-round residents, seasonal families, and visitors come together to learn, grow, and build lasting relationships.
KBIA By the Numbers
- Founded in 1910
- More than 115 years of community impact
- 700 children served annually
- 400+ families served annually
- 110+ seasonal instructors and staff
- 1,000+ programs and activities offered each year
- $35,000 in annual scholarship assistance
- 15–20 scholarship recipients annually
- $1 million annual operating budget
- 25 community events hosted annually
What We Do
KBIA offers a wide range of programs and activities designed to engage children, families, and community members with diverse interests. Through athletics, arts, waterfront activities, enrichment programs, community events, and family experiences, KBIA creates opportunities for learning, friendship, leadership, and fun.
Each summer, participants enjoy programs that encourage:
- Physical activity and healthy lifestyles
- Creativity and self-expression
- Teamwork and sportsmanship
- Leadership and responsibility
- Appreciation for Maine’s coastal environment and stewardship
- Meaningful friendships and community connections
For many families, KBIA is more than a summer destination—it is a cherished tradition that spans generations.
Why KBIA Matters
KBIA is one of the few institutions in the Kennebunks that consistently brings together year-round residents, seasonal families, and visitors through a shared community experience.
Many parents and grandparents who participate in KBIA today first came to KBIA as children. The relationships formed here often last a lifetime, creating traditions that span generations and strengthening the broader Kennebunk community.
In an increasingly disconnected world, KBIA provides a place where children build confidence, families form friendships, and people develop a shared sense of responsibility for their community and Maine’s coastal environment.
By bringing people together through shared experiences, encouraging citizenship and stewardship, and creating meaningful connections across generations, KBIA strengthens both the social and environmental fabric of the Kennebunks.
Environmental Stewardship and Coastal Education
KBIA’s location at Mother’s Beach provides a unique opportunity to connect children and families with one of Maine’s most treasured coastal environments.
Through waterfront activities, outdoor recreation, environmental learning experiences, and responsible stewardship of our facilities and shoreline, KBIA encourages participants to develop a lifelong appreciation for the natural world.
For generations, children have discovered the importance of caring for the coast through direct experience—exploring the shoreline, learning about local ecosystems, participating in outdoor activities, and developing a sense of responsibility for the places they love.
These experiences foster environmental awareness, personal responsibility, and a lasting connection to Maine’s coastal heritage.
As a steward of a historic waterfront campus, KBIA remains committed to preserving and enhancing its facilities in ways that support environmental sustainability, community benefit, and the long-term vitality of the Kennebunk beaches.
By connecting young people to the outdoors and encouraging responsible stewardship of natural resources, KBIA helps cultivate future generations of community members who understand the importance of caring for the places that bring us together.
Stewardship and Impact
As a nonprofit organization, KBIA relies on the generosity of members, donors, foundations, and community partners to advance its mission.
Philanthropic support helps KBIA maintain and improve its facilities, preserve access to the waterfront, provide scholarships and financial assistance, strengthen programming, and ensure that future generations can continue to benefit from the organization’s unique role in the community.
Each year, KBIA provides approximately $35,000 in scholarship assistance to 15-20 children and families, helping ensure that financial circumstances do not prevent participation.
In addition, nearly 50 local children ages 5-10 receive weekend swimming instruction for just $35 for the entire summer, fostering safety and expanding access to an essential life skill and to the experiences that have shaped generations of young people at KBIA.
Every gift helps strengthen KBIA’s ability to serve children and families while preserving one of the Kennebunks’ most treasured community institutions.
We invite individuals, families, foundations, and community partners to join us in ensuring that future generations continue to benefit from the experiences, relationships, and traditions that have defined KBIA for more than a century.
Get Involved
For more than 115 years, KBIA has thrived because of the involvement and generosity of individuals and families who believe in the importance of community, youth development, and stewardship of the Kennebunks.
Whether you are looking to participate in our programs, support our mission, or invest in KBIA’s future, there are many ways to become part of the KBIA community.
Join Our Community
Become a member and enjoy access to KBIA programs, events, and activities while helping sustain one of the Kennebunks’ most treasured community institutions.
Support Our Mission
Your charitable support helps provide scholarships, strengthen programming, maintain our facilities, and ensure that children and families continue to benefit from KBIA’s programs for generations to come. KBIA welcomes support through donor-advised funds, foundation grants, stock gifts, planned giving, matching gifts, and other philanthropic vehicles.
Invest in the Future of KBIA
Through strategic investments in facilities, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability, our capital campaign is helping prepare KBIA for its next century of service.
Learn More About Our Capital Campaign
Our History
The Kennebunk Beach Improvement Association was founded in 1910 by local residents who recognized the importance of creating opportunities for recreation, education, and community engagement along the Kennebunk shoreline.
Over the decades, KBIA has evolved to meet the changing needs of the community while remaining faithful to its founding purpose. Generations of families have participated in KBIA programs, creating a legacy that spans more than a century.
The organization has invested significantly in preserving and enhancing its facilities, including improvements to waterfront infrastructure, recreational spaces, program facilities, and community gathering areas. These investments help ensure that KBIA remains a vibrant and welcoming destination for future generations.
Throughout its history, KBIA has remained committed to serving as a place where children can grow, families can connect, and the community can flourish.
To learn more about KBIA’s rich history and its evolution over more than a century, visit our History page.
Looking Forward
As KBIA enters its second century of service, we remain committed to strengthening children, families, and the broader Kennebunk community through exceptional educational, recreational, and community-building experiences.
By preserving the best of our traditions while continually investing in the future, KBIA will continue to serve as a cornerstone of community life for generations to come.
We invite you to join us in ensuring that future generations experience the same sense of belonging, friendship, stewardship, and tradition that have defined KBIA for more than 115 years.
