Summer Program
Although Classic and Math-Science have different academic schedules during the summer, there are programs and activities in which all students participate .
Resident Life
Campus living is an important aspect of learning at UB. You learn how to adjust to living with a roommate from another area, and how to connect to the resources on a college campus. College students and graduates are hired as Resident Counselors to live in the dormitory. A nurse and a counselor also work with students in the dorm.
Workshops
In addition to required nightly study time, we also organize workshops that provide social and recreational opportunities that offer additional learning, enjoyable moments and happy memories. A variety of activities are available for students including the Campus Recreational Center, movies, board games, various sports, nature walks, arts and crafts, as well as a multitude of other unique workshops.
Watch Groups
The UMaine UB community is divided into approximately 16 Watch Groups. The Watch Group is a group of about 8 students and 2 staff members led by a trained and UB-experienced facilitator.
At the beginning of the program, the groups are a space where new students can meet and really get to know at least 8 other people. There, they begin to make connections and learn about the program.
The Watch Groups continue throughout the summer; they become a place to vent, talk about the UB experience, learn, share highs and lows — you name it. They meet each Thursday night after an All-Program event. Events in past summers have included:
- Performances about domestic violence (“Jake and Caroline” by York County Young Adult Abuse Prevention Program)
- Beverly Mann (a performance artist that uses masks and speaks to the implication of masks in our day to day lives)
- Steve Wessler, the Director of The Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence.
After several meetings, the groups become a safe, established space for folks to share reactions to the sometimes challenging and emotional issues that have been presented. Often, students hear strains of experiences that are familiar, and then they have a way to talk (or start) talking about it.
Peer Counselors
UB Peer Counselors are students who are trained to support other students in our UB community. Classic and Math-Science students who have had the experience of at least one UB summer, experience and/or a strong interest in peer helping and listening to other’s concerns and UB spirit are asked to apply prior to each summer program.
Peer Counselors are key players in developing and extending the spirit of the UB community to all. The responsibilities of peer counselors include linking to UB staff with student concerns and ideas; helping in time of crisis; sharing resources. Time obligations include an orientation/training session at the beginning of the summer program, and a weekly Peer Counselor workshop.
Weekend Trips
We here at UB believe that sometimes the best lessons to be learned do not take place in front of a chalkboard or at the head of a lecture hall. Sometimes these life lessons are best taught by the world in which we live. Experiential learning is at the heart of our weekend trips, followed very closely by pure leisure/recreational pursuits.
We feel that our students should enjoy the beauty and majesty that is embodiment of the great state of Maine. Our students are able to enjoy our state park system because the Maine State Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands has committed to waiving park entrance and camping fees in order to provide to our students access to some of Maine’s most scenic spots. The bonds that form when students set up camp, cook, climb, swim, hike, and star gaze together is immeasurable. For some it is the first experience in the “woods”, it might be their first time camping because of the costs associated with purchasing equipment, camping fees and transportation to and from varies camping sites in Maine. We ask our students to work hard when they are with us during the week, we also ask them to rest and relax with the same vigor during those weekend trips.
Whether it is on the banks of Sebago Lake, the top of Mt. Katahdin, or the shores of Cobscook Bay we will continue to provide these experiences for our students to give them yet another venue to grow as people and scholars alike.
