Black Bear Bound

6 day expedtions or 3 day adventures

Start your academic career with an outdoor orientation trip!

~In operation since 1984~

Large group gathered for a photo in front of green trees

registration opens may 12 ~ tO REGISTER CALL 207-581-1794

August 19-24

All inclusive cost: $600

Spend the week camping, exploring the outdoors, learning skills, and meeting new friends. Choose between three expeditions: Penobscot River Canoe, Coastal Maine Hiking, or Rock Climbing & Hiking. Each expedition is led by two skilled Maine Bound student staff members. They will teach outdoor skills and answer all your questions about attending the University of Maine! Each expedition will return to campus on Sunday, August 24th, just in time to move in for RLE Bridge Week programs.

Registration closes: July 28

Explore the great Maine wilderness by canoe and camp along the banks of the upper west branch of the Penobscot River. People have been traveling by canoe on this waterway for 10,000 years! Spend the first couple of days on Lobster Lake learning canoeing skills, then continue down the river. Along the way, you’ll learn about leadership, safety, group management, and other outdoor skills. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a moose!

Day 1: 1:00 pm Arrive on campus, pack for the expedition, and stay on campus for the evening.

Day 2-3: Introduction to outdoor skills (canoeing, camping, etc)

Day 4-5: Showcase your group’s new skills on a longer paddle. Spend time in the evenings getting to know your group and learn all you want to know about attending UMaine.

Day 6: Pack up camp, paddle to a take out, and return to campus in the afternoon.

Spend a week exploring Maine’s beautiful and rugged coastline. Acadia National Park, Maine’s only national park, is known for its rocky coastline, beauty, and incredible outdoor opportunities. You’ll spend the first few days exploring Acadia and camping near the park. The second half of the week you’ll head down east and explore the Bold Coast and Quoddy Head State Park.

Day 1: 1:00 pm Arrive on campus, pack for the expedition, and head to camp for the evening

Day 2-3: Introduction to outdoor skills (camping, planning, hiking)

Day 4-5: Showcase your group’s new skills on a longer hike. Spend time in the evenings getting to know your group and learn all you want to know about attending UMaine.

Day 6: Participate in one last morning activity, pack up camp, and return to campus in the afternoon.

Learn all about outdoor Rock Climbing! Throughout this trip, you’ll learn beginning and intermediate climbing skills. Visit climbing areas close to campus including crags in Clifton and Acadia National Park. In Acadia, you’ll spend a day climbing on the coast at Otter Cliffs! During the middle of the week, you’ll take a break from climbing and hike some beautiful coastal granite peak.

Day 1: 1:00 pm Arrive on campus, pack for the expedition, and head to camp for the evening

Day 2-3: Introduction to outdoor skills (climbing, camping, hiking)

Day 4-5: Showcase your group’s new skills on a longer hike or harder climb. Spend time in the evenings getting to know your group and learn all you want to know about attending UMaine.

Day 6: Participate in one last morning activity, pack up camp, and return to campus in the afternoon.

Black Bear Bound Expeditions

Group smiling in front of a large blue round building that has the words wild blueberry on it

Black Bear Bound Adventures

August 27-29

All inclusive cost: $450

Adventures are short 3 day experiences that take place right before classes begin. If your academic area does not require an orientation, this program is for you! Adventure trips are the perfect way to learn about Maine’s Outdoors while getting to know other incoming students. Trip leaders are current students and they will answer all your questions about attending UMaine. Choose between 2 trips: Northwoods or Coastal Maine.

Registration closes: July 28

Spend two nights camping alongside fellow incoming students at a campground near the Maine coast. On Thursday you’ll travel to beautiful Acadia National Park for an all-day hiking adventure. Hike to the top of open granite peaks with beautiful ocean views.

Day 1:

10:00am: Arrive on campus and move items into your dorm room.

12:00pm: Meet at Maine Bound Adventure Center to find your group, pack, and depart to camp for the evening

Day 2: Head out with your group on an all day hiking adventure

Day 3: Complete a morning activity and return to campus, to clean trip gear. Depart Maine Bound and join Maine Hello festivities.

Head to a campground in the North Maine Woods! Wake up early and attempt to summit the iconic Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park. Katahdin is a challenging all-day 10 mile hike with an elevation gain of 4,000ft!

Day 1:

10:00am: Arrive on campus and move items into your dorm room.

12:00pm: Meet at Maine Bound Adventure Center to find your group, pack, and depart to camp for the evening

Day 2: Head out EARLY in the morning with your group to hike Mt. Katahdin

Day 3: Complete a morning activity and return to campus, to clean trip gear. Depart Maine Bound and join Maine Hello festivities.

Students who would like to participate in Black Bear Bound Adventures (North Woods or Coastal Maine) and enroll in an RLE are welcome to sign up for any of (any only) the RLE courses with a bridge week theme of “Black Bear Immersion” listed here.

Black Bear Bound Expeditions

50% and full scholarships available

application Link

Black Bear Bound Commonly Asked Questions

No! All experience levels are welcome. Some past participants have never been camping, and others have extensive experience outdoors. Groups learn outdoor skills, leadership skills, and how to work as a team. Orientation trips bring people of all skills, backgrounds, and interests together, allowing everyone to come away with new learnings.

No. Unfortunately, we cannot charge your student account since you have not officially started at the University.

Absolutely not! Once you sign up for a program, you will receive a packing list. Maine Bound provides all gear needed by the group (tents, paddling equipment, climbing gear, cooking gear etc.)

We request that you bring a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and other personal items. We do have a limited number of sleeping bags, sleeping pads, headlamps, and some clothing items you can reserve for the trip at no charge!

If you cancel 3 weeks before the course start date, you will receive a full refund. Unfortunately, refunds for cancellations made within 3 weeks of the course start date cannot be given. A full refund will be given if Maine Bound cancels the course. Failure to attend the program will not result in a refund.

All BBB instructors have received lots of training in many areas, including outdoor skills, group dynamics, decision making, and risk management. They all have previous experience on training trips, leading and participating in trips, and facilitating programs. All instructors are certified in wilderness medicine, CPR, and have Educational Trip Leader permits from the State of Maine. Some instructors have specialized skill certifications or training, such as Single Pitch Climbing Instructor or Swiftwater Rescue.