Why choose a Black Bear Bound Orientation Trip?
Maine Bound has been running new student orientation trips since 1984! Our trips have increased student retention, created lasting friendships, and introduced hundreds of students to the Maine Outdoors.
To Register: Call 207-581-1794
Scholarships – Applications Closed
We have 50% and full scholarships available for all Black Bear Bound trips! Scholarships are granted on a rolling basis, and we encourage you to apply early. Awards are granted based on financial need & application.
Scholarship Application
Bound to Explore
Expeditions take place in July and August and are 5-10 days in length. These trips are excellent for those who are interested in attending an outdoor orientation but have other requirements the week before classes begin with their academic departments.
Coming Soon: 2025 Trip Information
Penobscot River Canoe
All-Inclusive Price: $850
Date: July 26-August 4, 2024
Spend 10 days exploring the great Maine wilderness by canoe! You’ll travel by canoe and camp along the banks of the upper west branch of the Penobscot River and Chesuncook Lake. People have been traveling by canoe on these waterways for 10,000 years!
Things you’ll learn, see, and do
- Steer a canoe in a variety of weather and water conditions
- How to pack a canoe for multi-day travel
- Camping skills including cooking delicious meals, setting up tents & tarps, knots, keeping food safe from critters, Leave No Trace camping ethics
- Leadership skills such as risk management and decision-making, planning, managing group dynamics, and working as a team
- Water navigation, map and compass skills
- How to overcome challenges, be flexible, and problem solve
- Maine’s amazing wildlife! Moose (likely), Black Bear (unlikely), otter, beaver, birds- bald eagles, osprey, kingfishers, white-throated sparrows, woodpeckers, and more
- Sunrises and morning fog rolling off the water
- Get to know your crewmates around a campfire
Itinerary:
Day 1: 1:00 pm Arrive on campus, pack for the expedition, explore campus, and stay on campus for the evening.
Day 2: Depart campus early for the North Maine Woods. Participate in ‘paddle school’ where you’ll learn everything you need to know to canoe the river.
Day(s) 3-9: Travel and camp by canoe. You may get a chance to hike a mountain, rock climb, or canoe rapids toward the end of the expedition.
Day 10 (course end): Return to campus, clean trip gear, and depart for home at 1:00 pm
Mahoosuc Mountains Backpack
All-Inclusive Price: $600
Date: August 9-August 15, 2024
Head to Western Maine for a week of backpacking in the beautiful and rugged Mahoosuc Mountains! You’ll summit bald granite peaks with 360° views and dip your feet in clear, cold mountain streams. As a group, you will carry everything you need for the week in your backpacks and sleep at backcountry campsites along the way. This is a physically challenging expedition.
Things you’ll learn, see, and do
- How to comfortably pack a hiking backpack for multi-day travel
- Camping skills including cooking delicious meals, setting up tents & tarps, knots, keeping food safe from critters, Leave No Trace camping ethics
- Leadership skills such as risk management and decision-making, planning, managing group dynamics, hiking together, and working as a team
- Land navigation, map and compass skills
- How to overcome challenges, be flexible, and problem solve
- Maine’s amazing wildlife! Moose (unlikely), Black Bear (unlikely), white-throated sparrows, woodpeckers, grouse, and other forest birds
- 360° views of the White Mountains and Grafton Notch State Park
- Hike a section of the Appalachian Trail
- Bond with your crew over the joys and challenges of backpacking
Itinerary
Day 1: 1:00 pm Arrive on campus, pack for the expedition, explore campus, and stay on campus for the evening.
Day 2: Depart for Grafton Notch State Park and hike to camp for the evening.
Day 3-6: Hike from campsite to campsite, along creeks, through the forest, over mountains and ridges.
Day 7 (course end): Enjoy an early morning hike out, return to campus, clean trip gear, and depart for home at 1:00 pm.
Coastal Maine Hiking
All-Inclusive Price: $600
Date: August 19-August 24, 2024
Explore Maine’s beautiful and rugged coastline. Acadia National Park is Maine’s only national park, known for its rocky coastline, beauty, and incredible outdoor opportunities. You’ll spend the first few days exploring Acadia. Next, you’ll head downeast and explore the Bold Coast and Quoddy Head State Park.
Things you’ll learn, see, and do
- How to pack for, and safely plan days hikes in coastal Maine
- Car camping skills including cooking delicious meals, setting up tents & tarps, knots, keeping food safe from critters, Leave No Trace camping ethics
- Leadership skills such as risk management and decision making, planning, managing group dynamics and working as a team
- Land navigation, map and compass skills
- How to overcome challenges, be flexible, and problem solve
- Maine’s amazing wildlife! Seals, whales (unlikely), ospreys, shore birds, grouse, coastal forest birds
- Be the first group of the day to see the sunrise in the United States!
- Experience rugged granite sea cliffs and amazing ocean views
- See Maine’s coastal islands from the summit of a mountain
- Build lasting friendships with your crew
Itinerary
Day 1: 1:00 pm Arrive on campus, pack for the expedition, explore campus and sleep on campus for the evening.
Day 2: Travel to Acadia National Park and hike for the day. Travel to a campground and set up camp for the evening.
Day 3: Spend a full day exploring Acadia National Park, return to camp for the evening.
Day 4: Pack up camp early in the morning and travel downeast. Explore Quoddy Head State Park and set up camp for the evening.
Day 5: Hike the Bold Coast trail and enjoy Maine’s rocky coastal views. Return to camp.
Day 6 (course end): Return to campus, clean trip gear, and depart for home at 1:00 pm.
Bound to Adventure
Adventures are short 3 day experiences that take place right before Maine Hello and move in. If your academic area does not require an orientation, this program is for you! Adventure trips allow you to move in early, explore the outdoors, meet new students, and return to campus in time for Maine Hello.
Registration Opens: Monday, May 6, 2024
Registration Deadline: Friday, August 2, 2024
North Woods Adventure
All-Inclusive Price: $450
Date: August 28-August 30, 2024
Spend two nights camping alongside fellow incoming students at a campground in the North Maine Woods. You get to request your adventure. All-day adventure choices may include a summit attempt of the iconic Mount Katahdin, canoeing, whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, or hiking in the beautiful Baxter State Park. You’ll also learn to manage a base camp and cook for your peers.
*Activity options are subject to change depending on weather conditions, enrollment interest, and other unforeseen circumstances. You’ll receive a form to request activity options with your course paperwork after registration.
Things you’ll learn, see, and do
- Learn the basics required for your chosen activity
- Car camping skills including cooking delicious meals, setting up tents & tarps, knots, keeping food safe from critters, Leave No Trace camping ethics
- Leadership skills such as risk management and decision-making, planning, managing group dynamics, and working as a team
- Land navigation, map and compass skills
- How to overcome challenges, be flexible, and problem solve
- Maine’s amazing wildlife! Moose, black bear (unlikely), forest birds, water birds, beavers, deer
- Get answers to questions, advice, and insights on becoming a UMaine Student
- Build lasting friendships with your crew
Itinerary
Day 1: 10:00 am Arrive on campus and take advantage of early move in!
12:00-12:30 pm Eat lunch (on your own)
12:30 pm Meet at the New Balance Recreation Center for your Northwoods Adventure. Depart for the North Maine Woods and set up camp for the evening.
Day 2: Head out with your group on an all-day adventure.
Day 3: Spend the morning on one more adventure then return to campus, clean trip gear, depart Maine Bound, and join Maine Hello festivities.
Coastal Maine Adventure
All-Inclusive Price: $450
Date: August 28-August 30, 2024
Spend two nights camping alongside fellow incoming students at a campground near the Maine coast. You’ll learn to manage a base camp and cook for your peers. On Thursday you’ll travel to beautiful Acadia National Park for an all-day hiking adventure. Your group will head out on a Friday morning adventure, and you’ll return to campus in the afternoon.
Things you’ll learn, see, and do
- Learn the ins and outs of planning day hikes in coastal Maine
- Car camping skills including cooking delicious meals, setting up tents & tarps, knots, keeping food safe from critters, Leave No Trace camping ethics
- Leadership skills such as risk management and decision-making, planning, managing group dynamics, and working as a team
- Land navigation, map and compass skills
- How to overcome challenges, be flexible, and problem solve
- Maine’s amazing wildlife! Shorebirds, seals, whales (unlikely), coastal forest birds
- Get answers to questions, advice, and insights on becoming a UMaine Student
- Build lasting friendships with your crew
Itinerary
Day 1: 10:00 am Arrive on campus and take advantage of early move in!
12:00-12:30 pm Eat Lunch (on your own)
12:30 pm Meet at the New Balance Recreation Center for your Coastal Maine Adventure. Depart for the campground and set up camp for the evening.
Day 2: Head out with your group on an all-day adventure.
Day 3: Spend the morning on one more adventure then return to campus, clean trip gear, depart Maine Bound, and join Maine Hello festivities.
Black Bear Bound + RLE UMaine Immersion
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 (and only) the RLE courses with a bridge week theme of “UMaine Immersion” listed on this web page: https://umaine.edu/research-experiences/first-year-course-descriptions/
To Sign Up:
What you’ll get out of a Black Bear Bound Program….
- Build lasting friendship with other incoming students
- Learn how to navigate UMaine from your student instructors.
- Experience the Maine outdoors and learn new outdoor skills.
- A chance to disconnect from technology and live in the moment.
Click here for Black Bear Bound FAQs
Excited to begin your life at UMaine? Black Bear Bound trips are small group experiential orientation programs that help you prepare for your upcoming college experience. You will have the opportunity to meet other incoming first-year students, make lasting friendships, learn about University life from experienced UMaine students, and make connections that will set you up for success!