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
**Registration Opens** Monday, May 12, 2025
**Registration Deadline** Monday, July 28, 2025
Scholarships – Applications will open May 12th, 2025
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
Adventures
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 the UMaine.
Once you enroll in a trip you’ll receive more information!
Dates: Wednesday, August 27th-Friday, August 29th, 2025
Cost: $450
Example Adventure Itinerary
- Day 1: 10:00 am Arrive on campus and move items into your dorm room.
- 12:00 pm 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 adventure
- Day 3: Complete a morning activity and return to campus, to clean trip gear. Depart Maine Bound and join Maine Hello festivities.
North Woods Adventure
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!
Coastal Maine Adventure
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.
Expeditions
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.
Once you enroll in a trip you’ll receive more information!
Dates: Tuesday, August 19th – August 24, 2025
Cost: $600
Example Expedition Itinerary
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 (canoeing, climbing, or hiking)
Day 4-5: Showcase your group’s new skills on a longer hike, paddle, 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.
Penobscot River Canoe
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!
Rock Climbing & Hiking
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 Cliftion 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
Coastal Maine Hiking
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.
Black Bear Bound + Black Bear Immersion RLE
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!