Maine Bound celebrates over 40 years of connecting UMaine students with nature
Contact: Ashley Yates; ashley.depew@maine.edu
In a state with an identity tied to the outdoors, an idea to create outdoor education at the University of Maine didn’t take long to grow into the nationally leading Maine Bound program.
The first graduating class who participated in Maine Bound and the professional staff who helped develop it met for a reunion in October. Maine Bound founder Kevin Slater said everyone at the gathering has maintained friendships and stayed connected over the 40 years that have passed, which is what he hoped the program would encourage for generations of UMaine students.
“At the end of the day, you’re going to remember the community that you built, and those are the people that are going to walk with you through the rest of your life.”
Colleen French
Coordinator for Maine Bound
Starting in 1981, Slater presented his idea for an outdoor program to several deans in an attempt to secure funding. He argued that regional universities in other New England states had already established such programs, and Maine — a state with enough beautiful places to fill a life full of exploring — should have one too.
Dwight Rideout, a former dean of student affairs at UMaine, saw the potential of Slater’s pitch and secured funding for it. Slater was hired as a graduate assistant, and within a few years his idea turned into a full fledged outdoor program. He ran the program for its first two years and established a model to train students to lead a variety of outdoor experiences.
Jon Tierney got involved in 1983 and established the first physical location for Maine Bound in the attic of the Memorial Union. Working full time with the program until 2001, Tierney’s efforts grew Maine Bound into one of the strongest outdoor programs in the U.S.
“There is no other place on the UMaine campus that feels as much as home as Maine Bound does.”
Kathryn Gatewood, UnderGraduate Student
Established as an alternative way to orient incoming first-year or transfer students, the program has since moved into a building of its own and expanded its outdoor-related offerings to all UMaine students and the general public. Program coordinator Colleen French said Maine Bound’s goal is to provide direct opportunities for wilderness exploration and encourage independent exploration.
“I think the outdoors change people in the best of ways,” French said. “They provide students with a community that is really quite unmatched, and ultimately, it’s a big world and a small community all at the same time.”
For the community at large, the program includes equipment rentals for paddle boards, snowshoes and other equipment, as well as a 45-foot long bouldering wall and 32-foot high climbing wall inside the Maine Bound Adventure Center. It also offers an outdoor Challenge Course for groups of six or more.
“A lot of our engineering students are big climbers. They come in before even being introduced to Maine Bound with some climbing experience and dive in fully. I think that world, and maybe the nuances and inner workings of it, are just really synonymous with an engineer.”
Colleen French
Coordinator for Maine Bound
Students can sign up for various learning clinics and one-day or overnight trips; the Outdoor Leadership Program; and Black Bear Bound, which offers three to 10 day summer orientation trips to a wide variety of destinations from the coast to the North Maine Woods. One-day and overnight trips include introductory and intermediate rock climbing in places such as Otter Cliffs or Rumney, New Hampshire; canoeing, paddle boarding and whitewater kayaking; cross country skiing, mountaineering, ice climbing and snowshoeing; and hiking in renowned locations such as Mount Katahdin and Acadia National Park.
“We’re able to take students to a lot of places in New England that are kind of iconic but also find the smaller locations that maybe people don’t know about,” French said. “We open the door for students to really find inspiration in the Maine outdoors.”
“This place was the core of my UMaine experience,”
Sarah O’Malley ’01
Black Bear Bound has been the foundation of Maine Bound since its official inception in 1984. Data and surveys have shown students are more likely to stay at UMaine after their first year if they participated in the orientation program. French said the experience is valuable to the incoming first-year or transfer students, as well as the trained trip leaders, who are also students.
“Some of those things that we’re having them experience can’t be taught,” French said. “We can’t write a lesson plan for it.”
“Maine Bound is significantly more than a campus job for our student staff. It is a place where they learn to live in community, become leaders and discover new passions. They bring the heart and soul. We couldn’t do it without them.”
Beth Jackson
Assistant Director Of Maine Bound
Nearly 1,000 students have worked for the Maine Bound program, including 10 who were hired for the fall 2024 semester. Many student employees graduate with a minor in outdoor leadership and certifications for CPR, climbing wall instruction and wilderness first aid, among others.
French said she witnesses first-hand how Maine Bound transforms students beyond the practical knowledge they gain. The first group she experienced this with was the graduating class of 2022.
She was working with Maine Bound as a senior in 2019 alongside a newly hired group of first-year students, then graduated, left the university and returned as a staff member during that same group’s senior year.
“There’s just something about watching that transformation, and it’s like, ‘Wow, this is the reason. This is the reason we do it,’” French said. “Watching that year after year is the most magical and beautiful thing.”
“The best part has always been the staff and the countless hours of training and being trained by them in return. That was always the magic. Every deed has value and creates the sum. Forty years of deeds have created the sum.”
Jeff Hunt, Director of Campus Recreation
Staff: Then and Now
Kevin Slater (1981–1984)
A master Maine guide, Kevin Slater introduced the idea of outdoor adventure education to the dean of students affairs. His passion for the Maine outdoors and his innovation built the foundation of Maine Bound, resulting in a four-decade-long history of impactful outdoor adventure education. He developed an extensive paddling program at UMaine and involved student trip leaders in American Canoe Association instructor certification courses.
Jon Tierney (1983–2001)
Jon Tierney established the first physical location for Maine Bound and spearheaded dozens of firsts for the program, including: American Mountain Guides Association accreditations, American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education courses, women’s specific programs and the ropes course. He is an irreplaceable resource for Maine Bound and still helps train staff.
Jeff Hunt (1991–2006)
Jeff Hunt set high standards for staff training and leadership development, which was vital in growing Maine Bound during its early years. He still works at UMaine as the director of campus recreation and will jump at the chance to facilitate a challenge course program or do his favorite thing: “running the ladder on the zipline.”
Guy de Brun (2003–2008)
“Participation in Maine Bound promotes lifelong healthy lifestyle habits,” said Guy de Brun, who served as an assistant director. “Universities that provide many opportunities for students to find communities are stronger. Maine Bound is a community that appeals to a particular group of people and fosters a sense of belonging and social capital within that group.”
Lisa Carter (2007–2018)
Lisa Carter moved to Maine from the South after finishing her master’s degree and began teaching credit courses for Maine Bound, including Challenge Course Facilitation, Maine Wilderness Guide and Paddling Skills. She was vital in the continued growth of first year orientation programs and remains a valuable resource for the program.
“There are few places within a university setting where you can build such deep and meaningful
relationships with students,” Carter said. “I truly value the time I’ve spent at Maine Bound, not just leading and mentoring, but also learning from the incredible student staff.”
Chris Trefethen, Chris Damboise, Lizz Dunn, Barbara Fiore, Aliki Angeliades, Christine Baker, Margo Murphy, Cat & Valdemar Skov
These students collectively invested thousands of hours working on Maine Bound courses, helping to maintain program quality and ensure its future success.
Chris Bartram (2017–2022)
Chris Bartram was vital in continuing the growth of the program while also maintaining its true purpose, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was passionate about fostering the Maine Bound staff community and creating extensive outdoor educational opportunities for students and the surrounding community.
Colleen French (2016–present)
Program Coordinator from 2016–9, Colleen French worked as a student manager before she was hired as the program coordinator in 2021. She has helped make the program more accessible to the community at large, and her efforts in expanding Maine Bound’s outreach have created new partnerships and encouraged more participation from students, faculty and community members.
Beth Jackson (2019–present)
Assistant Director Beth Jackson has been instrumental in revitalizing the program by prioritizing safety and inclusivity. She has worked to update safety protocols and ensure activities adhere to the latest outdoor safety standards and best practices. She also promoted equitable pay for student staff, recognizing their vital role in programming.
The establishment and development of Maine Bound has included many other people, professional staff and students alike.
Maine Bound Timeline
1981-83
The dean of student affairs supports Kevin Slater’s proposal of “Outdoor Adventure Education” at UMaine. Slater and John Tierney compile and submit papers officially proposing the development of an outdoor education program.
Staff training for student trip leaders begins.
Maine Bound is formally adopted as the program name and becomes officially recognized by the university. The first student-led programs begin, and Maine Bound claims office space in the Memorial Union.
The first ropes course element is built on the UMaine campus. Maine Bound moves to a larger space in the Memorial Union and installs the original climbing wall, and New Student Orientation Programs are implemented.
1986
1988
Outdoor Programs to Introduce Options to New Students (OPTIONS) is adopted as the name for student orientation trips and begins taking students across the country to places such as Joshua Tree National Park in California and Everglades National Park in Florida.
Maine Bound moves into one of the oldest buildings on campus.
The first annual bouldering competition is held, known as Boulder Bash.
2002
2018
OPTIONS Expeditions are re-established for regional trips to places such as the Chic-Choc Mountains in Canada, Baxter State Park and the White Mountains in New Hampshire.
OPTIONS is rebranded as Black Bear Bound.
2021
2024
Reservations for the Challenge Course increased by 40% from 2023-24. Regional companies, as well as groups from within the university, use the course to team build and teach participants about their personal limitations.
Maine Bound celebrates 40 years.