maine day of service
In 1935, Maine Day began as a campus cleanup, later evolving into a celebration; in fall 2024, it transitioned to Spirit Week, a full week of beautification, service, and school spirit events.
Maine Day, students take a day of service to clean up around campus raking and planting. Maine Day, students swarm the campus to help with some Spring cleaning and landscaping as part of a day of service and festivities.
Maine Day, students take a day of service to clean up around campus raking and planting. Maine Day, students swarm the campus to help with some Spring cleaning and landscaping as part of a day of service and festivities.
UMaine students on the Mall taking a selfy.
The Maine Day of Service Tradition
In 1935 President Arthur Hauck inaugurated MAINE DAY, a day set aside for “spring clean-up” of our campus. The entire campus community – students, faculty, staff, and alumni – pitches in to spruce up the campus. Historically Maine Day was set on Wednesday of the last week of classes of the Spring semester. Over the decades, the tradition transitioned away from its roots and became a large-scale celebration.
In the fall of 2024, the University shifted to “Spirit Week”, a week-long focus on beautification, giving back to campus, and increasing Black Bear school spirit.
Below you will find a frequently updated schedule of events, athletic games, and service opportunities. Sign up for service opportunities at the bottom of this page.
Maine day of service Sign Up
The University of Maine’s Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism connects students, faculty, and staff with meaningful volunteer opportunities, fostering a culture of civic engagement and community impact. Through a wide array of programs, workshops, and partnerships, the center empowers individuals to address local and global challenges, promoting service-learning and strengthening communities through collaborative action.
The Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism coordinates activities for Spirit Week. To sign up to volunteer during Spirit Week and Maine Day of Service at umaine.edu/volunteer/mdos.
Spirit Week and Maine Day of Service Schedule
Harm reduction
A huge part of the Maine Days is making sure students are staying safe while honoring this long standing tradition. Check out some of these tips provided by the Student Wellness Resource Center which can help you prepare for the Maine Days.
- Make sure to have a group of people to enjoy festivities with. Watch out for each other and make sure everyone is on the same page.
- Recognize your personal limits. Don’t go overboard with any substances. Slow down and pace yourself rather than try to consume too much at once.
- Stick to a plan! There are a lot of things happening throughout each day of Spirit Week. Make a plan for each thing you would like to do and make sure your friends are accounted for throughout.
- Be in control of your drinks. If you choose to consume alcohol, measure it before mixing. It is a safer practice to have a container that you control during the entire time you participate; Don’t give other people access to your container!
- Remember to eat and hydrate! Eating food prior to using substances helps to slow down the absorption rate, and drinking water throughout can help replenish the water removed from the cells by alcohol and cannabis.
For more information click on the links below.
Watch out for these signs of: Alcohol Overdose
Give back to the Community
The Division of Student Life is dedicated to helping students adjust to college, enrich their experience, and improve the university community. Your participation in Student Life programs makes a significant difference in the lives of the general student community, as we all play a part in ensuring personal and academic success. We in Student Life are here to support students throughout their journey, providing guidance and advocacy, especially during challenging times, through the committed staff in the Dean of Students Office. To further this essential work and ensure we can offer the necessary support to students facing unforeseen hardship, we ask that you consider donating to Student Life to help support students in need. Your generosity directly contributes to student well-being, helping them navigate difficult circumstances and fully engage with their Black Bear tradition.
Questions?
Reach out to The Center for Student Involvement at um.getinvolved@maine.edu