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High School
Maine – Sail & Backpack
Explore Maine by land and sea as you sail rocky coastlines, backpack through rugged mountains, learn wilderness skills, and build strong friendships on this one-of-a-kind adventure.
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Maine
About This Course
Activity
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Backpacking -
Sailing -
Service Projects
Setting & Location
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Coastal -
Mountains -
Course Start Location: Portland, Maine -
Course End Location: Portland, Maine
Session Details
2 sessions are available for this course
What You’ll Learn
Forge an epic adventure! On Outward Bound courses for high schoolers, you’ll make new friends and face exciting new challenges together while building communication and leadership skills that help your group soar to new heights!
What You'll Do
With both sailing and backpacking on the agenda, you’ll start by learning coastal navigation, seamanship, weather observation, anchoring, and campsite selection before heading into the mountains, where you’ll camp and travel, relying on your group and the skills you learn along the way.
Where You'll Be
Explore Maine’s wild coast and rugged mountains—from rocky, spruce-covered islands and quiet coves to forested peaks, rushing waterfalls, and twisting streams. Enjoy spectacular views from the open sea & mountain summits, and spot a wide range of wildlife such as seabirds, seals, porpoise, moose, and deer.
Why It Matters
High school is hard work – take a break and do something memorable! You’ll explore new places, make friends, and learn skills that will expand your belief in what’s possible. We are crew, not passengers which means you’ll share responsibility for your crew’s success through teamwork, communication, and leadership. Let’s go!
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Classic Courses for High School
What if you had space to feel more connected to yourself, to others, and to the challenging world around you?
Three-Week Courses
You’ll develop valuable teamwork skills, sharing failures and wins while having epic adventures! You and your crew will establish a thoughtful community, bonding through hard-earned success. You’ll learn how to both lead and support your group. And you get to uncover the answer to big questions like: “Who am I; who are YOU; and how can we sustain a strong, connected crew?”
Us. But Better.
You and your crew will learn how to support each other’s success, boldly tackling challenges and persevering together through epic adventures! Our skilled instructors protect the time and space students need to both recognize your strengths and consider the strengths of others.
Connection and Care
Focusing on building a connected group where each student’s unique personality is valued, you and your crew will practice the communication skills you need to feel safe, cared for, and pay forward that care for each other as you go adventuring!
Shared Success
You’ll start to learn how to be thoughtful about your own actions, your words, and the impact of both on other people. You will practice holding all of this at once while you just how magical facing challenges and succeeding as a team can be!
Life on Course
Sail the coast and backpack the mountains of Maine on an epic adventure where you’ll learn wilderness skills, explore wild places, and build lasting friendships.
On this one-of-a-kind land and sea adventure, you’ll sail a 30-foot open sailboat along Maine’s rocky coast, then backpack through the forested peaks of the northern Appalachians. Learn to navigate by chart and compass, set up camp in the backcountry, and master skills like seamanship, weather observation, anchoring, and campsite selection. Whether you’re on the water or the trail, you’ll rely on your group and grow through shared challenges. Along the way, you’ll build confidence, leadership, and friendships that last long after the journey ends.
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Sample Itineraries
Here’s an example of what your course itinerary might look like. The actual plan will depend on permits, weather, group skills, and instructor evaluation.
Swipe on table below to view more.
22-Day Course
| Day 1 | Travel to course, welcome, equipment issue and check, introduction to Maine coast |
| Day 2-9 | Sailing expedition |
| Day 10-11 | Solo |
| Day 12 | Sail back to base camp |
| Day 13 | Drive to mountains, begin backpacking |
| Day 14-17 | Backpacking expedition |
| Day 18-20 | Final expedition, return to base camp |
| Day 21 | Personal Challenge Event, equipment clean-up and de-issue |
| Day 22 | Course graduation, depart for airport |
I absolutely loved this Outward Bound course, and I truly feel that it has changed my depth and morals as a person. I’ve made many friends and memories, overcome difficult challenges, and been astonished by the incredible natural views.
FAQs
I don't have a lot of outdoor experience—can I still be successful?
Absolutely. Your motivation to learn new skills and work with others is just as important as what you already know. Many of our students have never spent an extended period of time in the wilderness. From the moment you arrive, your instructors will teach you and your group the skills necessary to be safe and successful.
What gear will I need?
After enrollment, your Course Advisor will be in touch to provide you with a link to your Course Page, where you will find a list of required clothing specific to your course – including items such as footwear, clothing, and other personal equipment.
Outward Bound will provide technical gear that includes expedition items like sleeping bags, sleeping pads, tents/tarps, packs, and cooking gear.
Can I bring my phone or tablet on course?
This course is a technology-free adventure! Although you may travel to and from your course with your cell phones, iPods, tablets, and laptops, once you arrive, everything will be stored in a locked area in your luggage until course end.
Although some students are hesitant about this at first, many reflect on their experience as a well-needed break from screens and social media. It means more time to be present with nature—and your crewmates too.
Where does my course start? How do I get there?
Most Hurricane Island Outward Bound School courses start at a designated airport near the course location. It will be your responsibility to be at the airport by the designated course start time. Outward Bound staff will meet you at the airport and take care of transportation from there. You will receive travel information as part of your enrollment materials, but we ask that you do not book travel until you have completed the admissions process, and are approved for course.
What does the cost of the course cover?
The total cost includes all tuition and fees for the course. Tuition covers the cost of food, instruction, permits, technical gear, and equipment while on course. Courses going to Costa Rica and the Bahamas also include on-call international insurance (more information provided after enrollment).
Not included in this total cost are personal expenses such as clothing, health & travel insurance, airfare, and baggage fees.
Can I earn college credit from this course?
Yes! Academic credit is available for Outward Bound courses by transferring credit through our partner colleges or by arranging your own independent study. Click here for more information about receiving academic credit.
Can I use my 529 Plan or college fund to pay for this?
Thanks to Outward Bound’s partnership with Western State Colorado University, we can accept 529 College Savings Plan through their Extended Studies program, and anyone can register. You do not have to be a current Western State Colorado University student to take advantage of this opportunity. Please click here for more information about accepting 529 College Savings Plans.
What types of training do Instructors receive?
Outward Bound Instructors receive regular training in the outdoor activities and environments in which we run our courses. New Instructors receive extensive training in teaching and facilitation, risk management, judgment, decision making, conflict resolution and emergency procedures. After completing initial training, instructors work directly under experienced staff before being promoted to a Lead Instructor position. Lead Instructors receive continuing training and professional development annually.
Click here to learn more about instructor training and development on our Safety & Risk Management page.
How is safety managed on course?
Outward Bound courses take place outdoors and include activities that present risks that can be managed but not eliminated. Running our courses safely is central to our educational goals and our safety record is excellent. Our instructors not only identify and reduce risks but also teach students to assess and address hazards with preparation and care, rather than fear and avoidance. Students and their families participate in our safety systems by familiarizing students with the course description prior to the course and by filling out our application and medical forms completely. We regularly review our safety training systems with our peers and other industry experts and continually seek to create or adopt the most effective practices. Every course is equipped with the ability to get help in an emergency.
For more information, click here to visit our Safety & Risk Management page.
