Maine Island Expedition
Discover the power of adventure and belonging on a Maine island.
Embark on a transformative 7-day expedition at Hurricane Island Outward Bound’s Burnt Island Basecamp, a secluded 265-acre island nestled 4 nautical miles off the coast of Maine. Immerse yourself in a breathtaking backcountry experience that fosters personal and collective belonging, teamwork, and reflection.
Highlights will include:
- Sailing: Navigate the open waters and hone your sailing skills under the guidance of experienced instructors.
- Rock Climbing: Conquer towering cliffs and test your limits while building strength and confidence.
- Island Living: Experience the simplicity and beauty of island life, learning essential skills and connecting with nature. Instructors will guide students through the basics of remote camp living, turning over responsibility to students as the course progresses.
- Leadership Development: Develop leadership qualities, improve decision-making, and enhance your problem-solving abilities.
- Teamwork and Collaboration: Work together with fellow adventurers to overcome challenges and build lasting bonds.
- Self-Discovery: Uncover your potential, build self-confidence, and develop a newfound appreciation for your capabilities.
Throughout the days, students and instructors will use the island as a base for activities like sailing and rowing in a 30' open pulling boat, including spending a night or two on the boat; rock climbing; and rappelling a sea cliff rising out of the ocean. Other outdoor activities will include hikes around the island and service work. Instructors will also guide students through the basics of remote camp living, turning over responsibility to students as the course progresses.
This way of living and working closely together will challenge students to hone leadership skills, collaborate, communicate, solve problems, and resolve conflicts while fostering a sense of belonging.
Ready to challenge yourself, build confidence, and find your place in the world? Join us on this unforgettable journey!
UPCOMING COURSES
Course # HWM2-2521
Age 13 - 14
Days 7
Cost $2,659
Dates 6/22/2025 - 6/28/2025
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This means a course has several open spots and is actively processing applications.
Course # HWM2-2522
Age 13 - 14
Days 7
Cost $2,659
Dates 7/10/2025 - 7/16/2025
APPLY NOW
This means a course has several open spots and is actively processing applications.
Course # HWM2-2523
Age 13 - 14
Days 7
Cost $2,659
Dates 8/7/2025 - 8/13/2025
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This means a course has several open spots and is actively processing applications.
APPLY NOW
This means a course has several open spots and is actively processing applications.
APPLY NOW – Almost Full
This means there are three or fewer currently available spots left on a course. To secure your spot click Apply Now to begin an application!
JOIN WAITLIST
Once a course has reached capacity, three waitlist positions become available. To join a course’s waitlist, click “Join Waitlist” to begin the application process. A $500 deposit is required. This $500 deposit includes a $150 non-refundable application fee and a $350 tuition payment. The $350 tuition payment is refundable only if you cancel your waitlist application or if an open position does not become available. If a position does become available, the applicant will be applied to the open position and the Application and Cancellation Policies of the Regional Outward Bound School will be followed, including forfeiture of the $500 deposit if you cancel 90 days or less prior to the course start date.
Waitlist applicants are encouraged to complete all required admissions documents while awaiting an open position. Positions may become available up to two weeks prior to the course start date. Applicants may only apply to one course. We recommend applying to a course with open positions instead of a course that is accepting waitlist applications. If you have questions, please call 866-467-7651 to speak with one of our Admissions Advisors.
CALL TO APPLY
This means a course is very close to its start date. Although it is unlikely to secure a spot this late, you can call the National Admissions office at 866-467-7651 to discuss your options.
COURSE IS FULL
When a course has reached maximum capacity, meaning all spots and the three waitlist spots are occupied, a course will read “Course Is Full.” This means applications are no longer being accepted.
CLOSED
As a course nears its start date, the availability status may read “Closed.” In this event, a course roster has been finalized and applications are no longer being accepted or processed.
You will spend time aboard our 30-foot open sailboat. These seaworthy boats are sailed and rowed, depending on weather and destination. Underway, you will learn to set your sails properly for sailing at different angles to the wind and to anticipate and respond to changes in weather and navigation needs. As you practice rowing, two to six of you at one time, you will discover that by coordinating all rowers’ movements so that the oars work as one, you halve the effort it takes to travel on windless days.
For the one or two nights spent sleeping on the pulling boat, the deck will be configured as a sleeping platform. Through the night you and your watch mates will take turns at anchor watch under brilliant night skies.
During your course you may spend a day rock climbing on one of this area’s many granite cliffs or on our ropes course at the Outward Bound basecamp. You will learn to use climbing equipment, tie knots, climb and belay each other, while instructors provide overall supervision of the site. Climbing gives you a chance to practice your balance, coordination, and flexibility as well as the group’s ability to trust and encourage each other.
Service projects are often incorporated into Outward Bound courses through coordination with local land managers, conservation groups, government agencies or social service agencies. While in the wilderness, students are encouraged to practice service to the environment and their team by sharing responsibilities and following Recreate Responsibly ethics throughout the expedition.
The Solo experience is a standard element of Outward Bound courses. With sufficient food and equipment, you will set up camp at a site on your own. Your Solo site is chosen to offer as much solitude as possible yet be within hearing distance of other group members. You will not travel during this time alone, and your instructors will check on you occasionally. The solitude and break from the fast pace of your expedition allow for rest and personal reflection, which is necessary to make the most of your experience.
Your course is based on Burnt Island, a 265-acre, private island 4 miles from shore along the coast of Maine. With an intricate shoreline, the Maine coast is a unique segment of the North Atlantic seaboard. It is renowned among sailors for its picturesque beauty, iconic lighthouses, abundant bays and harbors, rocky islands, and quiet coves. Our potential cruising area covers nearly 200 miles of the Maine coast, with countless rivers, bays, and islands to explore. The rocky, spruce-covered islands are the summits of a prehistoric mountain range. Many generations of inhabitants have made their livelihoods here. Evidence left behind on the islands reveals the historic presence of indigenous Abenaki camps, pre-colonial fishing communities, post-colonial timber and farming operations, and early 20th-century granite quarries. Cold, nutrient-rich waters flow from the Canadian Maritimes, making the Gulf of Maine home to a wide range of sea birds, seals, porpoises, and whales.
These regions are the ancestral lands of the Wabanaki Confederacy, which includes the Abenaki/Abénaquis, W∂last∂kwiyik (Maliseet), Penobscot, and Passamaquoddy nations.
OTHER COURSES YOU MAY LIKE
Penobscot Bay & Islands Sailing
Courses: 2 dates available Ages: 13-14 Length: 9 Days Cost: $4,000 Details & Dates
Penobscot Bay & Islands Sailing for Girls
Courses: 1 date available Ages: 13-14 Length: 9 Days Cost: $4,000 Details & Dates
Water Gap Canoeing & Leadership
Courses: 1 date available Ages: 12-14 Length: 8 Days Cost: $2,900 Details & Dates
Getting Started
If you are ready to enroll on a course click the enroll button next to the course you wish to select or you can enroll over the phone by speaking with one of our Admissions Advisors (toll-free) at 866-467-7651.
To secure your spot on a course you must submit an enrollment form and $500 deposit that is applied toward the total cost of the course and includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee.