Maine Bound Adventure Center opens the outdoors to students
By Kathryn Busko
3/5/24
In March 2024, Sarah Manning, a climber and former Maine Bound employee, shared her insights from climbing at Maine Bound.
Video By: Kathryn Busko
In the Maine Bound Adventure Center, you will find a 32-foot high climbing wall. You will also find students – some doing pull-ups in the corner, some dangling from ropes and some halfway upside-down as they attempt new climbs.
This building is at the center of Maine Bound’s services. These services include equipment rentals, outdoor trips, clinics and, of course, climbing. During past trips, UMaine students have attempted winter ascents of Katahdin, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. This spring, Maine Bound is planning an eclipse hike, a rock climbing day and a packrafting trip.
“We have a lot of different programs for a lot of different people. And we try to conform to what they want and we’re just here to pass on the skills that we’re learning from each other and from what this job provides for us,” said Alyssa Arscott, who has been working at Maine Bound for a year and a half.
This transfer of outdoor knowledge and skills can be as seemingly simple as how to pack a hiking bag or dress in layers for the cold, or as complicated as how to belay someone who is climbing.
Alyssa Arscott, working at the front desk at Maine Bound.
Photo By: Kathryn Busko
Maine Bound prioritizes accessibility. The rock wall is free for UMaine students and climbing shoes can be rented for $2. For personal use, students can rent out everything from tents, to mountaineering axes, to snowshoes. Clinics and outdoor trips range from $12 to $110. Maine Bound provides the equipment, transportation and knowledge students need to enjoy and feel successful in the outdoors.
“Just show up and ask questions and there will be so many answers and so many paths that you can take. But, you just need to be here and ask,” said Nick Leavitt, who has been working at Maine Bound for a year.
Students make up the majority of Maine Bound’s staff. They have the opportunity to earn certifications, gain leadership skills and teach in the outdoors. A community has emerged from students teaching students.
Liquid chalk is applied to the hands when it has the consistency of lotion, before quickly drying into a powder. Without it, the constant scraping against the climbing handholds can lead to blisters.
Photo By: Kathryn Busko
According to its employees, Maine Bound is more than an interface between the indoors and the outdoors, it is also a place to practice life skills including advocating for oneself, working in a team and safe risk-taking.
“A big part of outdoor recreation, especially within the industry of outdoor recreation is having really intentional vulnerability with the people that you surround yourself with,” said Arscott.
Outdoor recreation is full of activities that build relationships. Canoeing requires two people to communicate and paddle in harmony. Climbing requires the belayer to catch the climber on the other end of the rope. The outdoors itself requires people to watch out for each other and be prepared to help.
For many UMaine students, climbing helps ground them in the constant flurry of assignments, emails and activities – by getting them off the ground.
“When you’re on the wall, nothing else matters but that sequence. Like, you can’t really think about, like, how bad your day was or your homework that’s overdue, or the stress of the next test that’s going on because if you do that, you’re going to fall off,” said Leavitt.
Nick Leavitt, a Maine Bound employee and avid climber.
Photo By: Kathryn Busko
Maine Bound's location. Click the link on the map for Maine Bound's hours.