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Maine Volunteer Program for Teens
In this community service program on Hurricane Island, Maine, teens are truly part of sustainability in action! Whether it’s engaging with the sustainable systems that support the breathtaking off-the-grid campus, collecting data for fisheries and aquaculture research that really impacts communities, or helping to harvest food that will be directly incorporated into the island meals, students will be immersed in activities that prepare them to address global challenges. Rock climbing on a granite quarry face, hiking beautiful trails, and lobstering off the coast of Maine all connect students to the natural world and science in action. Students will become part of Hurricane Island’s intentional community as they develop their skills as empowered leaders who can inspire others and enact meaningful change. Cap off your program with 3 nights in Bar Harbor, Maine with lots of adventure in Acadia National Park and our final night in Boston!
About This Program
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What It’s Like
The perfect balance of meaningful service projects and unforgettable adventures. Note that while on Hurricane Island for 6 days participants will not have access to their cell phones.
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25 Service Hours
A letter of completion detailing the program's service hours and projects will be issued after the program.
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Recognition
Your service hours are eligible toward the President's Volunteer Service Award.
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Service Projects
Everybody participates together in each project. Specific projects are confirmed in late spring and are similar to those described.
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Accommodations
Bunk House & Hotel.
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Meals
Includes breakfast and dinner daily, plus 6 lunches.
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Activities
Includes all recreation & activities listed.
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Transportation
Chartered air-conditioned motor coach.
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Group Size
Up to 24 participants.
Program Highlights
- • Help researchers collect data on scallop aquaculture.
- • Impact the health of our oceans by cleaning up coastal marine debris.
- • Rock climb on a granite quarry face overlooking the Atlantic ocean.
- • Bike, kayak, hike & swim throughout Acadia National Park.
- • Tend gardens and harvest food to feed the island community you are a part of.
- • Explore the oldest university in America, Harvard!
- • Explore Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market in the heart of downtown Boston.
- • Build the leadership skills needed to further scientific discovery and environmental conservation.
Service Projects
Activities
Accommodations
Boston, Massachusetts
The Embassy Suites hotel is located just 12 minutes from downtown Boston. This spacious hotel is the perfect place to spend the first few days of your program and get to know your new friends.
Hurricane Island, Maine
Spend 6 nights on a 125 acre, off-the-grid island in the middle of breathtaking Penobscot Bay, Maine. The bunkhouse is the site of our main solar array and has amazing views no matter what direction you turn!
![Comfort Inn Ellsworth - Bar Harbor, ME - [2022 Maine]](https://www.westcoastconnection.com/content/uploads/2021/06/comfort-inn-ellsworth-bar-harbor-me-2022-maine-318x175.png)
Bar Harbor, Maine
The Ramada Inn Ellsworth - Bar Harbor is located close to all the adventure that awaits you at Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor.
More Details
Frequently Asked Questions
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What if I need to contact my teen during the program?
Participants may bring their cell phones so parents may call and message their kids directly. You may also contact our Communication Centers which serve as the official link between programs on the road and parents. We are staffed every day during the summer and have somebody on call for after hours emergencies ready to assist you 24/7.
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Who are the staff and what are their qualifications?
Our staff are educators, guidance counselors, coaches, college and university students, former camp counselors, residence life coordinators, community volunteers, world travelers, and other leaders with diverse backgrounds. Many are former participants themselves who couldn’t get enough of the Westcoast experience! Learn more about our summer leaders.
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How are roommates assigned?
Giving everyone a chance to make new friends creates a cohesive group and the warmest and most welcoming social environments in our industry!
On our Active Teen Tours, Global Adventures and Community Service programs, rooming rotation is as follows:
To promote this we’ve found the best system is for the Program Director to assign the rooms for the first and second stops. For the first stop, independent travelers room with other independent travelers and any friends who enrolled can room together. All participants will be assigned a different roommate for the second stop. After the first two stops, choice of roommates is always up to you!On our Pre-College Enrichment programs & Career Experiences, rooming is as follows:
We assign independent travelers with another independent traveler for the duration of your stay. Any friends who enrolled together can room together.Important notes:
- Roommates are assigned based on gender identity. We welcome all genders, inclusive of those anywhere on the gender spectrum.
- On a few programs where we spend an extended period of time at the first stop, participants have the opportunity to rotate after the first two nights.