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Hurricane Island Outward Bound School:

In 1963, Peter Willauer, an experienced sailor and teacher with an immense knowledge and love for Maine's rocky coastline and offshore islands, discovered the perfect spot for the East Coast's Outward Bound School. Hurricane Island, just off the coast of Maine, also includes an old quarry, which made the island ideal for rock climbing and sailing activities. Today, Hurricane Island Outward Bound School is the largest Outward Bound School in the United States. From its headquarters in Rockland, Maine the School operates in 14 locations stretching from Maine through Maryland and Philadelphia all the way to the Florida Keys.

The diversity of their program offerings and expeditions can be matched only by the diversity of the people who challenge themselves and participate on these courses. From teens to adults, civic organizations and school groups to juvenile justice providers and multinational corporations, their adventures include both sea and land-based expeditions ranging from pulling boat and tall ship sailing, sea kayaking, backpacking, rock climbing and canoeing in the spring, summer and fall to dog sledding, cross-country skiing, ice-climbing and backpacking in the winter.

The Hurricane Island Outward Bound School utilizes some of the most breathtaking wilderness in the Eastern United States. From the backcountry of the Florida Keys and the cypress lined shores of the Suwannee River, to the Savage Wilderness of West Virginia and estuaries of the Chesapeake Bay, to the remote Northwoods of Maine and the 3,500 islands off the cost of Maine, students have opportunities to explore the scenic wonders of outdoor life. In many cases, due to the role they play in the conservation of Maine islands, Outward Bound students have opportunities to visit places where the general public cannot go.

In a chaotic world where confidence and self-esteem seem to be increasingly rare commodities, the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School hopes to be a beacon of light. By combining the School's mission with the motto, "To serve, to strive and not to yield," they hope to better society by providing people with positive experiences that can change their outlook, their attitudes and even their lives. Perhaps their students say what Hurricane Island does best: "How can people understand three weeks of not taking a shower, going to bed at 11:00 p.m. and getting up at 5 a.m., living and sleeping on a boat, soloing on an island for three days and three nights. How do they understand that under all these circumstances, this was the best three weeks of my life?"

What students say about Hurricane Island Outward Bound School:

"I keep my diploma from the HIOBS Maine backpacking expedition hanging in my NYC apartment. My Harvard BA and Columbia MBA diploma are in boxes in my closet. The HIOBS diploma represents the great transition period of my life--it's the one parchment I keep close. It's the one that matters."
--Andrew Goodwin

"My Outward Bound experience taught me so much about myself, leadership and the environment. And it will be an important factor in the career I choose. I not only acquired leadership skills, I had the time of my life! You have made possible an experience that will follow me and give me strength for a lifetime."
--Adam Hilton

"This was my first opportunity to do something on my own and now I am confident that I will succeed in anything I attempt."
--Teri Williams

"My Outward Bound course was one of the most powerful experiences of my life and I will never forget it. I have realized that I have the mental and physical power to do anything I set my mind to."
--Catie Foster

"The full experience still hasn't sunk in yet. I am still overwhelmed with the things I have accomplished and realized."
--Matt Ruth

"Our instructors gave us tools to solve problems, encouragement to succeed and permission to fail. They made me laugh. They made me cry. They made me curse. They made me try. They helped open my eyes to the wonder and joy of the journey."
--Pamela Eaton

"Besides teaching me technical skills in mountaineering and minimum impact camping, Outward Bound truly changed they way I view the wilderness."
--Nate Reynolds

"The high point of our course was plunge-stepping down the back side of the pass. After days of being cold and having to warm up going uphill, it was the moment I felt the greatest achievement as a group. It was the most physically tough day, but I felt exhilarated!"
--Alice Stout

CONTACT HURRICANE ISLAND OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL:
75 Mechanic Street
Rockland, ME 04841
Bus: 1 (207) 594-5548
Bus 2: 1 (866) 746 9771
Bus Fax: 1 (207) 594-9425
E-mail: info@hurricaneisland.org
Web Page: http://www.hurricaneisland.org