The Symbiotic Relationship Between Gould Academy and Hurricane Island

The full group of tenth graders and faculty watching a sunset on Hurricane Island off the coast of Maine

May 11 2026

Story by Dean of Community Life and Belonging Katie Stack

Gould has been visiting Hurricane Island in early May since 2015 and is one of the first school groups to visit under the stewardship of the Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership. Even though we took a couple of years off during COVID, it was obvious this week that Gould has made an impact on Hurricane in the most positive ways. The staff commented on how much they love having Gould on the island and how great it is that we are always the first school group of the season.

Gould students have blazed new trails, established a garden, built benches, stacked firewood, and cleared brush. Opening up the island each spring takes many hands. Gould students have given back and, in response, have gained an appreciation and affection for this little island. Students also learn about the importance of plankton, aquaculture, sustainability, community, and the island's history. (See below for more of Hurricane’s history.)

These three days are spent enjoying contrasts. Jumping in cold water and warming up by a fire, watching sunsets, and stargazing, working hard, and recharging. Watching Gould students embrace a new place and new challenges on this trip is always a highlight of my year. They engage a new community and get to know their peers in a new way.

Hurricane Island staff dips a plankton net to collect microscopic samples to look at in the lab. — **Hurricane Island staff dips a plankton net to collect microscopic samples to examine in the lab.**

“I learned about ocean acidification and how it’s affecting shelled organisms,” says James C. ’28, a boarding student from Raymond, Maine. “We learned about the lifespan of plastics and the detrimental effects they have. I really liked learning about the island’s history, and hiking with my friends in our free time. Hurricane Island was an amazing experience.”

I really liked learning about the island’s history, and hiking with my friends in our free time. Hurricane Island was an amazing experience. - James C. ’28

I see this trip as a culmination of tenth grade and a demonstration of the growth and development of this age group. Getting our mountain-hardy kids to the sea allows them a new experience while using the skills they have developed at Gould. Gould’s Portrait of a Graduate competencies are on full display while we are on Hurricane (Thinking Critically, Leading Confidently, Navigating Complex Systems, and Listening Authentically).

“I enjoyed learning about how long it takes for different materials to decompose on the Hurricane Island trip,” said Cody S. ’98, a day student from Bethel. “From now on, I’ll be more mindful of how and where I do my recycling.”

Hurricane Island is a very special place for my family and me. I spent formative years as an Outward Bound instructor, frequenting the island. It is also the place where I met my husband. Visiting each spring and sharing the magic of Hurricane with my students and colleagues is very special and brings me joy.

**Students conduct marine research searching mesh bags for juvenile scallops.**

A Granite Quarry, Outward Bound, and the History of Hurricane Island

Hurricane Island is 10 miles from Rockland, Maine, and originally established as a granite quarrying town run and operated from 1870 to 1910. Hurricane granite can be found across the country, including the Brooklyn Bridge and the Washington Monument. The quarry closed in 1914 after a shipment of granite sank off the coast of Rockland. At the turn of the century, concrete was replacing granite, railroads were replacing steamships, and the quarry operation on Hurricane was no longer sustainable. As a result, the company town shut down, and residents were given 24 hours to pack their belongings and vacate the island. Walking around the island today, there are hundreds of foundations, wells, and relics of the garrying days. In the 1960s, Outward Bound began using the island to run sailing expeditions and built many of the buildings that stand today. In the early 2000s, Outward Bound decided to move off the Island and center operations at Wheeler Bay in Spruce Head, Maine. In 2012, former Outward Bound instructors and board members established the Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership with the intention of continuing to have young people and educators on Hurricane. Currently, Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership runs school group programs, educator professional development, and summer camps.