THE OUTDOORS, ON PURPOSe
Your key to the world is waiting in the Maine mountains.
At Gould, outdoor education isn’t a program—it’s part of the culture. Whether students are studying water quality while floating on nearby Songo Pond or exploring tidal pools on the coast of Harpswell for invasive species, they’re learning to ask questions and solve problems in the real world. Our academic classes intentionally venture beyond the classroom walls, investigating the mountains, forests, and rivers that surround campus.
But learning outside isn’t limited to science class. It’s embedded in every student’s experience—from the first-year Orientation camping trip to skinning up ski trails to earn your turns at Sunday River. Co-Curricular Programs like Forest & Trails and Outing Club get outdoors daily, while adventure sport athletes push their limits on mountain bikes, skis, and snowboards across terrain that challenges and inspires.
Through it all, students don’t just explore—they become stewards of the outdoors.
FEATURED Programs
Polar Bears
Every spring, brave souls gather before sunrise to plunge into icy swimming holes across Western Maine. It’s cold, it’s wild, and it’s a beloved tradition. Make it to every plunge over four years? You’ll earn a block of ice—and serious bragging rights.
High Ropes Course
Every fall, ninth-graders take a day off from academic work for a day of bonding and team building on the high ropes course at Camp Kawahnee on Webb Lake in Weld, Maine. Students collaborate to overcome challenges and discover that they are stronger when they work together and include everyone’s perspective.
Outing Club
In Outing Club, students hike mountain trails, paddle local waterways, and learn what it means to move through wild spaces responsibly. Experienced outdoor faculty lead this two-season co-curricular that builds both outdoor skills and a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors.
Adventure Sports
Whether you’re dropping into a jump on our own Pine Hill or chasing fresh lines in Sunday River’s glades, Gould’s adventure sports programs push students to explore boldly. From enduro mountain biking to All Mountain skiing, it’s about challenge, not just competition.
Mountain Day
No one knows when it’s coming—but when it does, everything stops. Mountain Day is a Head of School holiday every fall. It’s a day off from classes when the entire school can unplug and hike a mountain together. It’s one of Gould’s most sacred traditions—and one students remember for life.
Orientation Trips
Just one day after arriving on campus, new students head into the woods for three days of hiking, paddling, and camping together. By the time they return, they’ve formed strong bonds with new classmates and faculty, and summited peaks together—Gould already feels like home.