Teenagers hiking on a rocky coastline
Students in the 2023 Outdoor Leadership Early College course, pictured here hiking through Cutler Coast Public Reserve Land, participated in hands-on experiences to learn map and compass skills, paddling techniques and approaches to safely manage groups in the outdoors.

Outdoor leadership intensive for high schoolers offered at Tanglewood in Midcoast Maine

July 6, 2026 4-H Camp and Learning Center - Tanglewood, Home, Family and Youth, In-Person, News, Waldo

LINCOLNVILLE, Maine — Applications are open for the University of Maine Early College Outdoor Leadership Program, a multi-week intensive running from July 19 to July 31, 2026. Hosted at Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center in Lincolnville, the program invites high school students ages 15–18 to learn the role of outdoor professionals, teaching them how to lead group expeditions, manage wilderness risks, and navigate some of Maine’s natural landscapes.

The program is a collaborative initiative between Early College and University of Maine Cooperative Extension. It is primarily a field-based practice, allowing students to experience the day-to-day responsibilities of field guides, environmental educators, and search-and-rescue personnel.

Group of students posing together.
Students in the 2023 Outdoor Leadership Early College session at Greenland Point earned their Wilderness First Aid certification and 4 college credits after the 2-week intensive course.

Students complete official university coursework to earn 4 college credits, gaining a first-hand look at college-level environmental and recreational studies. These credits can be applied toward a degree at UMaine or transferred to other institutions. Participants also practice hands-on medical scenarios to earn a nationally recognized Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification, a foundational credential required for professional Registered Maine Guides, camp trip leaders and wilderness youth leaders. Additional skills taught through the course include group navigation, trip planning, Leave No Trace ethics, and learning how to confidently manage a team and make critical decisions in backcountry settings.

The program uses a small-group cohort model, allowing students to work closely with peers who share their interest in the outdoors. To ensure the program is accessible, tuition assistance and scholarships are available for eligible families.

Parents and students can find detailed information on the course breakdown, fees and application requirements by visiting the Outdoor Leadership Program page. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Ryder Scott at 207.665.2935 or ryder.scott@maine.edu.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension

As a trusted resource for over 100 years, Extension has supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and grow the food-based economy, focusing on aspects from production and processing to nutrition, food safety, and food security. Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H, which offers hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture, and civic engagement and creates a positive environment where participants are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.