The Great Wass archipelago, located in Downeast Maine, includes some of the most remote and ruggedly beautiful islands on the East Coast of the United States. While some of the islands were once inhabited, initially by indigenous tribes and later by farmers and fishermen, most are wild and abundant in bird and marine life.

Moosabec Islands, a private foundation, has formed to support public access and youth programming on several islands in the archipelago, with access to over 900 acres and 10 miles of shorefront. The foundation has installed docks, cleared miles of trails, and is building tent platforms and constructing privies to provide the basic amenities needed for kids to camp, learn and explore. From a base camp on Great Wass Island, accessible by car, groups can venture by boat to Head Harbor Island. Here they are invited to stay for multiple nights with opportunities to hike, beachcomb, learn to kayak in protected waters, participate in stewardship projects, and enjoy evenings by a campfire. The foundation has access to boats and guides and youth leaders experienced with remote camping.  Canvas wall tents  provide shelter for  kitchen and mess hall. Smaller tents will be provided for sleeping.

Moosabec Islands’ goal is to remove barriers  and to enable opportunities for  kids to have immersive experiences on remote islands with an emphasis on resiliency, resourcefulness and forming connections to nature and each other. As a new foundation, we are reaching out to schools and youth development non-profits interested in partnering with us. We want to share this unique place and believe strongly in the restorative power of getting off the grid and into the wild.