Book Your Next Destination Conference in Rockport, Maine

Midcoast Maine non-profits are always in need of a helping hand. Your group could help pack boxes and bags of food for Rockland’s AIO Food Pantry or assist in building new area homes or weatherizing existing ones with Midcoast Habitat for Humanity – to name just a couple. Your collective efforts not only leave a lasting impact; they create ripples of connection and compassion in our community.

Set in Thomaston, Pope Memorial Humane Society has tended, rehabilitated, and adopted out thousands of animals since its opening 1989. And they’re always in need of cat and dog essentials, like collars and leashes, unopened canned dog/cat food and treats, and more. Consider organizing a group effort to purchase items for dropping off at the shelter.

Elevate your corporate event with an on-site mixology class, where Samoset Resort’s skilled mixologists teach groups the keys to creating their favorite drinks, followed by a little friendly competition to see who can then shake, muddle, and mix them best. It’s not just an interactive and hands-on team-building activity, but a unique way to enjoy a few cocktails together after a day full of meetings.

Samoset Resort is perched on 230 beautiful waterfront acres that can be your oyster for group-oriented, competitive outdoor games spread across the grounds, like nine-hold disc golf, tennis or pickleball, shuffleboard, and badminton. Or set up a multi-event tournament on one of our rolling lawns with tug of war, Jenga, and corn hole.

A twist on the traditional scavenger hunt, this challenge splits corporate groups into smaller teams and tasks them with capturing photos that meet specific and funny prompts (i.e. “recreate an iconic photograph with your team members,” “stage a mock wedding engagement photoshoot,” “take a Christmas-card style photo with your team members”). Each team’s submissions are voted on by the entire corporate group with winning photos displayed on a project screen.

Maine’s rugged coastline is one of the most scenic parts of the Northeast. And groups can help keep it that way with a local litter clean-up at Breakwater Beach (the rocky beach area at the base of the Rockland Breakwater) or Birch Point State Park. The sessions can also be accompanied with a lesson on what makes our coastal Maine environment so distinct, led by a local sustainability-focused organization (i.e. Island Institute, Friends of Penobscot Bay, Renew Rockland)

Located 14 miles off the coast from Rockland, Vinalhaven may be a bit off the beaten path, but it sure is a gem of an island if you’re looking for something quiet and coastal with a nice dose of nature. And when we say nature, we mean roughly 20 hiking preserves of which the Vinalhaven Land Trust is always looking for volunteers in trail maintenance, coastal clean-up, and monitoring conservation easement properties. Think of it as a chance to see this unique island while actively contributing to its preservation.

Groups can enjoy guided yoga sessions right on Samoset’s grounds with a local instructor, against a backdrop of Penobscot Bay, the mile-long Rockland Breakwater, and the twin islands of Vinalhaven and North Haven in the distance. After all, seaside scenes like these only get better when you’re pairing them with guided meditations and deep, mind-unwinding stretches.

The hardest part isn’t locating a route, it’s narrowing it down to just one from the 25-mile trail system of Camden Hills State Park. Local favorites include Maiden Cliff Trail, Mount Megunticook Trail, and Bald Rock, but for a general group crowd-pleaser, opt for Mount Battie, weaving up the south-facing side of the mountain. While a few steep sections and scrambles may challenge your group, the summit’s castle-like stone tower and commanding views of Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay make it more than worth it.

Did you know the construction of the Rockland Breakwater took about nine years? Or that it’s constructed entirely of local granite blocks quarried and brought over from nearby Vinalhaven Island? Your group will after a scenic stroll – guided by a Samoset staff member – on this almost one-mile-long jetty that pierces the waters of Penobscot Bay.