If you’ve ever stood on Portland’s Eastern Prom and looked out at the islands dotting Casco Bay, you may have unknowingly gazed upon a haven of ziplines, sea kayaks, and summer camp magic. Cow Island, home to local nonprofit Rippleffect, is more than just a scenic speck in the water—it’s a 26-acre classroom where Maine kids come to learn leadership, build resilience, and reconnect with the wild world around them.
Founded in 1999 by Ted Regan and Aaron Frederick, Rippleffect began as a mission-driven sea kayaking expedition from Maine to Key West. Along the way, they spoke with young people about healthy choices and HIV/AIDS awareness. When they returned to Maine, they transformed that spirit of service into something lasting. “They wanted to keep the spirit of that trip alive,” says current executive director Adam Shepherd, “and they shifted the focus to access and opportunity: connecting Maine youth to the ocean and the land as part of their heritage.”
Today, Rippleffect reaches thousands of students each year through summer camps, school-year programs, and outdoor leadership training. Its home base on Cow Island, acquired in 2001 under a conservation easement, includes camping areas, an outdoor kitchen, ropes courses, and a climbing tower. Each year, around 900 kids participate in Rippleffect’s summer programs, paddling midcoast rivers, summiting Katahdin, and making lifelong memories in the Maine woods.
The organization’s impact goes far beyond summer fun. “We run four seasons of adventure,” Shepherd says. “Our reason for existence is to provide access to the outdoors for any Maine child. That includes kids who may never have been to a Maine island or hiked a trail.” That’s where Rippleffect’s partnerships with local schools and youth-based nonprofits come in. Through its year-round community programs, Rippleffect collaborates with more than 25 partner organizations—including Portland Community Squash and Portland Public Schools—to bring outdoor experiences to students who might not otherwise get them. “We always say it’s not just about affordability,” says Shepherd. “It’s about exposure. For some of our kids, walking through a local park is an outdoor adventure. We meet them where they are.”
One major leap forward came last spring with the launch of ROCC, the organization’s new outdoor campus near Rowe Elementary School. The site features a ropes course, climbing tower, and a soon-to-be-completed yurt classroom. In its first year alone, the outdoor center welcomed more than 1,500 students. ROCC is just one part of a larger vision to make outdoor education more accessible, inclusive, and reflective of Maine’s increasingly diverse student population. “We work closely with educators to make sure our programs are truly serving the kids who need them most,” Shepherd says.
One of Rippleffect’s most impactful initiatives is ROLE (Rippleffect Outdoor Leadership Education), a no-cost, six-week afterschool program that culminates in a multi-day expedition. ROLE is offered in schools across Portland and South Portland, often with the help of in-school “champions” like guidance counselors or teachers who know which students need an extra opportunity. “These are often the kids who haven’t quite found their thing yet,” Shepherd says. “Maybe they’re not into sports or theater, but they come alive when they’re building a fire or crossing a river.”
Rippleffect’s programming follows a leadership triangle that starts with self-leadership and expands to group and community leadership. “First, we help kids take care of themselves—drink water, pack their bags, show up on time. Then they’re in a position to help the group, and eventually, they’re ready to take those skills into their communities,” Shepherd explains.
As the organization looks to the future, its goals are ambitious. Rippleffect is currently rebuilding a high school fellowship version of ROLE and reimagining its CELP program (Cow Island Environmental Leadership Program) to include international travel and environmental restoration projects. “We want to build deeper, longer-lasting connections,” says Shepherd. “We’re rebuilding a pre-COVID, multi-year mentorship-based program where students grow from participants into guides.”
That last part isn’t just metaphorical. Many former students do become Rippleffect guides. “We start with rising second graders and go all the way through recent grads,” Shepherd says. “It’s a pipeline, and it’s creating the next generation of outdoor educators, which we desperately need to be more inclusive and representative.”
Rippleffect’s success has always been about the power of people and connection. “The name Rippleffect comes from the idea that you drop a pebble of good, and you have no idea where those ripples will go,” Shepherd says. “We’ve been lucky to have a community that believes in what we do.”
So how can you support the ripple? Sign up to volunteer on Cow Island, at ROCC, or on one of Rippleffect’s committees; sponsor a student or school program; or just spread the word. “We always need people,” says Shepherd, “and every dollar we raise goes right back to Maine families.” For this outdoor nonprofit, the greatest adventure is making the wilderness feel like home—for every kid.
"We exist to provide access to the outdoors for any Maine child—that includes kids who may never have been to a Maine island or hiked a trail."
"Our name comes from the idea that you drop a pebble of good, and you have no idea where those ripples will go."