THOR Dispatch: Stories from the Field - University of Maine System

THOR Institute Dispatch cover page.

Reflecting and looking ahead — a warm hello from the THOR Institute.

As we begin a new semester, the THOR Institute is building on strong momentum to expand workforce-focused learning opportunities that connect students with Maine’s tourism, hospitality, and outdoor recreation industries. With increased support from the UMS Board of Trustees and UMS, we have been able to increase our capacity for programming. Along with continued collaboration among campuses, faculty, and external partners, THOR is strengthening educational pathways and creating new opportunities that prepare students with the skills, experiences, and industry connections needed to support these vital sectors of Maine’s economy.

In this issue, we highlight system-wide efforts that center experiential learning into academic experiences, foster cross-campus collaboration, and deepen partnerships with employers across the state, such as our most recent Vacationland courses and dynamic student fellowship projects, as well as our second Vacationland Conference. Together, these initiatives reflect our shared commitment to aligning academic innovation with workforce needs and to preparing students for meaningful careers that sustain Maine’s communities and landscapes.

In the ‘Field Notes’ section, you’ll find highlights of our work over the past year, whereas ‘On the Horizon’ highlights some exciting upcoming initiatives, including a summer Vacationland course and a new fellowship opportunity.

We invite you to take a look at what we’ve been up to!
-The THOR Institute Team

THOR Dispatch: Winter 2026

Venturing North in Maine and Greenland: Read the Winter 2026 Issue

THOR Institute Newsletter front page.

Warm winter’s end greetings to our THOR community.

The THOR (Tourism, Hospitality, and Outdoor Recreation) Institute represents a collaborative effort among the University of Maine System schools and was founded to promote the vital industries of tourism, hospitality, and outdoor recreation that help drive Maine’s economy.

So far, some of our proudest accomplishments include: creating a student fellowship program, developing a Vacationland series of experiential learning courses across the seasons and the state, implementing a new THOR minor - now offered at every UMS institution, providing scholarships to over 110 students, hosting a series of conferences for educational and industry partners, and executing a regional marketing campaign.

In the past few months, we have been able to secure some additional funding to support our work, such as the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation’s CORA grant, which will support the Maine Bound’s Adventure Center gear library, and UMS Transforms, which will support future cohorts of our THOR Student Fellowships.

This newsletter will provide additional insight regarding the work we do. As always, we are grateful for the support of our UMS, community, and industry partners to help make it all happen.

Best,

Emily Zider, THOR Institute Program Manager
Michael Curran, THOR Institute Executive Committee Chair

THOR Dispatch: Winter 2025

Adventure Patagonia and Winter in Presque Isle: Read the Winter 2025 Issue

THOR Institute Newsletter cover page.
It’s been an exciting academic year!

In August we hosted our inaugural Vacationland Conference which brought over 100+ high school counselors and workforce development partners together to explore the variety of pathways within the University of Maine System that guide students towards successful careers in the tourism, hospitality, and outdoor recreation industries.

Fall semester brought student group visits, the opportunity to attend and speak at conferences, and the kick off to our first Vacationland course, which was hosted in January at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, where students from across the UMS had a chance to explore the winter recreation opportunities that exist in Northern Maine. Spring semester brought our first cohort of THOR Student Fellows, all of whom did an impressive job deepening their academic experience connecting with community projects of interest. This summer we will host additional fellows, two Vacationland courses, continue crafting a workforce development microcredential, and work on operationalizing the THOR minor, which is in the final stages of approval at six of the seven UMS universities!

Opportunities abound in this exciting and important field, and it has been thrilling to collaborate with colleagues across the UMS, and around the state to enhance programming and partnerships. This newsletter will highlight these achievements and more. We are so grateful for Maine’s robust THOR community and look foward to continued and future collaboration. We're just getting started!

Best,

Emily Zider, THOR Institute Program Manager
Tracy Michaud, THOR Institute Executive Committee Chair

THOR Dispatch: Spring 2024

Global Flavors and Local Roots: Journeys from France to Greenland and Beyond: Read the Spring 2024 Issue