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WHY CHOOSE MAINE COAST SEMESTER AT CHEWONKI?

Maine Coast Semester is a college-preparatory program for high school juniors and seniors who are ready to take their education to the next level with a four-month, immersive experience studying ecology on the coast of Maine.

During your semester, you will meet inspiring students and teachers from around the country and dive into real and relevant academic classes. Together, you will explore Maine’s vibrant landscapes: rocky shores, salt marshes, boreal forests, and sandy beaches. You will experience hands-on science field labs, embark on backcountry adventures, and study the art and science of sustainable living. As a member of our close-knit community, you will make friends for life and contribute to the group every day, working on our horse-powered farm, splitting wood for your cabin, or helping in a thousand other ways, great and small.

And when you return home, ready for college and beyond, you will hold a new sense of who you are and what you can accomplish. At Maine Coast Semester, you will grow, learn, and find your purpose and your place.

THE
COAST OF MAINE

Over 400 unspoiled acres on the Maine Coast are yours for inspiration, education, and exploration, whether you’re modeling tidal changes, designing energy-friendly buildings, or hiking our network of trails.

THE
ACADEMICS

With a 3:1 student-faculty ratio, a rigorous curriculum, and the natural world as a laboratory, Maine Coast Semester challenges you to break through classroom walls and not just learn, but do.

THE WORLD OUTSIDE

Not every classroom is in a room. You'll learn life-long skills to hike, paddle, camp, and explore the natural world.

THE
FARM

Put your head, heart, and hands to work growing and harvesting food and caring for livestock on our sustainable, working organic farm. You won’t just learn about sustainability, you’ll live it.

TO THE POINT

Our student blog

68 Moments I’ll Never Forget

68 moments I’ll never forget from Semester 68: Arriving on the very first day and meeting all the staff, including my advisor and cabin parents! Waking up on the second day when our fire went out overnight; it was FREEZING, and no one wanted to get out of bed! Doing Phenology for the first time, […]

Birding at Chewonki: I Have No Egrets

When I first came to Chewonki, I immediately knew it was the right place for me. As somebody who loves birds, finding a place for education while also being able to connect with the natural world is extremely important to me. The second I saw the first building on campus, I could see just how […]

Gorp Morp: Prom in the Barn

An integral part of most high schoolers’ experience is prom, and in the coming weeks, most of our sending schools are having their own. But never fear, despite being in rural Maine, we had our own prom. Our dance floor was the barn adjacent to our dining room. The prom planning committee, which had been […]