The sky over Chewonki Neck was sunny and clear when parents and students arrived on September 4th for the start of Semester 67. Excitement was in the air as advisors met their advisees in person, bags were hauled off to cabins, and many students got their very first glimpse of campus. Some came from surrounding cities and towns, while others had much longer journeys from afar. Wherever they began, they all made it safely to Chewonki: their new home away from home. 

This opening day was special as parents had the opportunity to connect in person with faculty and administrators for the first time since the spring of 2020. It was wonderful to see everyone’s (masked) faces and hear about how excited they were for the journey on which their children were about to embark. A lot took place behind the scenes to allow for this to happen-we meticulously planned a staggered arrival schedule, families followed our Health and Safety best practices for the 10 days before arrival, and students submitted negative PCR tests before they set foot on campus. In the end, all of the planning was well worth it to be able to finally connect in person. 

Since arriving on campus, semester students have quickly become acclimated to the routine here on Chewonki Neck. After training for the first week, they are already pros at dish crew, had their first work programs, and have settled into classes. Now that hints of fall are starting to appear on campus, they are eagerly gearing up for their backcountry expeditions. So many adventures await! 

We are all so thrilled to have Semester 67 here on campus with us. They come from 15 states and 36 different schools. They have vast and varied interests ranging from aikido, mountain biking, and acrobatics to bird watching, painting, and meditation. It is a delight to hear their laughter ring out over the quad or to simply take a moment to chat while waiting for coffee to brew in the Wallace. We look forward to getting to know even more about them over the next few months!