Isabelle Stewart

Growing up on Cape Cod, it’s easy to fall in love with the natural world. With saltmarshes, maritime forests, and sandy shores to explore, I developed a deep appreciation for the environment around me. However, I didn’t realize just how much I loved being immersed in nature until I attended a summer camp in Maine when I was 14. The opportunity to live and learn outdoors was profound, and it expanded my love for science. When I returned later as a staff member, I discovered something new: a love for teaching. 

My passion for the outdoors continued at Gettysburg College. I studied biology and filled my time outside the classroom by leading outdoor trips for the Office of Experiential Education. Throughout college, I was eager to pursue hands-on learning for myself and spent time away from Gettysburg. I studied marine biodiversity aboard a tall ship in the Atlantic Ocean with Sea Education Association, followed by a semester studying in Jordan, where I interned for a public health organization and deepened my understanding of interactions between human health and the environment. 

After graduation, I spent over a year doing research at Northwestern University’s Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research. Just before coming to Maine Coast Semester, I worked for Penikese Island School, where I taught natural history and intertidal ecology, and helped run a summer STEAM camp. 

When I have free time, you can find me hiking, swimming, trying out new recipes, or crafting!