Maine Coast Semester reserves the last academic week of each semester for Human Ecology Capstone projects, (often called HEC week here on campus). Human ecology is the study of human interaction with the natural world, and HEC projects give students the opportunity to explore a topic of deep, personal interest, come to understand it in a holistic way, and present a viable course of action. Through their projects, students come to understand the interconnectedness of the world’s ecosystems and practice the environmental literacy fostered in their other classes.
Semester 59 presented their HEC projects last Friday to faculty, peers, Chewonki staff and numerous community members. Students choose to explore a wide range of topics and presented environmental policy proposals, learning plans, handmade books and creative infographics. Here’s a quick recap of all the projects presented by Semester 59:
Kyra, Newark Academy, Short Hills, NJ – Incentivizing Biodeisel For New Jersey Consumers
Gretel, The Big Picture Program, South Burlington High School, Underhill, VT – Connection Between Children And Their Environment
Arielle, Nightingale Bamford, New York, NY – Bringing Awareness To The Harms Of Fast Fashion
Phoebe, Dwight Englewood, New York, NY – Classrooms And Animal Therapy Take A Wonki Turn
Maya, Arlington High School, Arlington, MA – Chewonki Cookbook Based On Local Seasonality
Diana, Concord Academy, Bronx, NY – Food Access In New York City
Stefanie, The Thacher School, Lake Forest, IL – Trap Shooting And The Environment: Reduction Of Impact At Thacher’s Shooting Range
Matt, Waynflete, Phippsburg, ME – Creating Communication For Maine’s Lobster Fishing Industry
Tyler, Trevor Day School, New York, NY – The Chewonki Bathroom Revolution
Grace, The Nueva School, Woodside, CA – Encouraging Sustainable Living Through Tiny Homes
Sam, Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte, NC – Viewing Nature Beyond The Lens Of Self
Adam, Seacrest Country Day School, Naples FL – Improvement Of Heating Efficiency In Semester Cabins
Sophia, Casco Bay High School, Portland, ME – The Power Of Storytelling In A Polarized World
Emmy, The Thacher School, Mill Valley, CA – Meat Consumption Reduction Within The Thacher School: Benefits And Feasibility
Dominic, Millbrook School, Redhook, NY – Buy Local, Make Local, Sell Local
Clara, The Dalton School, New York, NY – Design And Implementation Plan For A Pedal Powered Root Washing System At Salt Marsh Farm, Wiscasset, Me
Theo, Croton-Harmon High School, Croton-on-Hudson, NY – Seeing Our Soils: Long-term Soil Sample Data At Chewonki
Amelia, The Chapin School, New York, NY – Chewonki’s Native American History
Emily, Mt. Ararat High School, Bowdoin, ME – Herbalism: Making Medicine With Plants
Mia, Drew School, San Francisco, CA – Healing Paws And Animals
Grant, The Westminster Schools, Atlanta, GA – Nonprofits And Chewonki: How Can You Monetize Impact?
Aino, Dexter Regional High School, Exeter, ME – The Impact Of Plastic Utensils
Andrew, Seacrest Country Day School, Naples, FL – A Guide To The Fungal Species Of Chewonki Neck
Savy, The Spence School, New York, NY – How Chewonki Neck Can Sustainably Maintain The Maximum Amount Of Quahogs
Sarah, Milton Academy, Glen Spey, NY– Nature Deficit Disorder: How Does Nature Affect Wellbeing?
Oliver, South Kent, Nanjing, China – Re-respecting Food: Food Loss
Reid, Shining Mountain Waldorf School, Boulder, CO – If There’s A Will, There’s A Wave
Juls, Walled Lake Central High School, West Bloomfield, MI – Solar Panels For Walled Lake Central
Phoebe, The Prout School, Wakefield, RI – Designed A Rainwater Rinse Shower At Chewonki
Anna, Mount Desert Island High School, Bar Harbor, ME – Fencing In The East Side Pasture Restoration, Chewonki Neck
John, Wayzata High School, Medina, MN – The Making And Breaking Of Habits
Ray, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn, NY – Mealworms: A Meat Alternative
Maya, The Cambridge School of Weston, Newton, MA – The Whole Picture: The Glorification Of Maine’s Blueberry Industry
Sydney, Nightingale Bamford, New York, NY – Introduction To Navigation For Self-confidence In Outdoor Classroom Students
Lily, The Brearley School, New York, NY – Women And The Woods: A Zine
Sascha, Casco Bay High School, Portland, ME – Integrated Social Justice Into Educational Systems At Casco Bay And Chewonki Schools
Cali, The Bay School, San Francisco, CA – How Immigration Affects Children’s Education
Fer, The Westminster Schools, Atlanta, GA – Making Westminster School Green
Ariel, Camden Hills Regional High School, Hope, ME – Honey Bees: The Threat Of Humans
Lucy, The Chapin School, New York, NY – Lack Of Transparency Between Companies And Consumers In The Free Range Chicken Market
Ava, Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles, CA – Make It Yourself
Anna, Harbor High School, Santa Cruz, CA – Composting And Landfill Waste Reduction At Harbor High School
Lucie, St. Paul Academy and Summit School, St. Paul, MN – Produce For The People
Niku, Moses Brown, Providence, RI – The Advantages And Implications Of A Community Bicycle Fleet At Chewonki
Andrei, Concord Academy, Chukhrai, Russia – Telescope Revival
Congrats, Semester 59, on a great HEC week!
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