Fall in Maine is a spectacular sight: forests painted in fiery hues, clear blue skies overhead, and the first hint of a chill in the air. Semester 65 was lucky enough to experience this all within a few days of arriving here on the Chewonki campus. Grouped by cabins and full of excitement, they set off for a 5-day adventure in the backcountry of Maine. Whether students were summiting Mount Bigelow, paddling the St. Croix River, or backpacking along the Appalachian Trail, they had an amazing time, all while getting to know their classmates and even learning new things about themselves along the way.

While some aspects of the trips were new, such as wearing masks and remaining with their cabinmates, the overall focus remained true: to practice outdoor skills, gain leadership experience, and forge new and long-lasting friendships. Students pushed themselves to their limits, citing feats such as a 12-mile long canoe journey in a single day. While they may have been tired, they did it all with a smile on their faces and a sense of accomplishment and pride in their hearts. Upon returning to campus, many realized that over those 5 days, their cabin friends had in fact become their cabin family.

Click here to learn more about our tradition of wilderness trips, or check out this blog post from one of our current students, Wren Fraser of Washington Academy. And don’t forget to do some “leaf peeping” of your own this fall!