Even though Maine Coast Semester doesn’t have any official sports teams, students still find ample time to pursue their interests. My friend James is very serious about basketball, and in our free time, I help him practice. We sometimes arrange games with other students. In fact, some of my best memories are playing basketball here. Personally, my favorite sport is fishing. I brought my fishing rod, my fly rod, and a net. Towards the beginning of the semester, when it was warm, I frequently Read More

Growing up in Maine means the landscape here is familiar. The ocean and pine trees are a part of my home. It's what I know. Attending Maine Coast Semester as a student from Maine means my relationship with this place is a little different than those of my fellow classmates. Although I spent my childhood exploring the intertidal and working in the blueberry fields, I never could have imagined all I would learn and experience here at Maine Coast Semester. What a great opportunity I have to learn Read More

I look forward to every weekend. School is engaging and interesting, but you can’t beat the amazing activities Maine Coast Semester has planned for the weekends. Every Friday night we have a guest speaker. Speakers vary from authors to photographers to musicians. Contrary to the name, many speakers share interesting pictures and initiate fun activities. On Saturdays, we have an activity before lunch. We usually learn outdoor skills, like how to use a compass, or discuss our next adventure into Read More

I hurry in, backpack slung over one shoulder, and sit down at my usual spot close to the door. The Fishbowl classroom is filled with students; I’m the last to arrive at our small Literature and the Land class today. Today’s prompt author is already writing their opening assignment on the whiteboard opposite the large windows. I take a deep breath and grab my writing utensil and journal out of my bag, ready to write.  The prompts for these five-minute warm-ups at the beginning of each Read More

Each semester, our students venture into Maine’s woods and waters for a 5-day wilderness trip. After weeks of preparation, students split into small groups to embark on a unique expedition alongside their classmates and faculty. The experience is a highlight of the Maine Coast Semester. Immersed in some of Maine’s most inspiring landscapes, students challenge themselves in new ways and discover just how much they can accomplish. This past fall, wilderness trips included backpacking in the Read More