The falling leaves of warm colors interrupt the stillness of the Moose River. The water falls off my paddle as I take it out of the water and then back in. A kingfisher swoops through the air from one side of the river to the other. Laughter from my new family surrounds me as I paddle my way down the Moose River in my canoe.  The mouth of the Moose River was very shallow and almost dry. We paddled over beaver dams and pushed our canoes through a shallow, sandy stream for what felt like a half a Read More

A very warm welcome to the 42 students of Semester 65! They arrived on Wednesday, September 16th, enjoying sunshine and blue skies on their long-awaited opening day. It was a busy and joyful occasion as students moved into cabins, toured campus, and connected with classmates in-person. Every semester requires a great deal of preparation, but perhaps no other group has been more involved prior to arriving on campus. In addition to the usual packing list and reading assignment, students also Read More

A HUGE congratulations to Semester 64 students, who graduated last Friday in a virtual ceremony. Semester 64 will go down in Chewonki history as one of the most resilient groups to ever set foot on campus. They have shown dedication, creativity, and grit in the face of immense challenge, maintaining a strongly-bonded learning community through two months of remote education. We are so proud of them. When Semester 64 left for spring break in early March, few could have predicted the profound Read More

When I arrived at Maine Coast Semester, I was so excited to work on the farm. I finally got to spend some time there during our first work program. My job was to rake hay out of the cow pen. It reeked of cow poop, but it was fun. This was also the first time I could really get to know my fellow peers. Our farm at Chewonki not only supplies food that the residents, faculty, and students of Chewonki eat, but the excess food is shared with local communities as well. Here at Chewonki, we Read More

Here at Chewonki, we like to say that there is no such thing as “too cold,” just insufficient outerwear. Needless to say, our Maine Coast Semester students are outside enjoying the beautiful Maine landscape in every season - even winter! Semester 64 recently returned from their wilderness trips, during which they spent 4 days skiing or snowshoeing through powdery paths in Kingfield, Jackman, the Katahdin Woods, and more. Led by our seasoned teachers and guides, wilderness trips are a key Read More

We clicked into our skis with huge packs on our backs. Our sleds were filled with massive barrels of food hitched behind us, and we were on our way. It was day one of wilderness trips, and as I looked around, each person seemed to waver on their feet, unable to balance with the unfamiliar weight of the pack on their back. Ready to take on the challenge, we began our ski from the flat open field of the airport towards the dense trees that lay just over the bridge. The sign read 3.3 miles to Read More

Not sleeping in Orchard Cabin made me nervous. Instead, because of a broken ankle, I would be temporarily staying in one of the rooms in the medical center, with a buddy. I already missed the fairy lights and the hushed conversations that lasted way too far into the night. The way the individual lamps click off one by one as the cabin itself falls silent. I wanted to wake up and roll over and see that my “cabin sisters” were still sleeping, and then all rush to get dressed so we wouldn’t be late Read More

I've never been much of an academic, never one for math or science. The highlight of my report card was the consistent A in acting class. My cynical and stubborn brain took a negative stance on institutionalized education, and it stayed that way until Chewonki, until Natural History of the Maine Coast, our science class. I remember meeting my 2 science teachers, Eric and Megan, and learning about their unique passions. I think it was our first science class when I realized how lucky we Read More

Adapting to a new place can be uncomfortable, and that’s precisely the beauty of it. At my home in Austin, Texas, I had gotten lost in routine and needed a change. That’s why I applied to Maine Coast Semester. I wanted to grow, and growth only happens through discomfort. At Chewonki things are probably a lot different than at your home. You might not eat dinner with your family every night, wake up early in the morning to do chores, or use a wood stove to heat your house. At Chewonki you Read More

August 28, 2019 - Day 1 I live in South Hall. The words sound weird on my tongue, foreign and unfamiliar. I have to think hard when people ask me, “Where’s your home?” The answer seems easy enough. “I’m from New York City.” “I meant your Chewonki home.” I stood for a moment unsure how to respond. What’s it called again? It’s the cabin separated from the rest, in it’s own little neighborhood, built on stilts and surrounded by forest. I’m sitting in here now actually. It’s dark, the trees block Read More