The study of human ecology, or the relationship between humans and the natural world, is an important thread that runs through all aspects of Maine Coast Semester. In last week’s human ecology seminars, students explored our relationship to technology and sustainability through the lenses of energy, farming and food systems. Looking at philosophies ranging from technological futurists to back-to-the-landers, students discussed everything from electric cars to Wendell Berry, horsepower to Read More
Semester News
Finding Your Place, and Yourself, on the Penobscot River
Thinking back to when I first arrived at Chewonki, I am amazed at how much I have learned in such a short time. We’ve only been here for five weeks, but already I feel like a new person. Chewonki has taught me to truly appreciate the natural world around me. It no longer feels strange to be told to go sit in the woods and observe for an hour-- it feels normal. It’s shocking how little I knew about my surroundings before I arrived. I feel a much stronger connection to the land I live on and my Read More
Photos: Maine Coast Semester Celebrates 30 Years of Place-based Learning
Maine Coast Semester celebrated 60 memorable semesters of placed-based learning and friendship in August with a weekend full of faculty-led workshops, swimming and canoeing, farm chores, excellent meals, and LOTS of lively conversation and laughter. A rollicking 171 people, including alumni from 31 different semesters and former faculty going back to the semester's start in 1988, joined the 30th-anniversary festivities. About half of them stayed on campus, in cabins or in tents on the archery Read More
From Portland to Pemaquid Point, Semester 61 Hits the Coast Running!
Two weeks ago, on August 29th, 45 students from 11 states and 36 high schools arrived at Chewonki to launch Maine Coast Semester 61. During their four months on Chewonki Neck, this talented group of students will take a deep dive into place-based education. They'll study human ecology, natural history, sustainability, and farm and food systems, along with math, art, literature, and world languages. They'll explore Maine's coastal ecology and volunteer at the Common Ground Country Fair. They'll Read More
Making Waves: Shaping Eco-Friendly Surf Products at Maine Coast Semester
A native of landlocked Colorado, Reid Hill's love of surfing began on family vacations. Wherever they traveled, his father would find waves, and taught Reid and his brother to surf when they were just seven years old. So when Reid arrived at Maine Coast Semester last fall for semester 59, he was excited to take his interest in surfing further for his Human Ecology Capstone (HEC) project. Human ecology is the study of human interaction with the natural world, and capstone projects allow semester Read More
What the “HEC?!?” Capping off a Fantastic Semester with a Deep Dive into Human Ecology
Maine Coast Semester reserves the last academic week of each semester for Human Ecology Capstone projects (this is 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 in response. Through their projects, students gain an understanding of the interconnectedness of the Read More
A Distant Holla: Illuminating Overlooked Narratives at the Portland Museum of Art
After a rowdy, 45-minute bus ride from Wiscasset to Portland, we arrived at the Portland Museum of Art for our highly anticipated art field trip to the 2018 Biennial. After donning pink stickers and milling about in the lobby, we were given the opportunity to look around the museum. Very Chewonki-like, classmates pointed out familiar species of birds they saw in the paintings. A piece inspired by A Midsummer’s Night Dream took up an entire wall and came with a headset equipped with classical Read More
Getting a Taste of the College Experience
Each spring, we offer a special college counseling program for our spring students (current high school juniors) to think and talk about their future and what they might want out of college in light of their Maine Coast Semester experience. Although some of our students are well into the process already, some haven't begun to ponder college at all. The program kicks off with College Counseling Weekend, which occurred this April. The weekend began with a panel discussion lead by Susan Feibelman, Read More
A Time All Their Own: Students Spend Two Days Alone in the Woods
Every Maine Coast Semester student has the chance to spend 48 hours camping alone on Chewonki Neck. They set off for their “solos” with the same basic supplies; what they do out there is up to them. “This is a time all their own,” says teaching fellow Drew Higgins. Semester 60 students went on their solos last weekend. Afterwards, they were brimming with thoughts. Some used the two days to reflect on their lives, connect with themselves, observe and appreciate nature. Some chose to catch up on Read More
Landscape Painter Matthew Russ Captures the Chewonki Waterfront ?
Noted landscape painter Matthew Russ (Boys Camp staff ’94) visited Chewonki this week to work on his series of paintings of Montsweag Brook. While on campus, Matt demonstrated landscape painting techniques to Sue West's class, Art and the Natural World. This is the third painting in a series that Matt has been working on since last winter. Check out another video of Matt painting that was captured in October: Matt completed the first painting in this series last March: For a deeper look Read More