Brook Heston

Growing up in Vermont, I was surrounded by countless opportunities to explore and learn about the natural environment. From looking at pond water under a microscope to looking through a telescope at the stars, I was able to see the beauty of nature on both a micro and macro scale. People in my life encouraged taking time to go on hikes, learning the names of native  trees and plants, and spending time in the garden. Above all else, I was taught to be curious about the world around me. 

My childhood experiences led me to Billings Farm & Museum where I have worked for the past 10 years to connect guests with a sense of 1890’s culture and history while promoting sustainable agriculture. 

At Skidmore College, I studied sociology and environmental studies. My time there culminated in the creation of a feasibility study for implementing an educational maple sugaring program at the college. This study initiated a conversation about starting a program connected to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, teaching students and the community about maple sugaring and its social-historic roots. 

In college, I discovered my love of learning and teaching. I learned about the value of place-based interdisciplinary learning and the positive impact it can have on individuals. After graduating from college, I spent a year teaching 5th grade at a school in Connecticut before coming to Maine Coast Semester. Alongside teaching at MCS, I am pursuing a masters in teaching at Mount Holyoke College.