Our program director, Sarah Rebick, recently had the pleasure to engage in an interview with the staff from the Boston Children’s Digital Wellness Lab, a collaborative research group between Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital, dedicated to studying the impact of digital media on the health and well-being of today’s youth.
This has been a fascinating connection for Maine Coast Semester to make. For 35 years, long before the advent of cell phones and social media, we have offered phone-free, tech-light education with an emphasis on personal connection, observation, and the natural world, and it’s something our students often describe as “like waking up to the real world.” Without phones in their pockets, they start noticing the birds circling over the estuary, the expression on a friend’s face during a real conversation, or the clear sweep of the night sky in Maine. Talking with the Digital Wellness Lab reminded us that these experiences aren’t just nice extras—they’re critical for building empathy, focus, and a strong sense of self. In a world where constant connection can sometimes mean less real connection, our campus offers a rare space for young people to slow down, pay attention, and form lasting relationships.
