We are grateful for the courage and clarity of thought expressed by many individuals who have recently chosen to share their experiences of racism at Chewonki on the BIPOC at Chewonki Instagram feed. We have not done enough to fight racism within our organization. For that, we are profoundly sorry. We hear that our role in this moment is to actively and respectfully listen, and not to intrude into a space created to amplify BIPOC voices. However, we welcome the opportunity to connect with Read More
Blog: To The Point
From Residential to Remote – A Story of Academic Adaptation
The abrupt, nationwide shift to remote learning this spring was more than unexpected, it was stunning. But perhaps we shouldn’t be shocked by what came next: Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki, a program designed around experiential, place-based pedagogy and deeply connected to the physical location of Chewonki Neck, successfully adapted to a remote academic environment. “Learning continued,” says Pete Sniffen, dean of academics. “Students challenged themselves. [They] fell behind and then made Read More
Viral Volunteerism – Young Alumnus Responds to Pandemic
High schoolers who attend Maine Coast Semester are adventurous, hard-working, and community-oriented, and we are often inspired by their work beyond Chewonki. When the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted the last few months of his senior year, Callum Becvarik, (an alumnus of Maine Coast Semester 61 and Camp Chewonki) put these traits to work in service of others. He signed up for the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), a national volunteer network that responds to natural disasters and public health Read More
An Anti-Racism Message to the Chewonki Community
The death of George Floyd under the knee of a white police officer, recorded for nearly nine horrifying minutes, opened a floodgate of pain for so many over the past week. The outrage grows inside each of us as this sickening event builds on so many others to further expose racism in our society and in ourselves. We are speaking up today, as white leaders of a predominantly white institution, in solidarity with black and indigenous communities, as well as other communities of color, to join Read More
Celebrating Semester 64: Growth, Grit, and Graduation!
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
Our 2019 Annual Report
“Next normal” is a phrase I am seeing, and now beginning to use, to describe how we’re redefining our everyday lives: our communities, our workplaces, and the ways we interact with each other. While the past ten weeks have tested all of us in novel and different ways, I am working on a path forward and I thank you for joining us on the journey. Chewonki depends on you. One example of the move to the next normal is that we are picking up communications that were put on hold due to the COVID-19 Read More
In Stitches: Semester 64’s Crafty Way to Unwind!
My great-aunt taught me how to knit when I was younger, but I’d long since forgotten. She’s the crafty type, with a whole room dedicated to all things art – it can get quite messy. She taught me how to arm-knit, cross-stitch, you name it. Even before I came to Maine Coast Semester, I had seen that knitting is the thing to do at Chewonki. I was super excited to re-learn and can remember watching closely as Leyla, whose bed was next to mine in Gordy, knit her chunky salt-and-pepper hat. I was Read More
Walking: Forming Friendships and Connections to the Woods of Chewonki Neck
One foot in front of the other, quietly padding through the forest. The chickadees and cardinals call through the canopy as the snow drifts through the air landing on my face. Our laughter carries through the trees and up into the sky, carefree and purely joyful. We talk for hours wandering over the land we have come to call home. The eastern hemlocks and red spruce frame the path as we run with joy over Chewonki Neck. Although our time at Chewonki was shortened, there was no shortage of Read More
Immersive Learning in Nature Continues Under Lockdown
When I heard the news that Maine Coast Semester was going virtual, I was afraid we would lose the experiential learning that makes a Chewonki education so valuable. I had a sinking realization that the integral parts of our semester school experience would vanish in a virtual setting. I wondered, how can we possibly transfer our curriculum involving the natural world to the Zoom classroom? How will we be able to continue to grow as a community when we’re all scattered across the country? Read More
A Reminder from Allison Pittman: We Are Not Alone
Dear Semester 64, Allison here! Yes, the same Allison who wore shorts and a duck onesie to dinner because she needed to do laundry. And yes, the same Allison who insisted on doing almost every polar bear swim possible, even if she regretted it afterwards. I’m here to tell you that you are not alone. And if this statement confuses you, I invite you to read on. Upon receiving the email from Susan, telling us the news that we will not be returning to campus this semester, I cried. I’m not Read More