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It is my strong belief that the summer camp at Chewonki is a bedrock of environmental education. Providing solid information and hands-on learning about the environment and the impact you have on it begins at camp. My grandson spent his first sleepaway at Chewonki this past summer and is returning along with his younger brother because he thrived on this experience. Spending so much time outdoors and learning how important it is to be kind to the environment and the benefits for everyone as a result. When you live in the city you lose a sense of nature at work and the Chewonki experience was a springboard to understanding how vital it is to know your environment. Sharing this information with children at an early age is key to a successful experience for them. In my case, it was extraordinary. Most summer camps concentrate heavily on competitive sports and the refreshing program at Chewonki provides children of all ages an opportunity to learn and respect the earth. I might add, the staff at Chewonki is superb. After a Chewonki summer session the camper is undoubtedly a better educated and happier individual. With a Chewonki attitude the world will be a sweeter place.

Even two years after my semester ended, I cannot overestimate Chewonki's importance to me. I had never before been in a community that upheld and taught its values with such genuine enthusiasm, nor had I before been challenged so to support what I believe.

The months I spent living at Chewonki still rank as among the best of my life. I had no idea what to expect from the semester when I arrived. What I found was an entirely new way of thinking about the world and about my life. I was able to step outside the frantic, competitive world I was raised in, and I gained an immense new understanding of what really matters to me: community, meaningful work, natural beauty. Thanks to MCS, I've spent countless hours over the past two years working for the environment, and I plan to spend the rest of my life doing the same. But, more importantly, thanks to MCS, I've discovered how to live a better life. I'm happier, more confident, more open to new experiences. I couldn't have ever found that without MCS: without the walks in the woods, the community meals, the intense class discussions of philosophy and history alongside with lessons in gardening and woodstoves and sailing.

Chewonki changed my life starting at age 9. My first experience was as a camper and it left me with a profound appreciation for nature and a significant boost in self-confidence. It was the first place that I ever strapped on a backpack and hiked several sections of the Appalachian trail. They also took me to remote island off the coast of Maine with a naturalists who could identify just about everything we saw, from plants to birds, to species in tidal pools. I later returned with a school group and then worked there as a counselor. With each step I've taken deeper into the organization, I have been more and more impressed. The quality of education they provide, the sincerity and drive of the hard working staff and the vision that they both teach and live is inspiring and impact-full. Chewonki is a spectacular, top-notch organization, well deserving of every accolade it receives!

Right from the start, Chewonki worked towards fostering a close community of students and teachers. Together, we developed a sense of unity and comfort between all members of Chewonki, such that anyone could take a seat at any table at a mealtime and feel included. The relationships developed between students and teachers, advisers, and other faculty have proved to be long-lasting and meaningful, months after the semester ended. The knowledge I gained at Chewonki, from identifying bird calls to graphing sinusoidal curves, from learning how to milk a cow to the details of American economy during the Civil War, and from lighting a woodstoves to whitewater kayaking, all came from a great experience. Chewonki has taught me countless lessons that extend beyond sustainability, transforming me into a more valuable member of any new community.