CHEWONKI FOUNDATION INC
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Where do I start raving about Chewonki? I was a 4 year tripper and before that went to Chewonki's old sister camp, ALC for 5 years. My experience at Chewonki started even before that. My mom worked in the offices there, and as a kid, there was nothing I would rather than run around campus with the other staff kids, playing games in the woods and sneaking popsicles from the kitchen. The 2 years that she worked there were some of the best of my childhood. I also did the vacation day camps every year, at least twice year, for probably 3 years. I remember falling into the farm's duck pond, building igloos, playing Camouflage in the woods, and assembling the skeleton of a whale. Not only was I getting incredible hands on learning experience from a young age, I also was having the time of my life. The same was true when I was on wilderness trips. I started on a trip that has since been stopped due to the founding of the Chewonki Girls Camp (which I can't say I have any experience with). It was an all girls 3 week canoeing trip. We lived in a yurt on base camp of 2 weeks, while doing day paddles, and then canoed down river for the last week. It was the perfect transition for me. After that trip, I wanted to challenge myself more, so for the next three years, I did a different type of trip every year. Sea kayaking, white water kayaking, and a hiking/canoeing combo trip were my choices. Those trips led me to some of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life. My leaders were inspiring, approachable, funny and super caring on every trip. My trip mates, despite differences in social status, age, and race, all bonded together as a family. On trips, you are a part of something bigger than you realize. After a few days, you fall so easily into your new trip life that you don't realize that is making a stronger, more thoughtful, and happier version of yourself. Even when a day seems like the worst you've ever had, you'll wake up in morning knowing that you made it through and that gives a feeling that is indescribably empowering. I had my fair share of tough days on every trip. My first year, while portaging a canoe for a couple miles, me and my partner lost our grips and the canoe came tumbling down.. on my face. Though my nose has never looked quite as straight, I look back on that day and laugh about how miserable I was, because I know that it really wasn't that bad of a day after the pain stopped. My experience at Chewonki really shaped me into a better person, with a love for everything around me. Despite the fact that I haven't been able to do trips for the past two years, I still carry everything I've learned with me. Chewonki gave me a sense of motivation and personal strength that has benefited my life in every way. I hope to work there next summer as support staff at the boys camp, so that I can give back at least a fraction of the amazing guidance I received as a camper, and to be able to be surround the strongest, happiest community I have ever been a part of once again. To all parents and prospective campers that have managed to read all the way through this, I want you to know that Chewonki has a place for everyone. The best choice I ever made was going, and finding out just how life changing a summer camp can really be.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
myself.
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How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
My son will attend Chewonki for his third summer this year. It has been a fabulous experience for him. He has grown from an awkward, impulsive, quirky little boy, into a helpful, compassionate, and responsible 13 year old who has the confidence to try new things, make new friends, and express his ideas. Each year his councilors and activity leaders have serve as amazing positive role models for him as he explores his developing self. He will tell anyone who is listing that he love's Chewonki. Over the past few years, he has learned to eat salad, how to manage his emotions when hiking and discovering you are NOT there yet, found his power in a paddle, and a love of Archery. We're excited to see what stories he returns with this summer!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
My Son
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Find ways to help others have the same experience!
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 Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
my own life. I returned to my home school a changed person, more open to new experiences, and much happier with myself and my values.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the community. Chewonki as a whole is an amazing extended community of faculty and staff, and within the foundation, Maine Coast Semester is an incredible atmosphere in which to learn–I have never been so close to my teachers.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Truly make a difference in promoting sustainability and environmental awareness through education and community action.
Ways to make it better...
My experience could not have been better.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Funding.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About once a year
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2007
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.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
my own life.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
again, expand financial aid and recruitment efforts (for MCS specfically, and for all programs).
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the four months I spent on the coast of Maine, living with people I loved, doing chores, learning tons, walking in the woods.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Incredible: dedicated, brilliant, and close knit.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Expand its financial aid and recruitment efforts, so that all kinds of students could have the experience I enjoyed.
Ways to make it better...
there had been more diversity in the MCS class: racial diversity, socioeconomic diversity, general diversity of opinions and backgrounds.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
it still isn't as well known as I think it should be!
One thing I'd also say is that...
I'd love more than anything to some day return to the Neck.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
One time
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2007
I spent four months at the Chewonki Semester School and had the opportunity to learn and participate in a lot of what the Chewonki foundation does. It is truly a remarkable organization. During my time there, I identified countless trees, worked at the Outreach program feeding birds whose names I had recently learned, read
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
gaining awareness and a desire to live sustainably
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
how it has shaped my views
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
exceptional
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
change lives
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
One time
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
Chewonki was one of the most formative experiences of my life. As a Maine Coast Semester student, I learned 80 birds by their calls and plumage, gathered eggs from the hens in the morning, read and discussed one of my favourite books of all time (the Beak of the Finch), ate 'close to the earth' and participated in building a respectful and loving community. My time at Chewonki shapes my decisions until this day, in my academic and career path, my consumption choices, and my feeling of connection to the natural world.
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If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Open the Chewonki experience to more people from different backgrounds. Chewonki offers a fair amount financial aid, but for most participants the programs are necessarily quite expensive. $10 million would allow for many more accessible spaces.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
One time
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
1998
The Maine Coast Semester succeeded in creating one more steward of the environment in our daughter, thanks to her wonderful experience as a student there during the fall of 1994. The dedication of the staff, the unique location, and the mission all conspire in a way that has been perfected to make this happy event a natural occurrence.
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The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
In the many years of reading reports from my children's teachers, I have never read anything like the careful, thoughtful, insightful remarks that so clearly spoke to the dedication of the teaching staff at Chewonki.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
One time
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
1997
Chewonki continues to be the best run environmental organization I have encountered. It gave me an unparalleled sense of true hands-on learning about sustainability in the most holistic sense of the word and it was the most close-knit community I have been exposed to in my life thus far. Everyone involved with Chewonki has incredible things to teach and also a great willingness to learn more always.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the experience of every student I know who has attended MCS and attests to it changing their lives.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
not change the spirit of Chewonki, ever.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the community it built, something I will always feel connected to that encourages me to push further and bring that sense of community to the people around me.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
incredibly smart, dedicated and diverse in their interests.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
continue allowing students to experience the greatness of MCS!!!
Ways to make it better...
it could not have been better.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
getting the word out and finances.
One thing I'd also say is that...
Chewonki is the best!!!
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2004
Chewonki has shifted my life in an entirely different direction. During my time there, I learned the importance of community and was educated about the natural world. I returned to my city empowered with a voice advocating for environmental awareness, as well as with a tool kit of skills to share with my peers throughout life. I will be forever grateful to the foundation for making this life-altering shift possible, and I will be forever attached to lessons I learned during my Maine Coast Semester. I can never stop singing my thank-you's.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
The community we built together.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Engaging, inspiring, life-long teachers.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Afford to become even more sustainable, and afford to spread even more knowledge about sustainability--all to give back to the biggest community.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
Chewonki changed my life, seriously. It is an amazing organization and truly fosters care for the environment in it's programs. Students leave Chewonki's Maine Coast semester, more mature, self responsible, environmentally responsible and prepared to be global citizens.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Education, creating mature and environmentally conscious stundents. Community building
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
be proud of myself and my accomplishments.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
This non profit holds a place in my heart above all others. I enjoyed how much I learned
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Great, smart and inspiring.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Create replicas of itself all over the country and offer its programs to lower income families.
Ways to make it better...
Don't know how it could have been better, maybe less expensive?
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Growth, diversity.
One thing I'd also say is that...
Chewonki is leading in the right direction.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2004
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