Chewonki Foundation Inc

Chewonki is an exemplar in my experience of non-profits. Mission-driven, thoughtfully guided, and ethically minded, at turns I've been a staff member, trustee, and advisor over 30+ years. Even though my first Chewonki experience was decades ago, I still hold Chewonki up as the place that does community best, that builds connections, and that challenges me to do my best work, whether as a volunteer or supporter.

From the programs it runs for young children to its flagship Maine Coast Semester, which continues to break ground as the premier place-based semester program among a crowded field, Chewonki changes lives. It certainly changed mine!

The Chewonki Foundation policies and practices are discriminatory. Their leadership is not community minded and follows a rigid corporate structure that removes any consideration of the human element. If you or your child fit their narrow definition of "acceptable" they'll leave you singing kumbaya, but if you fall outside that narrow spectrum, be prepared to be discriminated against and even swindled. Do not consider any of their programs for your kids and do not give them your money. They claim to be rooted in place but they only care about themselves and not the community from which they leech their funds and hoard their land.

Wonderful organization that does well by the local and broader community it serves. Takes its mission of environmental education and creating nurturing learning environment seriously and succeeds.

If you are looking for an organization dedicated to environmental education for students of all ages, look no further than the 501(c)(3) Chewonki Foundation in Wiscasset, Maine. It will meet your highest expectations (as it has mine), whether your interest is in a summer camp for boys or girls on a 400n acre Roger Tory Peterson Sanctuary on the Maine coast, or to study up-to-date methods to conserve energy. Programs, led by well trained knowledgeable leaders, stress community building and foundation owned properties throughout Maine offer many ecological habitats for study. They are reached by hikes, boats and kayaks.
It has been a pleasure to be associated with Chewonki for over over 70 years as a camper, counselor, board member and advisor. My time there led to advanced degrees and professional positions in environmental education.

Chewonki offers campers and students opportunities to unplug, reflect, learn and grow. My sons have had the challenging and rewarding experience of participating in Wilderness Trips. And we have a soon-to-be-Semester student in the house!
I had the privilege of volunteering in the Development Office for about 3 weeks. I remain impressed w/ Chewonki's crystal clear mission statement, generous scholarship awards and the exceptional quality of people that Chewonki attracts and retains.

Chewonki fosters an appreciation for the simple things, for the environment, for meeting a challenge head on, and for living and working in community with others. This appreciation often shifts a person's (especially a young person's) entire worldview. This is the magic of Chewonki. You hear over and over and over again: former Chewonki participants say that Chewonki has changed their lives. It changed my life.

Never before have I been a part of such a caring and thoughtful community. Both camps (in Wiscasset and at Fourth Debsconeag) attract the most interesting and inspiring people from all around the globe, and I am honored to say that I worked there for two summers. Every trip leader and staff person I have met at Chewonki puts all of their energy and passion into each day.

The Chewonki Foundation is an exceptional community filled with beautiful people. I hope to return to Chewonki as a trip leader again. I would hope too that those unfamiliar to this place would come and join us for the days to come!

My experience at Chewonki changed my life. After graduating from their semester program, I went on to join their Girls Camp leadership program and later became staff. The lessons that I learned at Chewonki will stay with me forever; more than technical wilderness skills, I learned how to listen, to create and foster community, and to lead others to their own self-discovery. All this because of the outstanding staff and programming at Chewonki.

Chewonki is a fantastic organization that I hope to stay involved with. One of their programs is a Semester School for high school juniors, of which I was a student this past spring. It was one of the best things I've ever done!

The Chewonki Foundation changed the way I will live my life forever. I went for a semester last year and learned about the importance of finding my true self, exploring the world, how to truly enjoy learning, and it taught me so much about agriculture. The people that are a part of this Foundation have hearts bigger than anyone I have ever met. They are experts in what they teach and their goal is to truly better this world and create leaders that will make a change. I will always go back to Chewonki knowing it is my home and where I found people that cared whole heartedly about me and the things I love. A feeling like that does not come easily and requires a lot of thought and skill. This is such a wonderful foundation in every way shape and form.

The Chewonki Foundation has educated and inspired young people for almost 100 years! I was a student in a year-round program in 1975, a wilderness trip participant, a wilderness trip leader and now a board member. Much of what I did in my professional and academic life hails back to what I learned about myself and the interests I developed at Chewonki. The foundation has a wonderful, vast campus and fantastic staff. Its teachers lead by example to impart their reverence and knowledge of the natural world, high school academics, wilderness adventures and leadership - the list goes on. I, like most folks who've had the good fortune of being in a program at Chewonki, was transformed by my experiences there.

No doubt Chewonki changed my life. Granted, I am one to believe that every experience you have changes your life in some way, but Chewonki changed mine in a significant and positive way. I have experienced the organization in a few different capacities: I was a semester student during my junior year of high school--a program that provides value for almost anyone, from anywhere. We worked and learned and explored in atypical ways, and I will certainly never forget those four months. I keep in touch with my classmates and teachers equally. Secondly, I participated in Chewonki's Wilderness Leadership Expedition during the summer after the Semester School. I got a taste of what is a virtually unmatched wilderness trip program for teens, and was able to learn a great deal about white water canoeing technique, as well as leadership skills and wilderness medical training. It sounds cliché but I think I'm going to say it anyway: Chewonki builds an extremely strong bond among its community, such that wherever I go, if I meet a Chewonki person, I know we will have more than enough to talk about

Chewonki changed my life, and I know it will continue to change the lives of others for decades to come.

I worked for Chewonki for three summers at their boys camp. It changed my life. It's hard to put into words, but I will never forget my experiences there.

I participated in their semester program as a junior in high school, and I've gone to visit several times since -- the organization encourages development of an authentic self, and they still remember me and treat me like family. The experience taught me to believe in the inherent value of my individuality, and to recognize my capacity to work for socially responsible changes in the world. It drove me to alter my list of colleges to apply to, switch majors, and pursue a career path I wouldn't have considered before.

Chewonki has had a profound influence on my life and three of my children as well.

When I think of my years as a camper and counselor two words come to mind joy and core values. From its very beginnings in 1915, the people who serve this incredible organization as teachers, volunteers, cooks, managers, etc. have found ways to expose participants to the joy of being with and learning from the lessons nature provides. We have all benefited from the experiences of jointing together in community to become better responsible citizens.

I recommend a Chewonki experience to anyone seeking a safe place where people genuinely care for each other while providing ample room for joyful experience and personal growth.

Not many organizations stay in business for a hundred years. I takes a successful track record to stay in business this long. And with the continuing support of all those who are touched by its good work I pray for another successful 100 years.

I have been associated with Chewonki for over 50 years as a camper, employee, board member and now an advisory board member. Operating a boys camp, girls camp, co-ed wilderness trips, a semester school for high school juniors and an outreach natural history program that reaches thousands of students each year school,the organaztion provides a foundation for young people to grow, mature, learn and interact in the natural world around them. Lessons learned here have been passed on from generation to generation as well as world wide.

I have been volunteering since November 2011. I come to Chewonki for one day(sometimes two) a week to help create The Chewonki Archives. Chewonki was founded almost one hundred years ago. It is a really fun project as we have amazing albums, photographs, the papers of the founder Clarence Allen, plus movies, audio and memorabilia. All the staff at Chewonki are so positive and enthusiastic, it is a joy to be part of the organization. As I am there so much, I have gotton to know many people and work together. Chewonki lives the values that it is teaching, and being part of that is what makes volunteering at Chewonki great. We listen to each other and respect each other. The people that work at Chewonki are cheerful, caring and always ready to help each other and pitch in. We have dish crew where everyone takes turns cleaning up after lunch. Usually 5 people have signed up and its actually really fun, because everyone is working together in harmony.

We discovered Chewonki for our sons through Boys Camp and Wilderness Trips. Not only did the boys have a great time through repeat programs but they also learned about themselves, the natural world, and the community of people - especially counselors and program directors - who loved their company and their universe, who formed honest, personal relations with the boys. We now have personal experience with nearly all of Chewonki's programs through the friends and family we have introduced to its programs. I became involved to give back but it's Chewonki that gives back so generously to me. My hope as a board member is that we can keep Chewonki strong - and help make it even stronger - while making its programs available to even more children, teens and adults. Chewonki is a superb advocate for a joyful but also a thoughtful, intentional relationship to social communities and the natural world. The world needs Chewonki and I am so very honored to be a small part of such a powerful and transformative organization. There are many best parts of Chewonki but one of the very best of all that superiority is the people.

What makes Chewonki a great organization is the people who lead it, and the space where you are when you help at Chewonki. My most memorable afternoon in recent years was when I turned myself over to the staff at the farm and did what I was told. I had a chance to help prepare a field (and learn the difference between rock walls in New England), collect eggs from the hens (and have one for breakfast the next day) and milk a cow! The sky above us that beautiful afternoon is not one I will soon forget. And the lessons I learned from Megan are not soon forgotten!

Chewonki simply does good work. My experience with Chewonki includes attending the Chewonki Semester School, leading wilderness trips, and serving as an Advisor. More than any other organization I have encountered Chewonki does one critical thing very well. It is conscientious and intentional about pursuing programs that achieve its mission. While this may be a high-level success, it is extremely rare among non-profits and for-profits alike. Luckily for its students, the adherence to Chewonki's mission comes without pretension or dogma, and it translates into extremely impactful, educational, and fun experiences in the outdoors. I don't know anyone who has left their Chewonki experience without feeling enriched and challenged to live a more intentional and conscientious life of their own.

I'm the parent of a Chewonki Semester School student - that was over 20 years ago. Chewonki changed my son's life. He learned what it means to be a trusted member of a community, learned to be a steward of the natural world, and found an outlet for his quirky sense of humor. I'm happy to say that he never recovered from the experience. He returned to work as a camp counselor for many years, a math intern, and the IT person. My husband and I have been Chewonki enthusiasts for years, and two years ago I became an Advisor to the organization. I've heard wonderful things about the girl's camp, and look forward to seeing granddaughter become a camper. Chewonki manages to stay true to its mission while at the same time keeping pace with changes in technology, educational pedagogy, and environmental pressures. It is just a magnificent organization!

My daughter was part of semester 46 and it changed her life. The opportunity to meet 40 other top students and learn to live with and for each other and our planet resulted in a wonderful self confidence that has and will serve her well for the rest of her life. Chopping the wood for their cabin wood stove, gathering eggs and milking the cow for breakfast, working on global warming issues - forming a community of caring, well educated stewards to lead their generation in finding solutions to problems my generation and prior have wrestled with is a great outcome of the Chewonki experience.

Currently I have 58 years of Chewonki under my belt. My outlook on life and personal rules of community were learned and developed from my experiences at this organization. I have had children who have experienced and been changed by Chewonki. Currently, I have a grandson who took up white water kayaking at Chewonki only now to find himself accepted by professional kayakers on the west coast. His ability to interact, learn from and be fully accepted by these professional is due to the lessons from Chewonki. I have also helped several Maine islanders to take various programs at Chewonki and have been amazed by their professional development and love of learning due to this organization. Through the years I am continually amazed to watch how the Chewonki experience seeps into the psyche of all who experience this amazing organization.

I have been involved on the board for over 10 years and was a camper in the 1960s. My sons have been wildness trippers and my daughter a semester school graduate. I can say unequivocally that Chewonki changes lives and it does so in all of its programs. It reaches thousands of young people every year and instills in them a love of nature; teaches them responsible stewardship of our natural resources; leadership skills and respect for others.

There is something for every young person at Chewonki. They will be a better person for it.

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.

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!

Review of Chewonki Camp for Girls. Our daughter attended this camp in the summer of 2009. We would NOT recommend this camp. Unlike the Boy’s Camp, the Girl’s Camp is far more rigid with emphasis on areas one would not expect. Focusing on a girl’s willingness to try what the camp defines as delicious food rather than a girl developing independence to make one’s own choices is one example. We will focus on the rigid rules around food because it is unexpected when one is choosing a camp and this rigidity extends to other aspects of how the girl’s camp is run.

Food was a particular concern of ours due to a diagnosed medical condition diagnosed at a leading Children’s Hospital that limits the variety of foods our daughter can eat. She needs simply cooked foods with no spices or strong textures. The camp director, Genell Vashro, said that alternatives would be provided to her.

While the camp did provide alternative to vegans, it did not to our daughter. Instead, we assume the director made a judgment that our daughter’s condition was actually pickiness and arrogantly thought that by forcing our daughter to eat the camp’s food, her condition would disappear. Even when a food made her physically ill, she was forced to eat that same food again several days later in front of the entire camp. Our daughter adopted a dangerous strategy to eat little until a food appeared that she could tolerate and then she binged. Our daughter was not alone she said. Many girls who did not like the food also did a mild form of fasting and binging.

The director assumes that girls who do not like the camp’s unusual food need “weaning off their addiction to sugar and their expectation of a processed-food diet.” We suspect that most, if not all, parents who choose to send their girls to a remote wilderness camp are not feeding their children a processed food diet. Be sure to read “Food meets Philosophy” in the fall 2009 newsletter (http://www.chewonki.org/alumni/thechronicle.asp) to understand the policies. We were surprised that the girls receive letters at the end of the summer assessing whether they ate the food heartily. Our daughter’s letter read: “Sometimes you were a bit reluctant to try new things such as food. We hope that you realize and appreciate where our food comes from, and will be willing to try new adventures.” We were stunned that trying new foods was important enough to make it into a letter to our daughter about her camp experience—that was certainly not one of our goals in sending her to camp!

The camp had many spoken and unspoken rules that lead to a tightly controlled environment. It was not what we hoped for in a camp: It was not a place to spread your wings.

After the summer was over, we talked to Genell Vashro, who basically dismissed our concerns. We then wrote to the president and the Chairman of the Board about our concern about their rigid approach to food as well as other aspects of the camp. For months and months, we didn’t get a reply, despite several phone calls to follow up. Finally, we did have a lengthy phone conversation with the president, who listened and said he would follow up with us, which he never did. (This was more than 3 months ago.) So we don’t know if the camp has implemented any changes. We hope it has, particularly since it is dealing with girls at a vulnerable age when eating disorders emerge for so many.

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.

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

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.

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.

My oldest son attended Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki in 2005, and this was one of the most important and positive experiences of his life. High School for some teenagers is a place where the limits and channels of thought can become too restrictive - and this was the case for Charlie. Chewonki gave him a structure in which to explore beyond the typical boundaries of the classroom and of educational curriculums, but also to explore and occupy spaces outside of conventional culture. He went there with a fairly typical attachment to computers and "FaceBook" and the like, and came back with a far deeper love and attachment to the physical and natural world. I'll never forget the look of appreciation in his eyes as he bounded through the woods to show me his favorite tree that he spent the night next to on his overnight - and made several pencil drawings of. It's hard to overestimate how precious this connection to our world is - and this gift of connection is one of the most valuable things that Chewonki gives it's students and people that interact with it. Our stewardship of this earth is ultimately what will make the difference as our environment faces huge and growing challenges, and Chewonki stands as a place where students learn good stewarship and the importance of that. Thanks to all at Chewonki who contribute to this beautiful gift to us all.

I spent three of the most formative and enjoyable summers of my life at Chewonki and it remains a very significant influence on my work, values and day-to-day life. Chewonki gave me not only some great practical skills but many extraordinary friendships, memories and life lessons. It gave the opportunity to reconnect with what is important and better understand the world around me. In today's world the value of such experiences are immeasurable. Go Chewonki!

Chewonki Foundation consistently walks the talk of sustainability. It finds and retains some of the most energetic and compassionate staff of any organization, whether nonprofit or for profit. Sometimes, the experience of being on site seems almost magical. With self-deprecating humor, the Chewonki staff and campers refer to the comforting "Chewonki bubble" to remind themselves that the experience is to be shared and enlarged beyond the confines of Chewonki Neck, not only to be enjoyed while there.

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.

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.

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 faculty, staff and students at Chewonki make conservation an active and natural part of their daily lives. There is a focus on a sense of place and a love for the woods and coastlines that frame Chewonki that make it a truly unique organization.

My son went to summer camp at Chewonki for several years, then he worked there as a counselor for several more. He loves the place, and so do his parents. Chewonki works itself into a person’s psyche as a model of idealism. The beauty of its physical surroundings is a magnificent representation of its goals as an organization dedicated to environmental preservation. It has found a way of instilling in young people the value of the natural surroundings and has created a vibrant community dedicated to that end.

This is an excellent organization with a terrific mission - they provide fantastic opportunities for a huge variety of people (students, professionals, the general public, etc.) and really make a difference by educating people about the environment, etc.

Chewonki's mission is one that has grown within me over the years. The lessons learned benefitted me both as an educator, but more importantly as a person.

I attended the Maine Coast Semester and it was the first time I had ever been away from home. I honestly did not think I would make it because I was so homesick and scared to do the solo that is part of every Chewonki experience as a Maine Coaster. But through the unfailing support of my teachers and new friends I made it through and absolutely loved it. I learned so much about what it means to be independent and yet rely on others and be able to contribute to the community as well. I would never trade my Chewonki experience for anything because I learned that I had the capability to adapt to so much. Even today, several years after graduating from Chewonki, I am always happy to help when the opportunity presents itself.

I attended Chewonki's Maine Coast Semester and cannot express how much I loved the program. I met amazing friends and deeply enjoyed spending time at the Chewonki Foundation's site, and with their faculty. I had a wonderful experience.

Chewonki gave each of our sons terrific grounding - reverence for nature, community, and self, music, humor,fairness and fun. Our family has been partaking of Chewonki programs for over 30 years and it is very much a part of our lives still. As an institution Chewonki balances traditional vallues such as camp with 21st Century technology such as solar panals. A challenging, dynamic, supportive place.

I've been involved in one way or another with Chewonki since 1986. It very simply changes peoples lives in a significant way. Chewonki brings people closer to each other in small intentional communities while focusing on the natural world around them.

My experience at MCS allowed me to break out of standard path of the prep school youth and taught me to dare to be different and creative. Chewonki is a place I think of often and an organization I hold in extremely high esteem for its relentless efforts to improve what they do and how they meet their goals although they are light years ahead of almost any others in this field.

Through a private school in the Pittsburgh area, my high school daughter discovered, applied to and attended a semester at Chewonki. Being a somewhat timid child who was overdue in developing confidence and independence, it took about a month or so for her to fully experience all Chewonki had to offer. The incredible and positive experience at Chewonki enhanced not only her academic abilities, but also her appreciation for herself, others and nature. This nature reserve provides the ultimate positive experience for all who attend and should be the role model for sister camps with locations all over the USA and beyond. Thank you Camp Chewonki - keep it up for the sake of all humanity!!!!

Chewonki is a unique and truly wonderful place. I first discovered it when I was invited by friends to visit during family week in the early 70s. Twenty years later both my two New York City born and bred sons attended camp as youngsters and then took the same amazing expedition as teenagers: sea kayaking from Chewonki Point to Bar Harbor. Our whole family is grateful for the wonderful experiences Jon and Alex had every summer at Chewonki.

Both of my brothers went to Chewonki and now my son and cousin's son are there too. The spirit and culture of education, exploration, and support of the natural world that has endured nearly 100 years. This is a place where boys can learn to become citizens of the world while having the best time of their lives.

I attended the camp and participated in two summer long wilderness trips in the early 1970's. I subsequently worked there for 2 summers both in Wiscasset and in the field. Those experiences formed the foundation for my appreciation of the natural world and the communities which depend on it. Chewonki also demontrates on a continuous basis how a nuturing and focused community can drive innovation - especially in the area of sustainability. Chewonki has remained steadfast in its commitment to the original and core values established by its founder and the Board while at the same time it has continued to develop new ways of teaching old lessons through expanded program offerings and outreach far beyond its origins as a summer camp. I believe that it is this history of commitment and innovation that attracts a very talented and motivated staff year after year. It is exciting to me that society is beginning to catch up to and respond to issues of sustainability and the interdependancy of human and natural ecosystems that I was exposed to 30 years ago at Chewonki. I am proud to be a part of the Chewonki community and to offer it my support.

I worked at Chewonki supervising the kitchen & dining room and then doing the bookkeeping as well for 10 summers. It was during that time that family prgrams and then school-year programs were started. Chewonki was, and remains, a vibrant place to be. A few years later I became a Board Member and finally had some other advisory responsibility. But there really is no "finally" with Chewonki. It is a place that imprints values on young people and adults alike. I have an Ed.D. in Sociology of Education but none of the lessons learned in all that schooling is as important as one of the basics learned at Chewonki: the human body is water-proof! And we humans are respon-sible for the mountains, the forests, the lakes, and the rivers~~as well as our fellows.

In a song called "I Knew This Place," Dave Mallett sings, "This is where my life begins/ This is where I learned to use/ my hands and hear my heart." Chewonki is that place for many of us: students, campers, employees, and visitors who have walked the paths, slept in the cabins, worked in the pastures, sang around the campfire, or studied in the salt marshes. It's a place where every moment seems full of learning and discovery about the connectedness of all people, all living things, all ecosystems. Such a marvelous antidote to the disconnection and isolation of the world!

I have great appreciation for Chewonki as an educational and responsible environmental organization. When my children attended the Maine Coast Semester they had the best educational personal growth experiences of their lives. Chewonki has implemented many energy saving practices in a practical thoughtful way and has thus demonstrated how people can take similar steps in their own lives. They have also sponsored workshops about sustainability and alternative energy production which are open to the community. Chewonki is an invaluable resource with committment to community, people and the well being of our world.

Our family has been a part of the Chewonki Foundation as campers, MCSer, camp counselor and donors. Every bit of our experience --learning about environmental stewardship, human relationships and personal growth-- was outstanding. The beauty of the place is echoed in the ethos and spirit of the administration, teachers and staff. Our experience at Chewonki was an awakening.

I worked as a trip leader at Chewonki during the summer of 1992. I have gone on to work in environmental advocacy and policy. I was impressed with the whole approach to developing kids' awareness and appreciation for one another and for nature. As a new staff member, the camp and program leaders made me feel welcome, empowered and valued. Chewonki has a great reputation well beyond Maine as a place that provides kids and adults with a hands-on educational experience on natural history and the environment. And I'd highly recommend Chewonki to anyone who is eligible for its programs.

I had amazing and life changing experiences at Chewonki. I learned and deeply experienced life lessons and made lasting friends that have influenced my life for the better, and have inspired me to dedicate it for the benefit of others. Chewonki is a treasure.

I attended Chewonki in 1989 when the Maine Coast Semester School just started (MCS II). I loved every day that I spent there. You learn to live in and as a community and would recommend this experience to anyone who is interested in learning about the natural world.

Chewonki is truly a special place and our son is about to spend his seventh summer there. He loves the warm and friendly community, the new things that he learns, the wonderful food grown fresh from the garden and he has a greater appreciation and respect of the natural world around him.

As a former employee, I continue to be enriched by the experiences provided at the Chewonki Foundation. More than anything, the sense of place and outlook on interacting with the natural world and the people around us are the lasting legacies gained on Chewonki neck and beyond. I look forward to sending my own two children to experience some of what makes this place special.

My children and I are fortunate enough to live near the Chewonki Foundation. Therefore, we have been able to attend their public Out Reach programs which are held on site and other local sites. They were also fortunate enough to attend an area school which sends their 6th graders to an adventure program where they were able to spend 2 nights and 3 days and experienced SO much there from orienteering to the wildlife which shares the Neck with the folks who live and work there. the folks on the Neck are all wonderful and do so much for our people, community and beyond!

I loved co-leading a Chewonki-Alford Lake summer trip in 1992. Now, seventeen years after my Chewonki experience, I love that my 8 year old son is excited about starting camp at Chewonki this summer. One of the things he asked as we talked about his going to camp is if they would expect him to throw away plastic utensils-- of course they don't have plastic utensils ever at Chewonki! Composting toilets are another big attraction for my son!

A fantastic organization that amazingly committed to its mission. Chewonki embodies an energy that is found no where else, from teaching young children to adults, serving the community and forwarding their cause every action is done with gusto and enthusiasm. Chewonki really has no equal.

Chewonki really does fulfill all of its goals. It is one of the most environmentally conscious places that I've been.

As an Environmental Educator at Chewonki, my job wasn’t just about doing remarkable things each day, it was about the deep joy of nurturing other people to do remarkable things each day. The awe I felt at seeing so many youth grow in their awareness of the environment, and of themselves as relational beings opened the path for me toward my calling to the ministry. I shall be forever grateful to the Chewonki senior staff who supported me to grow as a leader, to live with integrity and to work on behalf of the greater good. Though the pay was modest, the learning environment was priceless.

I too agree that Chewonki "walks the walk" and embodies a rare breed of leadership. As a clean energy professional, I have watched this dedicated group of smart professionals take their vision for a cleaner world and make it reality, and then work even harder to engage the public to educate one and all about the wonderful energy solutions already available to us. We need a Chewonki in every state!

MCS was one of my most inspiring life experiences thus far. I was able to learn and feel what a true community was and the effects of sustainability at every level. It opened my eyes to a different view of the world.

I don't know of any other environmental organization that walks the walk and talks the talk the way Chewonki does. Chewonki truly leads by example. When I moved to Maine in 1974, Chewonki was one of the first institutions I heard about in my new state. For nearly a century now, it has had a tremendous impact on educating people of all ages -- and especially young people -- about the importance of caring for our world and for each other. There is always something new and creative percolating at Chewonki. It's incredibly inspiring, satisfying, and joyful to work with the folks there.

My participation at Chewonki's Maine Coast Semester during high shool was an incredibly transformational experience for me that shaped the way I viewed and interacted with the world around me. In these modern times where society is becoming more disconnected from nature, the work that Chewonki does is all the more important. They are one of the few organizations with it's heart in the right place, and they are doing great things.

A great organization with a diversity of experience and talent that allows them to work effectively in a number of area all while retaining a focus on education and helping young people thrive in their surroundings.

Chewonki shapes young people; it inspires older people; it enages minds in the great questions of sustainability, and it opens eyes to the wonders of the natural world. Chewonki's programs have greater influence than their short duration because they reach people at formative moments and they provide opportunities to see and understand the world in new and fundamentally different ways. It is a unique place, filled with exceptional people.

Chewonki has ambitious goals and somehow manages to consistently surpass them. They bring out the best in people and encourage those people to share their skills and accomplishments by living what they have learned. Chewonki changes the way people view themselves and their world, and the confluence of the two.

My family has been involved with Chewonki on and off for 50 years and I feel so lucky to have that as part of my background. What I always thought of as "just a summer camp" it turns out is so much more than that. The sense of community they bring to experiential education is priceless to the young people they serve. And the fact that they've kept their sites on continually improving their impact on the planet in both social and environmental ways makes them true leaders in their field. They live what they preach, but the preaching is so wholesome, honest and integrated that it draws people in and encourages better living from all who participate in their programs. I wish there was a Chewonki in every state!

My semester at Chewonki proved vital to my understanding of myself and the world around me. The program facilitates a comprehensive understanding of the connections between humans and the earth, combining practical experience with traditional education in a positive and holistic manner.

I spent the fall of my junior year in high school at the Chewonki Foundation at the Maine Coast Semester. I had the best time of my life. My eyes were opened to an entire world of possibilities and of global awareness. Chewonki takes its role of spreading the importance of the environment very seriously; the Chewonki Foundation brodened my scope of vision beyond measure.

I spent 4 months of my life living there last spring while participating in the Maine Coast Semester program and having that experience literally changed the way I view the world when it comes to the environment. The Chewonki foundation is committed to being environmentally sustainable in any and every way possible to them & are always looking for new ways as well. It has been such an inspiring place for so many people that I know, and I could think of no better place.

The Chewonki Foundation is a very impressive organization. I went looking for an enjoyable summer work experience and found a beautiful, relaxing location full of interesting people. In addition to other aspects of the experience, integration into a community truly committed to practicing an environmentally sustainable lifestyle was eye-opening and very valuable.

Chewonki confirmed my interest in pursuing forestry as a profession. During my school year there I met and learned about Maine timber industry and interned with two foresters with one of Maine's largest landowners. The community of students and staff was unique and clearly set me on my life path.

Chewoki provided one of the best experiences of my life. I was immersed in an educational setting that only focused on the academics , but also real-life, hands-on learning. I made some of the best friends of my life there and we are still close 20 years later.

Chewonki is a fantastic place. I took my fifth grade class there last year. We've looked at a lot of programs and this was the best. I was allowed to be just a chaperone and let the Chewonki councilor take charge. We really stepped out of our city mode and got back to nature for three days. The students were thrilled and it is the highlight event of the school year.

From a full-sized humpback whale skeleton to the largest functioning fuel cell system in New England, set in the rural woods of Maine, Chewonki provides an enlightening atmosphere for learning. It is a model of hands-on ecological education.

MCS was certainly the most important part of my four years of high school. It's difficult to describe just how incredible MCS was both in terms of classes and in terms of general life. The community of MCS and of the Chewonki foundation is incredibly tight-knit and, over the course of a semester, becomes truly like a family. I love MCS and Chewonki unconditionally.

My sister and brother both went to Chewonki and now my son will be heading up for his fourth summer, this time as a wilderness explorer. We love the camp and the foundation and wish that more organizations could share its principles and ideas. I only wish the girl's camp had started earlier, and was closer to the boy's camp.

I went to Chewonki camp 55 years ago. But when they started their environmental teaching and leadership years ago it made a strong, positive impression on me and on the state of Maine as well. I have always thought of them in the forefront of sustainable and earth wise action. I now send my son to camp there, and I am proud of the level of awareness and guidance that the organization has fostered.

The Chewonki Foundation has changed my perspective completely. After Maine Coast Semester, I have developed a sense of how to live functionally in a small community. I am more aware of sustainability and environmental issues. Almost every decision I make on a day-to-day basis is influenced by ideas that I learned at Chewonki.

My sons have attended Camp Chewonki for the past 8 years. This summer my older son will train as a counselor and his brother will be a camper. Camp Chewonki is a beautiful paradise with well structured programs that teach,respect for the environment, peers and self.They fill the day with programs that teach stewardship of the environment to children as young as 8 thru High School. Camp Chewonki adheres to a 100 year tradition of programs with depth and integrity that teach self reliance and respect for nature thru a meaningful hands on experiences nearly unheard of in this day and age. I have watched my children blossom in confidence and competence as a result. They have met incredible people from all walks of life and all corners of the world and made lifelong friends. AND finally my boys also tell me it really really fun !

Chewonki has long been an innovative leader in camping, the study of natural history and communities, education, sustainability and non-profit organization. I have not directly participated in Chewonki programs for nearly 30 years but the impact Chewonki had was huge and I continue to support the Foundation.

I have benefited so much from being a part of Chewonki. My experience at MCS was a keystone in my education. The challenge, the curriculum, the people, and the place have all positively influenced me and my career. Working for Chewonki Camp introduced me to another side of the organization. It was clear to me very early on in the summer how much the boys loved the camp and how much the experience impacted them. I am so glad there is now a camp for girls! I am committed to the organization and I like to introduce people to Chewonki every chance I get. I haven't been back in a few years, but I still read all the publications and follow news from the Neck.

I think that becoming involved in the Chewonki Foundation's community was perhaps one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I've been going to Chewonki as a camper since I was 8, and am going on my third wilderness trip this summer. The experiences I have had there have greatly influenced my life and how I have grown up. Chewonki is not only a wonderful camp and place to spend summers, it is a collaboration of learning, teaching, conserving, and finding.

I'm obsessed with Chewonki. An incredible place. I learned so much there. The staff is supportive and dedicated and the location is unbelievable.

I love this place and the people working and living there. Chewonki makes a difference in many peoples lifes, including mine.

great foundation. They have a real commitment to the environment, and educating kids and adults about green choices and everyday changes people can make to help the environment. overall an great place and a wonderful foundation.

Chewonki is truly one of a kind. I was a Maine Coast Semester student there last year and I was blown away by the warm and personal environment. The staff there are so welcoming and community-oriented that it's practically impossible to not learn and grow while you're there. Not only was I a student there, but I also volunteered in other areas of the foundation. Chewonki gave me the opportunity to try many new things, all in a safe and caring environment. Sustainability-wise, I've never seen anything parallel Chewonki. With the funds that they have, the board has done a fantastic job of making the foundation green in every aspect of daily life. It continues to affect change in my life.

Next Spring, I'm going to Chewonki as an MCS student. In preparing for this, I've learned a lot about them. They are a wonderful program with an amazing outreach program that changes lives. I believe their environmental sustainability work is going to change our world.

It's not an exaggeration to say that Chewonki provided a rare and truly life changing experience. I was a Maine Coast Semester student 17 years ago, and I still carry the confidence and positive energy I gained from those times with me today. Chewonki is an organization that says "yes" to new challenges and lives up to its ideals.

I spent a semester at Chewonki during my Junior year of high school at the Maine Coast Semester. The Chewonki Foundation faculty, staff, and entire community succeeding making those four months some of the best of my life. I learned more in that semester than any semester of schooling thus far. I learned about the importance of community, of responsibility, flexibility, and generosity. I continue to practice the sustainable practices that I learned on Chewonki Neck, but more importantly am actively aware of my impact and the necessity for environmental responsibility.

Like many writing reviews here, I have been at Chewonki in many capacities - as a summer camper, a wilderness tripper, and a participant in the Maine Coast Semester program - all in the early to mid 1990s. I returned to Chewonki after college, and worked as a summer camp counselor, a teacher in the Maine Coast Semester, and an apprentice on the organic farm. In all my experiences, I have been impressed with the quality of people at the Chewonki Foundation, as well as the determination on the part of the community to do things right. Chewonki helped me build a vision of how I wanted to live my own life, and helped me connect to many who shared my vision. There is a saying popular among activists that "another world is possible." To me, Chewonki is that other, better world that I spend my life working towards.

My first job when I graduated from college was with Chewonki's Maine Coast Semester program. It launched me into a career in teaching and working with students that has given me great joy for the last eighteen years. Chewonki changes lives through its demonstrated commitment to community and the natural world. It teaches environmental stewardship, positive human interactions, and instills a sense of possibility and responsibility in its participants. It is, simply, an extraordinary place that draws exceptional people to it.

My Chewonki experience was fundamental in shaping the person I have become, in particular in shaping understanding of my citizenship of and stewardship for the earth. Chewonki embodies an ideal whose superior I have yet to encounter since my time there. The planet needs Chewonki for all the reasons that it needs every one of us to be a part of the natural world we inhabit.

Loved MCS and still aspiring to live as green a life in an urban setting as I did on Chewonki Neck.

My connection with Chewonki goes back 67 years as a camper, dishwasher, counselor, parent, Board Member and my current role as an Advisor. Obviously I have a deep appreciation and respect for the organization. Many of the counselors, Board Members and staff have had a profound effect on my education, and my years as a camper and counselor led to many years in teaching environmental studies from cradle to grave as well as participation on environmental organizations on the local, state and National levels. The Foundation continues to be a source of inspiration not only for me, but for all that come into contact with it.

Both my brothers went to Chewonki throughout their childhoods. At that time, camp Chewonki was only for boys. One brother is now an avid birder and nature photographer, no doubt because of Chewonki. The other is also a great outdoorsman, although he lets his schedule get in the way. My son now goes to Chewonki, and it has provided one of the best experiences of his life. He comes home from camp rejuvenated -- with a love for learning and for life. He's become an avid kayaker who understands the need to protect our world for future generations.

I attended a semester at Chewonki in my junior year of high school, and it remains the single most important experience in my life. Chewonki helped to make me who I am by teaching me about the importance of community as well as environmental responsibility. I still think back on my time there as the best four months of my life, and I believe that Chewonki is a fantastic organization worthy of any awards it may receive.

I cannot even begin to say what the Chewonki Foundation means to me. I attended the Maine Coast Semester in my junior year of high school, and the course of my life has completely changed as a result of the four months I spent there. Prior to the experience, I was not terribly interested in the environment and only applied because I was desperate to get out of my high school, if only for a semester. I left with the conviction that I want to devote the rest of my life to protecting the environment any way I can. I'm currently majoring in Environmental Studies in college and plan to become an environmental lawyer and hopefully work for the government. Truly, attending MCS was the best thing that has ever happened to me. Everyone who works there is wonderful, the work they do is greatly varied and all-encompassing-from developing sustainable energy alternatives to teaching about the incredible value of nature to creating strong bonds between people that last a lifetime—and I just truly believe that spending time at Chewonki makes you a better person. Most of the greatest people I've ever known I met there.

I was a staff member at the Boys' Camp and in my travels across the country, I often run into people who know of Chewonki or who had experiences there. I think it says a lot that Chewonki is a place where people want to come back to year after year. Campers become counselors and counselors become full-time staff. Chewonki fosters the development of environmental stewards, from teaching kids how to harness solar energy to leaving no trace in the wilderness. As the organization continues to grow, they do so in an environmentally responsible way. Chewonki will buy land for more camps and conservation and new buildings are built following strict green guidelines.

I came to Chewonki as a Maine Coast Semester student in 1997, and the experiences and values I learned there have continued to inform the choices I make in my life today. Testing pH, sampling sphagnum moss from bogs, graphing mathematical temperature trends of the compost pile and identifying Black-capped Chickadees and Balsam Firs were all part of the daily academic coursework. It was these early educational experiences that first elicited my enthusiasm for science as a way of exploring and understanding the natural world. I have continued to pursue this field and I am about to begin a Masters program in Marine and Estuarine Science. I know that Chewonki has continued to educate and influence thousands of other students and campers in sustainability and science, and this is absolutely vital for humanity's continued presence on our planet.

It's been 15 years since I attended MCS, but I still think about my experiences there on an almost daily basis. Chewonki gave me the space, support and self-awareness to become who I really am - what a powerful gift. It's one I will never forget.

The Maine Coast Semester a program of the Chewonki Foundation transformed my daughter's life and has made her a committed and very thoughtful environmentalist who plans to major in biology and minor in environmental studies.

Chewonki has had a real impact on the lives of my three children through numerous summers at the camp, wilderness trips both in land and on the water. Chewonki helped build their self sufficiency, their outlook towards the world around them and their commitment to a green world. From the first solar powered battery, to the Clivus (sp?), to the food grown in the garden they helped tend, to the vehicles running on peanut oil - everything Chewonki does helps children understand how to treat the environment with respect and harness it constructively. Even today, many years later, I'm receiving e-mails from them that help me understand the things I can do to live a greener life. The e-mail this Spring on the Stimulus Package incentives was the most recent example.

Chewonki is part of our family philosophy. In part due to our children's experience at Chewonki, we think about what we eat, the energy we use, how we treat the earth, how we access the environment and how we treat each other.

I have sent my son to Camp Chewonki the last two years and I am amazed at the quality of his camp experience. Chewonki ties together the values and activities of a traditional New England camp, dovetailing in education on, environmental and energy responsibility. This is all done using, fun, experiential learning. Chewonki doesn't only preach, "they walk the talk". Much of the camp runs on photovoltaics, solar heated water, composting, foods grown organically right on site and they even have a solar generated hydrogen fuel cell for emergency power. In todays world this type of camp experience should almost be mandatory.

Chewonki has pushed me to "live deliberately" in every aspect of my life. I am more conscious of where my food comes from and where it goes, as well as how energy is used. Chewonki understands the importance of wilderness education.

Chewonki helped me rediscover my love of learning and taught me many hands on skills that I would never have experienced otherwise. I believe that this foundation allows each person who attends to discover or rediscover facets of both themselves and the world around them.

I am a parent of an MCS42 student and I can honestly say it has changed my son's life. The knowledge that he has gained about sustainability, the environment, the Maine coast coupled with the fantastic teaching, the exposure to making it on his own in a new environment, the physical challenges, the outdoor experiences...I could go on and on. Suffice it to say, I have and will continue to recommend the Maine Coast Semester program to my friends with children. Thank you.

I was part of MCS 34 at Chewonki and it was easily one of the best times of my life. I learned so much about myself, about the environment, about sustainability, and about life in general. I also met great people, kids and adults alike. My teachers were fantastic, academically and socially. I would recommend spending a semester at Chewonki to anyone!

Because my two sons went to Camp Chewonki (and subsequently my two grandsons) I became a member of the Board of the Chewonki Foundation many years ago. Reluctantly, I had to resign 26 years ago when I moved to California. The Foundation is an extremely impressive organization. Not only does it teach young people a love and respect for the natural world, it also sponsors environmental programs and engages in practical activities that further environmental protection. Top to bottom, it's a highly dynamic force for the environment.

Chewonki has certainly shaped who I am and how I function in the world, and I have seen people of all ages transformed by their experiences with the Chewonki Foundation. As both a summer camp and year round education center, Chewonki is unparalleled due not to the extraordinary setting, but the consistently excellent staff. The people who live and work at Chewonki go above and beyond in everything they do, making Chewonki a powerful and nurturing environment. Chewonki is a home to everyone who has had the privilege of spending even a small amount of time there.

My first exposure to The Chewonki Foundation was as a participant on a three-week wilderness expedition. In those three weeks, I learned valuable skills in the areas of leadership, respect for wilderness and teamwork that I still put to work today in my job as an environmental attorney. I experienced two other wilderness trips and then worked at the boys camp for two summers as a member of the crew. Through these experiences I have witnessed first hand the invaluable lessons Chewonki passes on to its young participants in its programs about resource conservation, wilderness protection, wildlife, organic farming, teamwork, leadership skills, responsibility and respect. Chewonki is an invaluable resource for individuals, schools and the coastal Maine community.

I cannot even imagine who I would be today had I not gotten involved with the Chewonki Foundation. I was lucky to be able to attend the Main Coast Semester in fall of 2000. It was an amazing experienece that opened my eyes to the idea of living sustainably. Growing up in Washington DC did not provide me with a connection to the land and knowledge about organic/sustainalbe agricultural practices. Chewonki shaped me greatly as a 16 year old to become a more environmentally conscious and active citizen. I went back to Chewonki for four summers to work at the summer camp. I taught the farm activity for two of those summers and was so happy to be able to teach kids about farming and gardening, which had been so influential for me. I now am a public school teacher in the bay area and just started a vegetable garden at my school. I know that without the influence of Chewonki, I never would have taken this project on. I now have over 30 students involved in the garden project and for many of these students this is their first exposure to growing their own food. Chewonki's legacy and dream extends beyond its Maine campus as the people who have been touched by the organization go on to do wonderful work in the environmental field.

My three children have all attended camp at Chewonki. What a great intro to Maine when we moved here and my twin 10 year olds spent a week there. They came away from that much more confident, keenly aware of the importance of taking care of the environment and it seemed to vanquish all of their fears about moving away from California. My daughter was a part of the first ever girls camp. When I had to keep our burn pile lit during the fall winds, it was she alone who did it. She had learned that at Chewonki. I recommend it to all parents who are trying to figure out summercamps and now two of their friends will be attending!!

I find the environmental awareness programs at Camp Chewonki impressive and more importantly, they are geared to children. They are inbibing this awareness into the next generation and shaping the future of our world. What can be more critical than that?

Our son and daughter both attended the Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki. It was a life-changing experience, especially for our daughter, who learned to appreciate and understand Nature as well as herself. It is very important for our young people to learn about nature first hand and to be inspired to take a role in protecting the environment. Chewonki does this superbly.

Maine Coast Semester transformed my son from a shy and self-conscious young man to a thriving, passionate and happy one. The power of a natural environment, work in the outdoors, camaraderie of a group committed to learning and protecting its environment is about the most sustaining approach to sustaining our environment imaginable. The experience Maine Coast offers cultivates passionate custodians of our planet who are empowered and motivated to make a difference for the rest of their lives. At the Harvest Feast that the students prepared for visiting parents, I was amazed to learn that every other parent observed the same flourishing transformation in his or her child.

My son went to Chewonki last summer for camp. He hasn't stopped talking about it! He had such a positive and rewarding experience. He is going back this summer and can't wait.

Our son attended Chewonki's summer camp in 2008. This was his (and our) first experience with overnight camp and, it turned out to be a terrific experience. We had heard about Chewonki from a friend and nervously attended the director's "meet and greet" here in Ohio. We were taken with the slide show presenting their unique set up and loved their obvious environmental awareness. It was clear that they had been doing this for some time, and we liked the fact that consideration for the environment was built so seamlessly into everything they do there. It turned out to be a great fit for our son. He had a blast, learned a lot, was excited to get his own pair of binoculars and has even identified birds here in Ohio -- which had never happened before his Chewonki experience, despite Mom's best efforts! The staff we've dealt with through phone calls and emails has been terrific -- competent and caring, courteous and thorough. Their attention and efforts are genuinely motivated by their passion for Chewonki. We would not hesitate to recommend Chewonki to others, and have talked it up to friends here. And in spite of these difficult economic times, our son will be returning again this summer.

I have worked for the foundation for only the past 5 years. I work on a remote property in the Northwoods of Maine that Chewonki recently acquired. It was once privately owned campground on leased paper company land. Chewonki purchased the campground and eventually the land for the purposes of conservation and protection as well as recreation usage . It is still a campground that welcomes the public, including many avid flyfishermen and family campers. It also provides a great base for Chewonki programs such as whitewater kayaking and hiking to nearby Baxter State Park. Watching the transformation over the past 5 years from tacky, over used and abused river frontage to green, welcoming , responsible ownership of such a beautiful wilderness area, has been a great pleasure. Working with the managers, board members and staff of the foundation has been an even greater pleasure. They are all so focused on what really needs to happen in lifestyle changes to improve the world we all live in and our children will live in. They "walk the talk". This foundation is as responsible as they get, in every sense of the word. To the environment, the community, their participants and students and to their staff. Thank you to those founders who had the foresight to take this "Summer Camp" to where it is today. I hope more will have the opportunity to experience the "Chewonki Experience " in the near future. They have created a multitude of ways to do this. Check out their website soon.

I spent a semester at Chewonki during my junior year in high school and have never been the same since! I am a changed and better person because of Chewonki and honestly am where I am now because of my what I gained there. Chewonki gave me the leadership skills necessary to pursue what I am most passionate about, Art, Nature, and the Environment. I learned to see the world in a positive light and became motivated by the driven individuals around me. This organization deserves your funding, you can rest assured that it will be in good hands.

I've known Chewonki for almost 25 years. To my knowledge it has always been environmentally friendly, but has now become an proactive advocate for the environment. My two sons attended summer camp for many summers and later as counselors. Both have become responsible citizens and advocates of sustainability.

I am a Maine Coast Semester Alum and also worked on the organic farm there. Chewonki changed my life and made me appreciate the natural world and everything living in it.

I had the great fortune to work at The Chewonki Foundation for one year of my life, from August of 2007 to August of 2008. As a sustainability-focused teaching fellow for the Maine Coast Semester (MCS), Chewonki's high school semester program, I worked with MCS science classes and served as a liason between the students and the Chewonki Sustainability Office. I am now a graduate student in the environmental management field, at a school far from Maine. I think of Chewonki often, and of the great work they are doing to educate our next generation. With top-notch faculty and staff, a beautiful campus, and incredible programs, the organization is able to reach out to so many kids, the majority of whom leave Chewonki with a different outlook and an inspiring experience to carry along with them into the world. I highly, highly recommend this organization. It is an amazing place.

My teenage daughter went to Chewonki for a summer of camping and kayaking. Her experience was nothing less than phenomenal. Not only did she have a great time, but she returned much more self-reliant, and also with a new-found appreciation and understanding of the natural world and its importance to our well being.

Chewonki Foundation is the location of Maine's (and New England's) first renewably-generated hydrogen energy demonstration system. This is just one of the ground-breaking activities that Chewonki has undertaken and succeeded in bringing to fruition. Their Sustainable Pathways program, lead by Peter Arnold, is an inspirational model for many to look to in their efforts to bring about the changes in our energy paradigm that are so urgently needed.

The semester of high school that I spent at Chewonki solidified my commitment to environmentalism and gave me the tools to make real changes in the world and in the way I live. As a school, it's uniquely nurturing, ecologically committed, and full of the spirit of outdoor exploration and adventure. I remember what I learned there.

My son attended Chewonki as a camper and as a MCS student. His knowledge of environmental education learned at Chewonki has had a positive impact on my life and certainly on his. Patsy Simonds Taylor

Historically, my father went to camp at Chewonki's summer camp in 1928 and throughout his youth. He had Roger Tory Peterson as a camp counselor and recalls lying in the tall grasses while Roger would whistle for birds and they would flock to the boys facing the skies. This experience sparked a life long love affair with birds, nature and the outdoors. My father went on to have 7 children who (4 of whom went on to attend Chewonki) and now my son looks forward to his time at camp which he describes as "my idea of heaven". I have so much gratitude for the gift of environmental enlightenment they have given generations of my family and many more. They bring to the forfront of conciousness the importance of our gentle footprints and are wonderful stewards of the outdoors.

I have worked at Chewonki for three years and send my three Children each summer for camp and wilderness trips. At forty five years of age I have never worked for a more Environmentally responsible organization. This is coming from an individual who has his undergraduate degree in Environmental science, worked in the field and is currently a high school science teacher with a masters in Education. More importantly though is the legacy of stewardship they instill in the future citizens of this world and this planet, our children.

I have been a part of Chewonki in one way or another all of my life. I have helped and watched Chewonki grow through the efforts of many dedicated staff, trustees, and participants. It has encouraged participants to grow to know themselves better and seek improvement, and to explore their relationship to others and to the natural world. In this effort it continues to do a fantastic job.

I was a student of the Maine Coast Semester (MCS) in 1990. Even though it was almost 2 decades ago, Chewonki has played a major role in my development from a young Bronx girl into a woman who is aware of the world. Learning to live WITH the environment was a challenge, yet it was so valuable in indirectly providing me with the self-confidence that I was lacking. I wouldn't trade my education and experiences at Chewonki for the world, and I feel privileged to be part of their growing family!

I attended the Maine Coast Semester in high school and would rank this as one of the most important educational experiences I've had. I always recommend MCS to parents of high school students because of the breadth and quality of experiences I had as a student there. I also got to stay on as an employee through the summer, and had a great time working on Bob Jackson's maintenance crew. Chewonki is an exemplary organization, with an impressive variety of educational and recreational offerings. They continue to show leadership and innovation on sustainability and their alumni/development operation is top notch.

Chewonki has educated my family on environmental and wildnerness issues for over a decade. By instruction, by example and by actively participating Chewonki has taught us how to enjoy and respect the beauty of Maine. My sons, now young adults, have taken what they have learned globally as they study and live abroad. Thank you Chewonki, for continuing to make us all better world citizens and stewards.

I worked at Chewonki and my brothers did trips and were campers there. It has changed the way we all think about the world and our place in it. My favorite part of Chewonki is the summer camp. It is amazing to see the creativity and energy kids exhibit when they are away from their computers, i-pods, cell phones, etc. If we want to make this world better we need to start teaching kids how to live low-impact lifestyles at a young age and Chewonki does this in a fun, interesting way. On a more personal note, Chewonki has introduced me to some of the most amazing people I have ever met and I continue to be close friends with many of those I met at Chewonki.

Two of our sons were at MCS, and for both—here's this phrase again—it was a life-changing experience. Chewonki is remarkable in that it makes clear to each student how essential his or her individual contribution toward making the world better is and how great the power is of a community committed to change. MCS students bring their knowledge and fervor home with them and spread it to their families and schools. It's an extraordinary program, intense, challenging, exciting, and thrilling for parents, too, to see their children learning so much, so happily.

I went there as a camper, I worked there as a counselor in the summer camp, my daughter went on an extended wilderness trip, and my son spend the summer kayaking. I've encouraged students from the school where I teach to attend Maine Coast Semester. We've all been changed by the time we've spent at Chewonki. For me it was the summers I spent as a counselor that led me to become a teacher.

I love Chewonki. I worked for 3 years on the Environmental Education staff and 3 more leading wilderness trips for the summer camp. I have worked for many other schools and organizations and few have had the forward-thinking educational integrity that Chewonki has. It was a marvelous workplace and I refer back to what I learned there frequently in my science-teaching career.

Our 17 year old daughter spent 4 months of her junior year in high school at Maine Coast Semester, one of Chewonki's programs. During her time there she strengthened her resolve to be a good citizen of the earth, learned practical ways how to reduce her carbon footprint and to take techology to others to spread the word of reducing pollution...it also exposed to her to eating local, knowing where her food comes from, and having concern for the treatment of animals. Her experience there has made her to want to double major in college...International Relations and Enviromental Studies - Policy. In Feb 2009 she joined 21 (of 40) of her fellow MSC 41 group to attend PowerShift in Washington and lobby on behalf of enegry changes (she said there were so many past MCSers there they had their own caucus. Speaking to the airport shuttle owner once he stated "those Chewonki kids will change the world". A great endoursement if I ever heard one! Our daughter has been so stronly affected by her experience at Chewonki, her essays for all college applications will focus on her time there.

The commitment of Chewonki and its staff has been so apparent over the years that I have been involved. The work we do important - no less than saving the world - while emphasizing the importance of each individual and our single actions every day. All programs at Chewonki live and breath the 'mission' around appreciation for the natural world and living comfortably with ourselves and others. All this!!...and we know how to have a good time either at the beach, in whitewater, in the classroom, on a mountaintop or plotting and planning our next strategic project at a trustee meeting. Kenne-bec-bec!! Keep it up.

The Chewonki Foundation changed my younger sister's life. It has been a deeply inspiring experience to witness her transformation from a shy, introverted girl to a strong young woman capable of leading a group of 13 year olds on a paddling trip in the North Woods of Maine. Chewonki opened her eyes to the wonders of the natural world, taught her to recognize 50 birdsongs, and instilled values about conservation and responsible land use. Chewonki also helped her become a leader, which is a set of skills she employs not only when leading trips for them each summer, but also at college and in other situations.

My daughter Kate attended Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki and was profoundly affected by her experience. Chewonki's interdisplinary approach to education helps all students see that, like nature and the world wide web, knowledge is intervoven and learning is best approached not by isolating disciplines but by interconnecting them. Maine Coast Semester's curriculum does just that. With her classmates at Berkeley's Masters in Journalism school a couple of years ago, Kate won a national award for her radio reporting on global warming--her story was on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Her passion for the environment and environmental issues was ignited, at least in part, by the teachers and experiences she had at Chewonki.

I worked at Chewonki for five summers and during the year, too, which gave me ample opportunity to be a first-hand witness to the life changing moments that both children and adults experience at Chewonki, whether braving rapids in a canoe on the Moose River or steering a boat through a fog bank on the Maine Coast, or getting down and dirty on the organic Salt Marsh farm and helping bring local food to our table--only 800 feet away or so! It's amazing to see how much the boys learn at summer camp--they build solar-powered battery chargers, learn the difference between compost and slop, practice sustainability on their wilderness trips, learn about animals in Maine up close through Outreach programs, and generally become caught up in the spirit of generosity towards people and the Earth so essential to Chewonki's core mission.

Both my brother and I were campers, trippers, guides and counsellors at Chewinki. My summers spent there are some that I cherrish the most. The values installed in the kids who go to Chewinki ate fantastic. In terms of social, environmental and the natural beauty of our planet. I will me sending my kids there for sure!

Few places can ever "stick" with you for the remainder of your life the way Chewonki does. Rarely a day goes by without me applying some sort of inter-personal skill while dealing with my customers and staff that I would not trace back to my days at Chewonki. I first attended as a summer camper, then as staff and wilderness trip leader in the 80's and 90's. Running into a "Chewonkian" now, regarding of gender and era, automatically opens-up the relationship in a way that rivals the sense of fraternity that so many schools and organizations strive for. Chewonki's basic principles of educating and empowering those that it touches simply raises better citizens. It enabled me to teach and be taught, to care about the people and the greater world that surround me , and to trust that I was/am an integral part of our society with the ability to affect it for the better.

My now 31 year old son says that his many summer experiences at Chewonki were formative in his approach to the environment and to other people. Chewonki is a singular, remarkable organization that brings great benefit to Maine. I know many gifted young people who have been shaped by Maine Coast Semester - relatives and the children of friends and acquaintances.

My husband and I have known CHewonki for over 30 years.... it has always been at the forefront of envirnomental activity- creating a green campus, instilling a love of the natural world in young people, "walking the talk" - doing what's at the cutting edge of green living. Most important... CHewonki creates a living heritage in all the young people for whom it provides a love of the environment, and a deep understanding of the connection between our natural world and human impact.

I was a student at Maine Coast Semester in 1990. Chewonki's commitment to teaching the world about respecting and learning from nature is something I will never forget. An organization years ahead of its time...they do nothing but good on this planet.

My experience at Chewonki as a high school student was the most formative time of my life thus far. Everything that I have done since has been at least in part driven by the interests and passions that Chewonki helped me to uncover. My dedication to sustainable living and my career in environmental stewardship and conservation are both the result of the model that Chewonki set for me.

I attended Chewonki for 2 summers in the early 1950s. The Camp had a history of strong nature programs dating back to its founding by Mr. Allen in 1917. At the time I was impressed with the emphasis on the environment to which the campers were exposed, and by the dedication of the staff to the values and appreciation of Maine and its many natural attributes. Many of the campers came from families who cared deeply about nature. They sent their children to Chewonki because of the camp's reputation as a place where environment received significant emphasis. Among the areas where the camp enjoyed an outstanding reputation was its emphasis on Maine birds. The Osprey was the Camp's logo. The son of Roger Tory Peterson was one of the young campers who attended the camp. In the many years that have passed I have seen Chewonki mature and grow into a major presence in the National enviromental community. As the world grows closer together, the skills of those fortunate enough to attend Chewonki will be an important resource for finding ways to retain and preserve our environment. Thank you, Stephen Bullock

I have been a donor, an attendant at a workshop, and a member of the general public. In every way, I am impressed with Chewonki, not only how it has stayed true to its original mission as a camp for young people, but also in how it is constantly exploring ways to live more sustainably on this earth and educating others as to how to do so. I will have three grandchildren at the camp this summer, and look forward to more attending in the future.

I spent a semester on Chewonki Neck in high school.I learned a tremendous amount about who I am, how to work effectively within my community, and about the beauty and intricacies of the natural world. It was a phenomenal program, and I'm still in touch with many of the people I met.

I am inspired by Chewonki's well rounded and integrated approaches to environmental education, all emphasising an active engagement with the natural world. I direct a smaller non-profit SeedTree, working internationally in forest protection and renewal. We overlap in the allied fields of environmental education and human ecology, but utilizing much more low tech methods, such as biodvierse tree planting and biogas plants. I am so impressed at how Chewonki is able to engage so many sectors of American society from the green entreprenuers with the various levels of government, and demonstrate renewable energy technologies, at how Chewonki fosters initiative -- for example: letting a young woman start a program of leading women and girls together on a wilderness canoe trip, their sailing programs, etc. Altogether a wonderful and well managed educational institution!

Chewonki is amazing.. it taught me everything I know about the outdoors. My happiest memories are of summer canoeing trips with Chewonki groups.

I was lucky enough to spend a semester at the Chewonki Foundation during high school. I have to say that my time at MCS was one of the most challenging and inspiring times of my life. The environmental education and awareness is outstanding...and they don't just teach it...they love it and live by every word that they say. Chewonki is a wonderful place to experience sound and sustainable living and to really come to understand how complicated environmental sustainability, policy, ethics and awareness can be. I have been able to take what I learned while at MCS and apply it to all aspects of my life and education. The connections that I made with faculty and peers have been incredibly valuable to me personally and professionally. The Chewonki Foundation is a wonderful organization and deserving of every ounce of praise.

Having spent five of the best summers of my life living on Chewonki Neck and traveling to amazing places under their supervision, I continue to gain from lessons learned there, and continue to encourage others to leave the environment better than they found it. I've referred friends and family and all have had equal experiences, and more than one have chosen to make their living by joining the amazing family at the Chewonki Foundation. There are few places in the world where a recommendation is easier to give. Chewonki is an amazing foundation which puts the environment and the community that uses it first.

Chewonki is a leader in enironmental sustainability. From its facilities, to its growing its own food, to its fundamental philosophy, Chewonki has touched the lives of thouysands of students, who then take the lessons they have learned back with them into their daily lives.

I was a camper at Chewonki for three summers, from the ages of 10-12. I learned more during those summers about the environment, the world around me, and about working in successful teams than I did during the school years in between. While off-campus -- during trips from the Maine coastline to the mountains -- campers have the opportunity to learn about ecology, conservation, and restoration. From the counselors to the activities staff to the administration, there was a palpable, whole-hearted commitment to a set of ideals about co-existing productively with the world around us. I look forward to sending my own kids to Chewonki one day.

It is difficult to describe the magical experience I had spending a semester my junior year of high school at the Chewonki Foundation. The Chewonki Foundation taught me environmental stewardship, how to be a responsible citizen, how to challenge myself physically and intellectually, and the value of friendship. Through my experience at Chewonki I not only read about being environmentally responsible I learned to live it.

I was a student at Chewonki's environmental semester school as a junior in high school. The experience was absolutely formative in my development as an environmental professional, involved citizen, and individual who believes she can make a difference. I am continually impressed by the green innovation spilling out of the Chewonki community and into the world at large. Thank you, Chewonki, for making the world a better place!

Our daughter participated in the Maine Coast Semester in the fall 2008 semester. In all ways this was a life transforming experience for her. The staff and faculty at MCS are the best. I cannot speak more highly about MCS and Chiwonki.

My exoeriences at the Chewonki Foundation span a period of over 60 years. First as a camper, then as a counselor, then as a parent and now as a trusteee Chewonki has historically set the bar in natural history studies, environmental studies and sound environmental practices that include a bio- diesel plant, hydrogen power,energy conservation and monitoring, recycling, organic gardens and more. Chewonki not only engages in good practices, more importantly it shares and teaches everyone around them Recognized worldwide for their contrinbutions, Chewonki will only continue to blaze the trail and be on the cutting edge in the years ahead.

I went to Chewonki as the math teacher in the first year of the Maine Coast Semester, the semester long, academic program for high school juniors. I had a good deal of experience in teaching and outdoor activities, but not much environmental knowledge. I became very aware of man aspects of the environment such as global warming- this was in 1987-solid waste management, wood lot management, farm management and such. Especially, I saw the impact that this kind of program had on the students, making them aware of the environment and willing to do something to instigate changes in behavior after they returned home. I have kept in touch with many of those students over the years and find that the feel that MCS was a defining point in their education. Although I am no longer working at Chewonki- I am over 80- I return regularly to visit and keep in touch with what is going on there. All of the programs seem to have a similar impact on the students. I have a granddaughter returning for the second year as a girl's camper. I loved my experience a Chewonki and have tried to follow through with teaching others what I learned there.

I am a parent of campers, and outdoor classroom participants. The members of this organization are wholly committed to their work and it is illustrated by desire for my children to return year after year. The girls camp addition is amazing.

I attended Chewonki's Maine Coast Semester 40 Program in the Spring of 2008, an alumni trip in france during the summer of 2008, and countless other reunions of the Chewonki community in the past year. My experience with the Chewonki foundation could not have been better. From the farm to the classrooms, the wilderness programs to the outdoor classroom program, Chewonki educates and involves young people and adults alike in caring for and learning about the natural world. The faculty and staff at chewonki are clearly driven by love and are thoughtful, concious, effective and deep educators. Chewonki has profoundly affected the way that i view and interact with the world around me for the better. When groups of chewonki students and faculty get together and someone, out of habit, picks up a random peice of litter on the street or joyfully calls out the name of a bird who is singing in central park we always joke about the "Chewonki way". Yet, though we say it in jest, we all know and sense the profound affect that chewonki has on all it touches and the way that that effect ripples through communities as students, campers, staff and teachers return to their home communities. I firmly believe that chewonki is creating a generation and community of environmentalists, activists, educators and influencers.

It is a magical place for children and their parents. They take you back to simpler times without technology but with old values. And it is so much fun!!!

Chewonki is a fantastic organization. Through its traveling outreach programs, it has brought the natural world, with all it's beauty, wonder and intrigue, to my children.

I was a student at the Chewonki Foundation's Maine Coast Semester in the spring of 2003. I count the time I spent there as the most important formative experience of my young life. How to describe the organization? Dedicated, wise, visionary!

I was a parent of a camper years ago and have watched Chewonki develop from a boy's summer camp into a year-round environmental educational organization that impacts people of all backgrounds and ages, including girls and families. It has been been having a serious impact for generations, ever since Roger Tory Peterson was the nature counselor. My son devloped such a respect for nature and for ecological processes while there that he shaped his life around the precepts he learned at Chewonki. Ne now lives in Maine.

A leader in Maine and the country on using renewable energy to power their environmental education center and camps. They share their knowledge freely, and encourage others to use solar, wind, bio-diesel, and become more energy efficient. Plus, Chewonki Foundation does great school programs with their traveling environmental education programs. They have come to my small town in Maine for summer library programs as well as school year programs. Chewonki Foundation walks the talk!

I am so in awe of all that Chewonki does. My brothers, neices and nephews have all been involved with Chewonki in various ways over the years. One brother was councilor and then staff member, another was both camper and councilor. My nephews have gone to summer camp. One neice has participated in wildnerness trips and the other was part of the innaugural season of the summer camp for girls. All had fabulous experiences that have helped to shape them. I am so impressed with how Chewonki continues to find new ways to be self sustaining and leave as little impact on the environment as possible. Chewonki is also so committed to teaching the next generation to respect the environment and perhaps be either future leaders in the field, or to apply what they have learned to whatever their field will be. Every time I have the chance to be on the Chewonki grounds I am so thankful that such a place exists that is always teaching respect for the environment. Lydia Rodman

The Chewonki Foundation is truly a special organization, and one that has greatly impacted me personally and professionally. As a beginning teacher many years ago, I first experienced Chewonki for a week long environmental education teacher workshop. The experienced and passionate instructors from Chewonki instilled in me a deeper appreciation of the natural world, which I transferred repeatedly to my students over the years. The Chewonki mission of sustainability and earth stewardship is more than lip service. Through environmental outreach, bringing students to Chewonki, wilderness experiences for girls and boys, and promotion of environmental education in general, Chewonki is recognized as a leader internationally in the field of earth stewardship. I am a life long teacher of geography, human and physical, and my long standing relationship with Chewonki has enhanced all I do with students.

Chewonki Foundation is an absolutely dedicated Environmental Edcation and Green Machine. They Walk the Walk, and Talk the talk, sponsoring community involvement and environmental awareness in all the programs they run and in all that they do.

Chewonki is a magical place that serves a diverse population year-round. I participated in the Maine Coast Semester, a semester-long high school program that teaches a rigorous academic curriculum centered around environmental issues and grounded by work on the salt marsh farm and research into the surrounding ecosystem. It was a turning point in my life and gave me a passion for environmental work that I still enjoy ten years later. I can't thank Chewonki enough for the fantastic work that they do.

Chewonki Foundation is a remarkable organization . My daughter participated in the Maine Coast Semester Spring 2008. It changed her life in the most wonderful ways imaginable. I cannot recommend this organization highly enough! They do everything they attempt with gusto and follow through . The people involved are experts in their domain and committd to the vision. Sunny B NYC