Nick “Sven” Vail (Semester 18) still remembers the first time he tried meditating. It was a quiet moment outside Chewonki’s science classroom—just him, the grass, and the sky above. That small moment didn’t feel life-changing at the time, but it stayed with him. Years later, it helped shape the work he does today: guiding others toward stillness, connection, and clarity.
“I first attempted actually meditating sitting on the grass next to the science center.”
After his semester, Nick’s path led him through decades of exploration in mindfulness, meditation, and the natural world. Today, back in his hometown of Brunswick, Maine, he teaches workshops and offers retreats that help people unplug from daily noise and reconnect with what matters most.
The seeds of that work—being present, listening deeply, honoring interdependence—were planted at Chewonki. Nick remembers stargazing with friends, working shoulder-to-shoulder in the woodlot, and taking part in his solo.
“The time and space to sink deeper into the landscape alone for a few days, and begin to feel its rhythms.”
After Chewonki, Nick attended Middlebury College and Naropa University, eventually making his way west to Seattle, where he built a life rooted in community, mindfulness, and the outdoors. Over the years, he deepened his study of Buddhist philosophy and meditation, trained in tai chi and Tibetan yoga, and became a translator and teacher of contemplative practices. During the pandemic, daily walks, forest bathing with his family, and long afternoons in the parks around Seattle helped him stay grounded. That experience, he says, reaffirmed his desire to share these tools with others—and led to his current work leading meditation retreats in nature.
Nick’s experiences on the Neck taught him how much can be gained by simply pausing. The clarity and calm he found there still show up in his daily life—walking the coast, paddling a kayak, or guiding others toward mindfulness.
“Relax. Breathe. Listen deeply. Hear the surf and birds singing. Feel your heart beating and the sun on your skin.”
In his words, stepping into nature isn’t just restorative—it’s powerful.
“Being outdoors in nature and appreciating interdependence could be seen as a radical act of wellness in a fractured and alienating world.”
We’re grateful to alumni like Nick who carry Chewonki’s spirit forward, creating spaces for reflection, connection, and growth. His story is a reminder of how formative experiences—like a solo in the woods or a shared moment under the stars—can echo through a lifetime.
If you’re curious to learn more about Nick’s work or reconnect with mindfulness in a natural setting, you can explore his upcoming retreat at Karme Choling in Vermont this June: Finding Clarity of Mind in Nature.
