The Gift of Lizard Time
When most people think of summer camp, they imagine bunk beds, capture the flag, and campfire songs. At Chewonki, those traditions thrive—but there’s also something simpler, quieter, and equally cherished: lizard time.
Creating Chewonki “Magic”
At Chewonki, we specialize in magic. Not the kind with wands and capes, but a unique kind of creativity that transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. It’s the kind of magic that inspires our students and campers to think outside the box, makes them laugh until their sides ache, and helps them see the world — and themselves — in a new way.
The Gift of Courage
For Maya, starting her Chewonki experience with a polar bear plunge was the ultimate leap into the unknown. On a 20°F January day, she took her first-ever plunge into Montsweag Brook, clasping hands with a cabin mate and diving into the freezing water.
The Gift of Personal Growth
When Madelin learned her Chewonki Backcountry Trip would involve sea kayaking, she was scared. “All my life I was absolutely terrified of water,” she shared. “I never learned how to swim and avoided it as much as possible.”
The Gift of Wonder: Chewonki Through the Eyes of Children
This year, dozens of young visitors shared their Chewonki experiences with us through handwritten thank-you letters. Their words and drawings bring the magic of Chewonki to life in ways only children can.
The Gift of Belonging
Arthur’s return to Chewonki reminds us that the gift of outdoor education isn’t just about the adventures or skills learned—it’s about belonging to a community that welcomes you back with open arms, no matter how much time has passed.
An Ode to Farm Chores
At Chewonki, we start our day with morning chores. Everyone is assigned to a specific area on campus and we all do our part to help keep communal spaces clean and functioning. But one cabin’s morning looks a little bit different. For two weeks every semester, each cabin does farm chores, which involves waking up …
Maple Tappin’ on Chewonki Neck
Warm days and cold nights have triggered the sap flow in the maple trees on Chewonki Neck and semester students are setting taps and hanging buckets to collect this magical, sticky stuff. Then we boil it down to produce what James Kary, our science teacher and sugar-master, describes with tongue-in-cheek as “small-batch, artisanal maple syrup.” The …
This Was the Place for Me
When I got out of the car after six hours of driving from northern New Jersey to Maine on a rainy and droopy Wednesday morning, I immediately felt a flush of apprehension and fear surge through my body. I was still coping with the idea of moving away from my parents, friends, and school for …
Witnessing a Lamb’s First Breath
Many of the great things that Chewonki has to offer stem from its outstanding farm and food systems. Although many of these things normally relate to food production, there are some experiences that one can get that will have an impact for the rest of our lives. Every night, there is a volunteer chore called barn …
