Alexis Grillo

Owl In a Day’s Work

“Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my grandmother, who grew up on a farm,” says Wright. “One day when I was about ten years old, I asked her if she’d ever wanted a different career, and she said she had wanted to be a veterinarian.” Life got in the way, though, and Wright’s grandmother never got to pursue animal care professionally. The story moved Wright. “I’ve always felt connected to my grandmother; we share a deep love for animals. From that day on, I’ve always wanted to be a vet –to fulfill both of our dreams.”

Chewonki ABCs from 1934

In our early days, Chewonki campers could earn writing “credits” by submitting content to founder Clarence Allen’s monthly family bulletin, called the Chronicle. Campers reported on camp adventures and wrote jokes, poems, and short pieces of fiction (most of which borrowed plot elements from the era’s action/adventure films). 

Allen included Chewonki ABCs in the August 19, 1934, Chronicle edition. It is unattributed, and likely written by a camper.

Reunited and It Feels So Good

Last Wednesday, Chewonki Alumni & Friends gathered at Lamplighter Brewing’s newest taproom to happily celebrate spring’s return, rekindle relationships, and sample Lamplighter’s yummy beers and charcuterie boards. The festive occasion – our first since the onset of Covid – was attended by over 40 alumni and former staff members.

Forrest Nonconformist: Alumn Rethinks Reforestation

“If you wanted to reforest the Chewonki Farm, you wouldn’t plant trees. You would simply stop mowing. We have all these promising carbon-offset programs, but they are disconnected from reality.” -Forrest Fleischman

Since his early days as a Chewonki camper, student, and staffer in the 1990s and 2000s, Forrest Fleischman has become a leading expert in forest policy and governance. An associate professor in the Department of Forest Resources at the University of Minnesota, Fleischman’s work examines the intersection of scientific knowledge, government expertise, and civic engagement in policy-making and implementation and the outcomes of resulting policies [1]. His ideas have been featured by ProPublica, the BBC, NPR, Science News, and many others.

Photos: Willard Morgan’s Send-off Celebration

On Tuesday, August 23rd, nearly 100 current and former staff members, alums, and friends joined us on campus to celebrate Willard Morgan’s eighteen years at Chewonki and welcome Nancy Kennedy into the role of Acting President.  Read: After 18 Years at Chewonki, Willard Morgan Stepping Down as President, Nancy Kennedy Named Acting President Fifty-six years …

Photos: Willard Morgan’s Send-off Celebration Read More »

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