Cullen McGough

Join us for Margaret Ellis Day – May 29

By Cullen McGough on April 15, 2019

Help us shake out the dust, clean out the cabins, and get ready for another summer of fun at our annual volunteer day at Chewonki. Margaret Ellis Day, named in memory of our longtime health center director, gardener, and farmer, is a chance to visit Chewonki, enjoy the spring weather, and prepare the campus for…

Chewonki’s Newest Maine Guide

By Anne Leslie on April 12, 2019

After grueling written and oral examinations proving her knowledge of Maine rules governing fishing, trapping, hunting, watercraft, ATVs, and snowmobiles, and demonstrating that she could handle herself alone in the woods, and proving she could plan and execute a search for a lost person, Maine Coast Semester math teacher Katherine “Katie” Curtis has–with her characteristic…

Fresh Look for Natural History

By Anne Leslie on April 12, 2019

“The Nature Museum” is one of Chewonki’s smallest but most important buildings, a reminder of the some of the important people who shaped Chewonki in its early years and a symbol of our longstanding commitment to teaching young people about the natural world. Although it’s busy every summer as headquarters for the Boys Camp nature…

Elementary School at Chewonki Now Offering Grades 1-8

By Cullen McGough on April 12, 2019

As we look ahead to the 2019-2020 academic year, I am excited to share that the Elementary School at Chewonki is expanding enrollment to include grades 1 and 2 students. We are proud of our authentic, place-based curriculum and practices and we know our students enjoy a phenomenal learning environment at Chewonki. The addition of these lower…

Elementary School at Chewonki Now Offering Grades 1-8

By Cullen McGough on April 12, 2019

Happy 45th Birthday Outdoor Classroom!

By Cullen McGough on April 5, 2019

Today, April 5th, marks the 45th anniversary of the Outdoor Classroom program at Chewonki. In the early days, the program was referred to as “Outdoor Challenge” or “Environmental Awareness Programs, or “Environmental Education” (E.E. for short) but the original curriculum has remained remarkably popular with local and regional school groups. Don Hudson, president emeritus of…

Chewonki Bat Boxes Featured on Maine Cabin Masters

By Cullen McGough on March 22, 2019

Last August, we welcomed a film crew to Chewonki Neck to film a special segment of Maine Cabin Masters, a popular series on the DIY Network featuring a team that restores classic Maine cabins that have fallen into disrepair. Chewonki Wildlife Educator Jessica Woodend met with the film crew and series star Ashley Morrill to explain…

Student Blog: Isla Hamblett

By Isla Hamblett on March 3, 2019

Back at home, our friends are lifting their hands only to swipe a metro card or drive to school. How bittersweet our memories of low muscle mass are. The same day we left behind sports practices, after-school activities and free time, we were setting up for a lifestyle that would engage muscles we didn’t even…

Starlab

By Anne Leslie on March 3, 2019

Chapin Hall, famous for its full-sized fin whale skeleton, welcomed another unusual display last month: Chewonki’s new portable planetarium. According to Chewonki Traveling History Program Coordinator Emma Balazs, “This opens up an entirely new area of study for us. We are incredibly excited.” The planetarium is a gift from the Museum of Science, Boston. Mike…

Winter Adventures on the Trail – Semester 62

By Cullen McGough on February 22, 2019

Last week our students from Maine Coast Semester 62 took to the woods & wilds of Maine for a mid-winter adventure. We split into five teams to visit these remarkable destinations: Woodcove on Big Wood Pond, Haskell Hut in the Katadhin Woods & Waters National Monument, Lonesome Lake Hut via Appalachian Mountain Club, and Poplar Hut and Stratton Brook…