Latest News

The 2017 Chewonki Chronicle is Now Available

By Cullen McGough on June 26, 2017

The spring 2017 edition of The Chronicle, our alumni magazine has arrived! Download the Chronicle: If you would like to request a print copy of The Chronicle, please contact alumni@chewonki.org. Table of Contents: p. 2 News p. 6 Susan Feibelman p. 9 Value of Studying History p. 10 Up for the Challenge p. 12 Backcountry…

New Alumni Film: 100 Years of Learning Outdoors

By Cullen McGough on June 3, 2017

Months in the making and starring a cast of thousands, Chewonki, 100 Years of Learning Outdoors is a wonderful collection of memories and moments from the past century at Chewonki. This film was created thanks to the volunteer effort of Gilbert Hammer, and captures a small piece of the spirit and joy so many have experienced here at Chewonki….

Lessons Learned from Running Club

By Steve Shea on May 22, 2017

We started our running club with just two goals: to be a team and have fun. While we have been successful with those goals thus far, we are getting a lot more out of it than just those two things. Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon our club meets for one hour. We gather on the…

Exploring Pollinators

By Steve Shea on May 22, 2017

When I awoke Tuesday morning to a brighter than usual light, the concept that it could actually be sunshine seemed far-fetched. After so many rainy, cool days, I wasn’t the only one that was confused by this change. When I arrived at school that morning, the students were also mystified by this abnormal phenomenon. In…

Baby Lambs Arrive on the Farm at Chewonki

By Cullen McGough on April 7, 2017

The first of our spring lambs began to arrive last night, just in time to welcome our guests for the April 7th Open House. To add to the fun this year, we have installed a live “Lamb Cam” to let all our Chewonki friends check in on the baby lambs from home. Visit the Live…

Seasonal Drama Inspires Poetry & Produce

By Kat Cassidy on March 23, 2017

National Poetry Month won’t arrive for a few more weeks, but I’m pretty sure our class has found every reason for the Academy of American Poets to consider making a swap for March. There is so much ‘seasonal drama’ unfolding this time of year that it seems the poems are almost writing themselves, unfurling on the…

The Economic Lessons of Counting Sheep

By Steve Shea on March 23, 2017

Last week, our class gathered at the farm and circled up in the hay loft for a lesson on real-life economics. Lisa and Megan joined us and kicked off the unit by defining a few of the most important terms that were going to become familiar: inputs and outputs, both qualitative and quantitative. They gave us…

Nancy Kennedy at the ACA

By Nancy Kennedy on March 16, 2017

The 2017 National Conference of the American Camping Association (ACA) was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was proud to represent Chewonki leadership at the conference in both my role as Director of Girls’ Programs and also as a member of the national conference program committee. This year’s conference was an empowering experience and a…

Winter Winds and Blueberry Fields

By Cullen McGough on January 15, 2017

Though the weather has not allowed us much possibility for engaging in typical winter activities, we’ve taken advantage of small glimmers of seasonal fun based upon the conditions at hand. Belly sliding, boot skating, and rolling massive snowballs into snow chairs, nests, and fortresses have been some of our favorite things to do as of late….

Challenge course generates excitement on the Neck

By pwillauer on September 8, 2016

Shelly Gibson, coordinator of Chewonki’s new challenge course, strides through the woods on a bright morning, pointing out each of the elements. Freshly constructed wooden platforms, ladders, and boards glow softly in the dappled sunlight. Ropes and cables stretch, loop, and hang like the rigging of a phantom ship. “I like that it’s sort of…