FALL 2010

Celebrating40Years in the Outdoor Classroom Contents 485 Chewonki Neck Road Wiscasset, Maine 04578-4822 (207) 882-7323 • Fax: (207) 882-4074 email: [email protected] • www.chewonki.org

CHEWONKI FOUNDATION STAFF As of November 1, 2010 3 President’s Notes Willard Morgan, President Mark Adams, Big Eddy Campground Staff Susan Adams, Big Eddy Campground Manager Annika Alexander-Ozinskas, Semester School, Teaching Fellow Garth Altenburg, Camp for Boys, Director 4 News from the Neck Scott Andrews, Semester School, History Carob Arnold, Facilities Manager Peter Arnold, Sustainability Coordinator Tom Arnold, Outdoor Classroom 8 The Outdoor Classroom Page 8 Paul Arthur, Semester School, English, Assistant Head of School Peter Bakke, Outdoor Classroom Chewonki’s unique and popular Sandy Bandhu, Camp Assistant Lauren Bangasser, Outdoor Classroom Jennifer Barton, Gardener program is more relevant than ever. Kate Braemer, Traveling Natural History Program/Outdoor Classroom Sarah Burgess, Kitchen Manager Emma Carlson, Outdoor Classroom, Assistant Director Jason Chandler, Semester School, Environmental Issues 11 Community Service Margaret Youngs Coleman, Farm & Woodlot Manager Betta Stothart Connor, Director of Communications With a push from students, a longtime Keith Crowley, Traveling Natural History Program, Assistant Director Jane Cullina, Outdoor Classroom Todd Dowling, Outdoor Classroom, Lead Instructor activity expands its reach. Rachel Edelman, Outdoor Classroom Dominique Edgerly, Outdoor Classroom Bill Edgerton, Cook Charles Fear, Outdoor Classroom 14 Log of a Backwoods Cruise Lisa Ferrel, Cook Lynne Flaccus, Head Naturalist Willard Morgan retraces the steps of Page 11 Jenn Goldstein, Outdoor Classroom Rebecca Graham, IT Manager Becky Harth, Outdoor Classroom Clarence Allen in Vermont. Leah Kramer Heyman, Traveling Natural History Program, Educator Bill Hinkley, Semester School, Interim Head of School, Math Sara Hircsh, Outdoor Classroom Abby Holland, Semester School, Spanish 19 Lessons Learned at Lucy Hull, Director of Development Anna Hunt, Traveling Natural History Program, Director Monstweag Brook Libby Irwin, Semester School, Director of Admission Carol James, Housekeeping Removing a dam, we learned, is not for the Adam Janosko, Semester School, Teaching Fellow Rachel Jones, Outdoor Classroom Aaron LaFlamme, Outdoor Equipment & Logistics feint of heart. Chad LaFlamme, Outdoor Classroom Don Lamson, Director of Operations Bethany Laursen, Outdoor Classroom Anne Leslie, Foundations Coordinator 22 Dirty Jobs—Clean Energy Addie Liddic, Outdoor Classroom, Program Assistant Ryan Linehan, Teen Wilderness Programs, Director Saving the world, one greasy batch of Prema Long, Traveling Natural History Program, Lead Educator Page 14 Chad Lorenz, Outdoor Classroom Tamothy Louten, Supervising RN biodiesel at a time. Holly Lowe, Receptionist/Administrative Assistant Dawn Mareckova, Nurse Dana Mark, Outdoor Classroom Rachel Marks, Outdoor Classroom 24 Singing Their Hearts Out Colin McGovern, Traveling Natural History Program/Outdoor Classroom Trish McLeod, Business Office Song is everywhere at Girls Camp! Ashley Nadeau, Outdoor Classroom Nancy Percy, Human Resources Manager Scott Peterson, Waterfront & Boatshop Manager Megan Phillips, Farm Educator Ruth Poland, Semester School, Teaching Fellow 26 Sunday Service at Boys Camp Ben Redman, Semester School, Math Christina Roach, Outdoor Classroom Imagine 170 boys sitting still in the woods for almost Amy Rogers, Semester School, English Greg Shute, Wilderness Programs, Director an hour. It happens every week at Boys Camp. Chris Snell, Outdoor Classroom Peter Sniffen, Semester School, Science Jamie Sonia, Business Office Assistant Mark Stehlik, Outdoor Classroom Jeremy Tardif, Assistant Farm Manager 31 People Kelsie Tardif, Development Assistant Dick Thomas, Director of Alumni Relations Edward Tittmann, Chief Financial Officer Katie Tremblay, Outdoor Classroom, Program Director 47 On My Mind Tom Twist, Sustainability Assistant Genell Vashro, Camp for Girls, Director Matt Weeks, Outdoor Classroom Lynne Flaccus has a passion for turtles. Page 19 Sue West, Semester School, Art Marjolaine Whittlesey, Semester School, French Peg Willauer-Tobey, Assistant Director of Development Adam Williams, Outdoor Classroom 47 Step It Up for Sustainability Ken Wise, Carpenter Tom Zaleski, Maintenance Mechanic Manage your household waste. CHRONICLE STAFF Elizabeth Pierson, Editor Betta Stothart Connor, Assistant Editor Fall Design, Graphic Design PROGRAMS Semester School Camp for Boys Camp for Girls Wilderness Trips for Teens Wilderness Vacations for Adults & Families Cover photo by Chris Riley. Outdoor Classroom for Schools Page 24 Traveling Natural History Programs Sustainability Office President’s Notes A Vision for Chewonki

larence Allen had a vision for Chewonki even before founding a boys camp on the shores of Lake Champlain in 1915. Intrigued by an excerpt from his journal in 1904, last summer I set out to retrace his steps and in the process connect with the roots of both our founder and our philosophy. My account of that Cadventure, which you’ll find on page 14, includes some reflections on my new role as president of Chewonki. It has been an exciting first four months focused on making connections across programs, staff, participants, neighbors, alumni, and friends.

Our cover story celebrates 40 years of teaching in the Outdoor Classroom, JOCK MONTGOMERY which began in 1971 when the Rivers School in Massachusetts sent its entire eighth grade to Chewonki for the first time. Four decades later, the Outdoor Classroom program remains rich with meaning and relevance in a world where children spend less and less time outdoors. This story also links all three of Chewonki’s previous leaders. Clarence was headmaster at Rivers, and Tim Ellis is an alumnus. Don Hudson helped lead the first Rivers encampment. Last spring I met some of the teachers and students, and we expect them back for a 41st program in May 2011. As I settle in to my new role, we have been reaching out to our neighbors, which is why I am glad to have the story about community service in this issue. Our students and staff have been contributing more and more time in our local communities in recent years. As we go to press, we have just hosted the third delegation of local government and school officials to campus so they may learn more about our programs and help us create stronger connections to our local community. Together we seek common ground in education and community development for Wiscasset and surrounding towns through environmental education. We will keep you posted on this effort. As you thumb through this issue, you will notice the increase in pages. We have integrated the venerable semester publication, Coastlines, into the People section of the Chronicle, to reflect that all of our programs share the same home. I think you will enjoy seeing the connections between different Chewonki programs and reading about what our alumni are doing. Meanwhile, our staff, trustees, and advisors are hard at work on a strategic planning process. The Board of Trustees, under the leadership of Josh Marvil, has convened a process to set Chewonki’s course through 2015, our centennial. As I travel this winter, I will be sharing some of our progress with alumni and friends and asking for feedback. We will report our progress in the 2011 Chronicles. Finally, for those of you accustomed to seeing our annual report in the Chronicle, know that we will publish it electronically in February 2011. Chewonki’s work is more relevant today than ever, and I am deeply motivated to make our programs accessible to more children. I look forward with great excitement to the work ahead, and I appreciate all the support that comes from our family of friends and supporters.

Best regards, Willard

Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 3 News from the Neck Chewonki Asks White House

to Go Solar BETTA STOTHART CONNOR

If you think you may have seen this photo somewhere else, well, you probably have. Communications director Betta Stothart Connor snapped it in front of the dining hall in early September, and a few weeks later it was front and center on climate activist Bill Outdoor Classroom instructor Todd Dowling and semester school faculty member Jason Chandler worked with students to create posters and raise awareness about the Solar Road Trip. McKibben’s blog at 350.org. “How cool is that?” said Betta. students drove one of the panels from Maine that solar panels will be installed above the Chewonki Semester School students and to Washington, D.C. Activists around the First Family’s living quarters by spring 2011, staff were asking President Obama to put country, including our group shown here, providing hot water and some electricity. solar back on the White House. In 1979, supported the effort by getting the word out “We did it!” said an elated McKibben, President Carter put solar panels on the White about the Solar Road Trip. who thanked everyone who wrote letters, House. In 1986, President Reagan removed Although the trip ended on a disap- signed petitions, and supported the effort. them, and they were never replaced. Years pointing note—the White House refused to “Solar panels on one house, even this house, later, Unity College in Maine adopted the accept the panel or commit to installing a won’t save the climate,” he told supporters. panels, where they have lived ever since. Until new array—success came a few weeks later. “But they’re a powerful symbol to the whole September—when McKibben and three Unity On October 5, the White House announced nation about where the future lies.”

Chewonki Adds Wind to Welcome, Greenlanders

Renewable Energy Mix Chewonki has welcomed interna- t’s the largest renewable As of mid-November, Peter was tional campers for energy installation on campus thoroughly satisfied with the decades, but Summer to date. On September 16, as turbine’s performance. “It’s making 2010 marked the first staff, students, the local power, and as we get more wind this time we welcomed press, and a few neighbors fall and winter, we expect it to make Greenlanders. “Jens gatheredI to watch and let out a even more.” Asked if he’d had any Zeeb and Jens cheer, Chewonki’s new 100-foot complaints about noise, he replied, Thomassen were a wind tower rose from the ground. “Not a one. It isn’t silent, but no one wonderful addition to All it took was an ingeniously has complained about it.” our Maine Coast RYAN LINEHAN simple rig called a gin pole, a winch, Funding for the system came Kayak trip,” said Summer Trips director Ryan from the Horizon Foundation in a dump truck full of gravel as coun- Linehan. The two 17-year-olds live on the west coast terbalance, and an excavator to pull Portland, the Orchard Foundation in of Greenland in the village of Uummannaq, about 600 it up—together with some careful South Portland, an anonymous miles north of the Arctic Circle. They came to planning. Getting to this day, TOM TWIST donor, and Chewonki. In addition to Chewonki through a connection with the however, wasn’t simple. It was a four-year effort on contributing to savings in operations, the wind Uummannaq Children’s House, a government-run the part of Sustainability coordinator Peter Arnold, turbine expands Chewonki’s renewable-energy institution that serves young people who have been who raised the funds for the tower and helped the portfolio, enhances its model campus, and provides Town of Wiscasset craft a model wind ordinance the Sustainability Office with a valuable teaching orphaned or suffered from neglect. “The boys were a that has become nationally recognized. “This entire tool. Peter expects the tower to reduce the amount delight and, among other things, taught their fellow project has been a tribute to Peter’s tenacity and of electricity Chewonki buys by about 7 percent. trippers some wonderful traditional Inuit games,” creativity,” said Chewonki president Willard Morgan. Chewonki pledged to reduce its carbon emissions 10 said Ryan. Chewonki hopes to continue the relation- The tower sits at Saltmarsh Farm and carries a percent from baseline 2005–2006 levels by 2010; 20 ship with the Children’s House and at some point two-blade, 6.6-kilowatt turbine that immediately percent by 2015; and 80 percent by 2050. would like to take a group from Chewonki to began providing power to the Warren, Chewonki’s Peter takes particular pleasure in the tower’s Uummannaq. largest staff housing building. Peter expects the location on the farm. “I’m excited that Chewonki can Jens and Jens were among 55 international turbine to produce about 6,000 kilowatt-hours per produce an electricity crop as well as a food crop,” he campers and trippers from 13 foreign countries who year, slightly more than the 5,500 the Warren uses. says. joined us for a Chewonki program this summer. In The system is grid-tied, meaning any excess power A link for getting real-time wind and energy their honor—and in hopes of welcoming future Green- not used by the Warren will reverse the electric production data from the new turbine will be posted landers—we’ll be adding the red-and-white flag of meter and generate credits. on our website soon. Greenland to the flag collection in the dining hall that represents the homes of our participants.

4 / Chewonki Chronicle Summer Leadership Programs Offer Superb Training

ince 1993, more than 130 former campers have spent a summer preparing to become Chewonki’s future counselors. Now, we’re building on that tradition. In addition to the Seight-week Guides Program at Boys Camp for ages 16–18, Chewonki will offer two additional programs in Summer 2011: an eight-week Leadership Program at Girls Camp on Fourth Debsconeag Lake for ages 16–18 and a five-week co-ed Wilderness Leadership Expedition for ages 17–20. Although each program is unique, all three share the goal of equipping young people with the skills to be leaders at Chewonki and beyond. Participants receive in-field training in group management, activity facilitation, communication, and wilderness tripping, as well as basic medical certifications, including Red Cross Lifeguarding and CPR. As the summer progresses and they gain more experience, the budding leaders take on more responsibilities. “The key to a great camp experience or wilderness trip starts with experienced leaders,” says Wilderness Programs director Greg Shute. “Learning to develop an itinerary and menus, pack food and equipment, manage risk, use a map and compass, read whitewater, BRIDGET BESAW and conduct a rescue and evacuation are just a few of the skills our director Genell Vashro looks forward to seeing the same tradition participants will hone. They’ll be well prepared to be future leaders.” evolve at Girls Camp, which will mark its fourth year of operation Boys Camp director Garth Altenburg notes that in any given year, next summer. 25 to 40 percent of Boys Camp counselors have completed the Guides For more information on the programs, visit our website or Program. “It’s become the backbone of our staff,” he says. Girls Camp contact Garth, Genell, or Greg.

Arctic Travelers “Truly Overwhelmed” by Cruise

Twenty-nine adventurous folks joined Chewonki in September for a 10-day cruise to the Arctic with the Inuit-owned company Cruise North Expeditions. They sailed from Resolute on Cornwallis Island in Nunavut, 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle, more than 2,000 miles south to Kuujjuaq in northern Quebec. The landscape was spectacular, and the history and culture, including that of polar exploration, were fascinating. There were CRUISE NORTH EXPEDITIONS numerous opportunities to observe birds, marine mammals, plants, and rocks. The group saw many impressive icebergs, regularly spotted polar bears (25 in total), and even saw a wolf. Shipboard lectures and opportunities to go ashore made for an exceptionally well-rounded experience. Chewonki cruise participants on a hike near Cape Dyer on the east coast of Baffin Island. “I think it is fair to say that without fail every participant was truly overwhelmed, in Chewonki will join Cruise North again Northwest Passage to Greenland; and the best definition of the word, with the Arctic next year, for its High Arctic and Northwest return by charter aircraft to Montreal. Greg and Cruise North,” said Wilderness Programs Passage Cruise, August 30–September 13. expects the trip to fill quickly and encour- director Greg Shute, who co-led the trip with The group will rendezvous in Edmonton, ages interested travelers to contact him to Don Hudson. “We came home full to the brim Alberta; fly by charter plane to Cambridge reserve a spot: [email protected] or with memories and stories to share.” Bay, Nunavut; travel east through the 207-882-7323.

Wanted: Your Up-to-date Address! Are you 40 years old and still getting mail from Chewonki at Mom and Dad’s address? Or getting mail from us at two addresses? Or getting it under an incorrect name? Please help us stay connected (and save resources) by updating your address and email. You can call us at 207-882-7323 or update online on the alumni pages at www.chewonki.org/alumni/keep_in_touch. In an effort to save resources, Chewonki is moving toward more e-communications and less printing. If you’d like to help with that effort, please go to our website and sign up for e-news. Click the lower left-hand button, “go paperless. get enews.” Once there, you can select the areas of interest for which you’d like to receive occasional emails. Thank you!

Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 5 News from the Neck Baxter State Park Teams Up with Chewonki

or the second year in a row, Chewonki leaders guided 10 high- school students on a 9-day exploration of Baxter State Park. FThe Maine Youth Wilderness Leadership Program was created after a Baxter State Park study revealed that the majority of park visitors are older adults. The Friends of Baxter State Park (FBSP), an independent citizen group that promotes the values of wilderness preservation, spearheaded the program in an effort to boost visits by Maine youth. In 2009, FBSP contacted Chewonki Wilderness Programs director Greg Shute in search of leadership. “I was excited by their model,” says Greg. “The backcountry of Baxter provides an extraordinary landscape for exploration and learning. I was happy to support the effort with Chewonki leader- ship.” Greg worked with FBSP board president Barbara Bentley to develop a

program whereby Chewonki annually BOB JOHNSTON provides two trained guides to lead the group. This year, Registered Maine Guides and Chewonki wilderness trip leaders Keith Crowley and Leah Titcomb led the teenagers published a feature-length piece in the say it was one of the most fun and from South Branch Pond down the Pogy paper), and others. These “guest speakers” memorable weeks of my life!” The program Notch Trail to the summit of Katahdin. Along met with the group and provided workshops has received funding from the Quimby the way they met with Maine senior in everything from natural history to photog- Family Foundation for three years, and there geologist Bob Johnston, Penobscot cultural raphy, painting, journaling, canoeing, and has been no cost to students. New funding educator Barry Dana, park naturalist and campsite maintenance. sources will be needed for 2012. To learn resource manager Jean Hoekwater, Bangor John Fox, a participant from Unity, more about the program or to download an Daily News journalist Brad Viles (who later Maine, said about the trip, “I can honestly application, go to www.friendsofbaxter.org.

Chewonki Increases Financial Aid Awarded

Chewonki is proud to announce that it The aid is awarded in two ways: need- The semester school awarded $245,000 awarded $782,000 in scholarship and based and through a series of partnered in need-based financial aid for fiscal year financial aid for campers, trippers, Chewonki summer scholarship programs. In 2010, 2010, representing 14.6 percent of gross Semester School students, and school need-based aid totaled $660,000 across all tuition. For the current school year, this subsidies for the Outdoor Classroom and programs, and scholarship program aid figure will increase to more than 17 percent, Traveling Natural History Programs in fiscal totaled $122,000. Our largest partnership is mirroring the increase in family need experi- year 2010 (which ended on August 31). This with Summer Search, a national leadership enced by independent schools and other amount represents 16.2 percent of development program for low-income high- programs across the country. Chewonki’s total tuition revenue for the year. school students with which Chewonki has “Chewonki needs a robust financial aid Chewonki is able to fund financial aid partnered for 19 years. Last summer, 33 program to make our programs affordable largely through the generous contributions Summer Searchers participated in our and accessible across the socioeconomic of donors, both to our Annual Fund and to extended wilderness trips across Maine. spectrum,” says president Willard Morgan. our Capital Campaign, where financial aid Chewonki also has scholarship partnerships “How we continue to meet this need going endowment represents the largest of the with organizations in Russia, Greenland, the into the future, especially in light of the five campaign goals. Bahamas, and Maine. current economic climate, is a mission- critical issue for Chewonki.”

6 / Chewonki Chronicle JOCK MONTGOMERY

Family Camp participants jumped for joy in front of the Barn at Chewonki. It was mid-August, the days were hot, the nights were cool, bugs were gone, skies were blue, and 38 hearty souls (more than half of them under the age of 10) made the pilgrimage to Chewonki Neck for five days of Family Camp. There were tasty meals in the dining hall, swimming and sailing at the waterfront, campfire, nature, and of course old acquaintances and new friends made. We hope to see you again next year. Mark your calendars: August 17–21, 2011.

Chewonki History Available Online

Although Chewonki founder Clarence Allen liked to say “the briefest history of the camp is

BRIDGET BESAW that it started in 1915 and is still running,” there’s a lot more to our history than that! A short history of Chewonki written in Summer 2011 Programs 2005 by former counselor, trip leader, and assistant camp Already Enrolling director Jesse Dukes is now available online. And as our centennial approaches, we are beginning to envision a If early registrations are any indication, it looks like Summer 2011 100-year history project and celebration. To download our may see record enrollments at Chewonki. Whether it’s Boys Camp, short history, please visit www.chewonki.org/alumni and click on Alumni Publications. Girls Camp, or Wilderness Trips for Teens, you can register your child online or download a registration form at www.chewonki.org and mail it to us. The deadline for financial aid applications is February 15. Please feel free to contact us by phone, email, or mail with any Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 7 questions you might have about our summer programs. JOCK MONTGOMERY The Outdoor Classroom A unique and popular program is more relevant today than ever

ELIZABETH PIERSON

hewonki celebrates a significant at Rivers and nature at Camp Chewonki; and Tim himself was milestone this year: our fortieth year of a Rivers alumnus. teaching in the Outdoor Classroom. We “That first program was a challenge program with little welcomed our first overnight school natural history,” Tim recalled recently. “But we were learning, group in the fall of 1971, when former and over the years inserted more of a balance between natural executive director Tim Ellis arranged history and challenge. We learned a lot about the valuable Cfor the entire eighth grade from Rivers School in Weston, place that experiential learning and the development of Massachusetts, to spend 10 days camping on Chewonki Neck. character and community can and should have in formal It was a natural partnership. Chewonki founder Clarence curricula, and we continued to build on it.” Allen was a former headmaster at Rivers; Hardy Ellis was Former Chewonki president Don Hudson, still a college assistant camp director at Chewonki and for many years student then, was on the small staff that led the Rivers encamp- assistant headmaster at Rivers; Roger Tory Peterson taught art ment, and he remembers it well. “The essential pieces of

8 / Chewonki Chronicle “For too long, we somehow forgot that some of the most important learning happens outside of these brick buildings called schools” CHEWONKI ARCHIVES William Shuttleworth, superintendant of Maine Regional School Unit 1

Rivers School students setting up camp on their first visit to Chewonki, in the fall of 1971. Their 40th trip, this past May, looked remarkably similar.

today’s Outdoor Classroom were assembled in those 10 days,” utdoor Classroom director Katie Tremblay has been he says. Forty students were divided into four groups, and for at Chewonki since 2001 and has watched with satis- each group there was a Chewonki teacher and a Rivers teacher. Ofaction as the program has grown in size and scope. Together, they camped in tents and cooked their meals “This year alone we’ll serve 62 schools, including 3 collages,” she outdoors, explored with map and compass, crossed the Gulch, said recently. Most come from Maine, Massachusetts, and New and canoed in the salt marsh. “The schedule was pretty loose,” Hampshire, a few from as far away as Pennsylvania and North Don recalls. “This was one time when we were making it up as Carolina. For many, their visit is an annual event and is much we went along!” anticipated by students and teachers alike. What Chewonki was “making up” in 1971 has endured Julie Raines teaches AP biology at Yarmouth High School in the test of time. Our Outdoor Classroom (originally called Maine and has been bringing students to Chewonki for 27 years. Environmental Education) now serves more than 2,000 “Chewonki has been a great place for my classes to compare a students a year in programs that range in length from one to variety of ecosystems, practice field techniques, and learn more seven days and that incorporate lessons in ecology, sustain- about animals and preserved specimens,” she said this fall. “In ability, teambuilding, and outdoor living. A highly trained staff preparing for the AP exam we’re able to review all of their that numbers more than 20 offers day programs, overnight coursework, do lab work, and enrich their understanding, encampments, and wilderness trips—all of them custom- making lots of connections. Add in the terrific teaching approach designed to meet a school’s own interests and curricula. of the Chewonki teachers, the flexibility of the program to meet For all its growth, the Outdoor Classroom remains remark- my learning objectives, and it has been a perfect program for us.” ably unchanged in spirit. This June, 40 Rivers students once The program’s popularity and growth have not come without again set up tents and cooked outdoors on Chewonki Neck. It challenges, however, especially in the past few years. Declining was the entire seventh grade, and though they stayed only 3 enrollment may well be at the top of the list, but it is not the nights instead of 10, their trip looked remarkably like the one only challenge. in 1971. These kids also crossed the Gulch, canoed in the salt There’s a trend toward more schools coming to Chewonki for marsh, and explored with map and compass. Their eyes grew fewer days with fewer students, Katie explains. Interestingly, wide when they learned their trip marked the fortieth year budget cuts are not the only reason. “The culture of what kids Rivers has come to Chewonki—longer than any other school. can do has really changed,” she says. Standardized testing limits “That’s so cool!” they said in chorus. the number of days students can be away from the classroom, These kids can also tell you why the program is valuable. and many kids can’t miss mandatory sports practice. “At Chewonki you’re away from technology. You don’t see Katie also notes that parents seem more protective and less media, and that’s good,” said one of the students. willing to let their children venture outside their comfort levels. “I like that you rely on each other. It’s a good way to see “A four-day trip for a fifth-grader is a much bigger deal with how teamwork works,” said another. parents than it used to be,” she says. The result of these shorter And from another: “I’ve always wanted to camp in a tent stays is a decline in enrollment but an increase in administrative and cook over a fire. Here I get to do it!” work. Continued on page 10

Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 9 expects to see it happen more and more frequently. She cites the cases of Bath Middle School and Woolwich Central School, both of which have come to Chewonki for almost 30 years—until this year. “It’s a shame when the schools closest to us can’t come,” she says. Chewonki is working on a strategic response to address the situation. “The bottom line is that we need more financial aid,” says Chewonki president Willard Morgan. Willard would love to see Chewonki be able to serve all local JOCK MONTGOMERY students within a certain geograph- ical distance, and he and Katie have initiated discussions with school administrators. “I hope we’ll be successful,” says Katie. Health issues have added another, and much more serious, So does William Shuttleworth, superintendant of Maine layer of complexity. Katie sits on a state committee dealing with Regional School Unit 1, which encompasses five midcoast the epidemic of overweight youth. “One-third of Maine towns. Shuttleworth believes passionately in the value of children are overweight or obese, and it’s taking a terrible toll outdoor education and says he is “fighting like crazy” to find on their fitness,” she says. funding for it. “For too long,” he says, “we somehow forgot Food allergies are also on the rise, resulting in students who that some of the most important learning happens outside of need custom-designed menus and sometimes even separate pots these brick buildings called schools. When students have a and pans and dishwashing stations. Outdoor Classroom staff canoe paddle in their hand, or are scaling across a ravine or put an enormous amount of time into coordinating such needs. working with a team to identify wildlife and trees, they begin to And then there are the medications. Katie recalls the days learn a lot about themselves as being competent, capable, and when asthma and Attention Deficit Disorder were as compli- confident.” cated as things got in the Outdoor Classroom. Today the staff routinely works with students who have diabetes, bipolar o spend a day, or even a few hours, in the Outdoor disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and other serious Classroom is to understand how much this program conditions. “It used to be that when a group arrived they might Thas to offer—especially in an age when Nature hand us a zip-lock bag with a couple of inhalers in it. Now it’s Deficit Disorder is a recognized pandemic. Visit the Chewonki not uncommon for a school to hand us a duffel bag—a large campus on almost any school day, and you will see kids living, duffel bag—of meds when they get off the bus,” says Katie. playing, and learning in the out-of-doors. They might be As challenging as the administrative and student manage- catching frogs or watching earthworms, snowshoeing across a ment issues are, Katie feels Chewonki is managing them well. marsh, climbing in the Barn, running across a field, cooking The Outdoor Classroom structures its activities so every tacos over an open fire, or meeting Aquila, our resident Golden student can participate, and although it’s requiring the staff to Eagle. You will see them engaged both in organized adventures make more and more accommodations—and even to add staff and in simple, unstructured play. positions—Katie wouldn’t have it any other way. “What the Katie Tremblay sums up the value of all this in two simple growing behavioral and medical needs say to me is that sentences: “The more time children spend outdoors, the more providing kids with outdoor experiences is more important they care about the environment. And getting children to care than ever,” she says emphatically. about the environment ensures that we will have a future What Katie comes back to—what worries her most—is the generation of environmental stewards.” ■ drop in enrollment, particularly from public schools. “Even a relatively minor budget cut can make the difference in a For more information on the Outdoor Classroom, or to school’s ability to bring students to Chewonki,” she says. Katie schedule a program, contact Katie Tremblay at 207-882-7323 hates to lose a school, but if current trends continue, she or [email protected].

10 / Chewonki Chronicle Community Service It’s about giving back and connecting with people

Charlotte Allyn of Semester 44 visits with a resident at the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta. BILL HINKLEY

very Wednesday afternoon during the school humming. But increasingly, students are also expressing a year, a small group of semester students and a desire to help keep our larger local community humming. teacher head off campus. It isn’t always the As a result, every Wednesday work program now involves an same students or teacher, and the destination opportunity to do community service off campus. changes too. It might be the Maine Veterans Chewonki students are reading to kindergartners at EHome in Augusta one week, the Lincoln County Animal Wiscasset Primary School, visiting with residents at the Maine Shelter in Wiscasset another week. Veterans Home, singing for patients who have Alzheimer’s Wednesday afternoons, like two other afternoons a week, disease, and helping local farmers. They have done yard work are devoted to work program, a signature activity for the for neighbors in need, helped socialize abandoned dogs, and semester since it opened its doors in 1988. Working together in cleaned up the flooded basement at a local family shelter. On a small crews, students and faculty glaze windows, stack wood, canoe trip down the St. Croix River last spring, they even harvest vegetables, shingle a building, sweep the kitchen, or spread gravel for a new campsite. make biodiesel. They help keep the Chewonki community Continued on page 12

Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 11 Bill Hinkley, math teacher and interim head of school this year, is delighted with the range of activities. “If one of the reasons students come to Chewonki is to learn about the Maine The Power of One coast, then learning about the people and the lives they lead here is important too,” he says. Community service has always been part of the semester An essay by Leah Cooper, Semester 44 experience, but it wasn’t always a scheduled activity. That changed shortly after Bill joined the faculty, in 2001. “We’ve hewonki Semester School is the epitome of community always helped our neighbors. And we’ve always emphasized the service. From watching the documentary King Corn to power of service,” says Chewonki president Willard Morgan, Ccleaning the Hilton toilets, the Chewonki education and work who was head of school for the last six years. “But when Bill programs (even the less enjoyable ones) are founded on the philosophy offered to coordinate a more formal community service that one individual can change the world. Each semester, 40 adven- program, he took our efforts to a new level.” It began with one turous, passionate, and slightly quirky juniors leave their high schools full day of service a semester, in which all the students and and dive into a kibbutz-esque community where everyone is on a first- faculty participated. Now, smaller groups do weekly activities. name basis and where dinner discussions begin with questions like “So Bill is a Maine native who runs an organic blueberry farm guys—if you were plugged into the matrix….” The students leave with his wife and their three young boys. He also teaches math behind cell phones, say goodbye to 24-hour Internet access, and learn at the Maine State Prison in Thomaston. “The regularity of to create their own fun. We all come back a little bit changed. going off campus with students is good,” he says, “and the Some of us leave Chewonki proclaiming “I now know I want to be a long-term relationships we’re establishing are great. We want glaciologist!” Others, once picky eaters, arrive home with a new love of to continue expanding that. We want to help people on a sauerkraut. But I think all Chewonki alumni share one thing in regular basis, especially in our immediate area.” common: if they didn’t already believe in the power of the individual, No one has been more grateful for help than Art and Lee they certainly leave imbued with this doctrine. For the Chewonki farm Campbell of nearby Dresden. At least once a semester for the and school would barely function if each individual did not help out. past five years, Chewonki students have helped split and stack After four fleeting months of being part of the Chewonki community, the Campbells’ firewood. The couple heats their small home we alumni are released back into the “real world,” where we turn our primarily with wood. “I’m still a young fella, and I can still do agency into action. some things. But this sure saves me a lot of time and energy I During my semester at Chewonki, in the spring of 2010, I initiated a don’t have,” said 82-year-old Art recently. “I’m very thankful to weekly community service option. Prior to this, the school facilitated a Chewonki for sending those kids up here. I know it’s part of service day outside the Chewonki community once each semester. After their education, but still, I really appreciate it.” He and his wife returning from spring break, I felt a strong desire to volunteer outside enjoy the students’ visits and “try to make things fun for ’em.” the Chewonki community, and to do it more frequently than just once. The students enjoy the Campbells too. In fact, inviting the This desire may have stemmed in part from a bit of—no pun Campbells to dinner at Chewonki each semester has become intended—cabin fever. But I think my drive to volunteer was mostly the something of a tradition. “It’s always a great evening,” says Bill. result of a strong feeling that came over me once I stepped back on “Our students often comment on how meaningful their contact campus after a week at home. It was a feeling that I needed to give back. is with the people and agencies for whom they do community I remember sharing my desire to start a weekly service program with service. At many schools now, community service is mandatory, my advisor, math teacher Ben Redman. His response? “You should talk something to check off. There often isn’t any significant to Bill about this. He would be really into it.” And Ben was right. Bill connection with people. Our students see another way to do Hinkley suggested that I present my proposal at a faculty meeting; he service, and many of them continue it after they go home.” also facilitated our first service trip, to the Maine Veterans Home in While Willard has high praise for Bill and the emphasis he Augusta. After sharing the idea with my classmate Callum McCulloch, has put on service at Chewonki, Bill deflects that praise to the we presented the proposal. No surprise—our teachers were just as students. “They’ve really pushed us to do more,” he says. “The excited to get involved as our friends were. initiative they’ve taken in expanding Chewonki’s presence in One service trip in particular stands out in my memory. Amy the local community is remarkable.” Rogers, English teacher and beloved Decomposers conductor, Deirdre A case in point is Leah Cooper and Callum McCulloch of Shea, Adriana Walsh, and I drove to the Alzheimer’s wing of The Semester 44, who last spring pushed to make community Highlands retirement home in Topsham to sing for Amy’s father and service a weekly option. For anyone whose faith in young other residents. As we drove down Route 1, interlaced lyrics of people may be faltering, Leah’s essay (opposite) will be a “Amazing Grace,” “Swing Low Sweet Chariot,” and “Siyahamba” powerful and moving antidote. Her words—“I now know that poured out of Amy’s car windows. We would soon meet “Frank.” A each individual in this world has the power to make a positive and lasting impact”—will make you a believer too. ■

12 / Chewonki Chronicle former policeman, church choir member, and opera lover, Frank seemed to have a memory for every song we sang. “You are bringing my past back to life,” he said, with tears in his eyes. In addition to singing for and speaking with residents of nursing homes, students and faculty made trips to an animal shelter where we helped socialize rescued dogs. Callum and Bill also organized a trip to the Campbells, an elderly couple whom Chewonki students have helped out in many years past. There, students chopped enough wood to heat the Campbells’ home well into the frosty Maine winter. Semester 44 made the switch from being Chewonki students to Chewonki alumni SCOTT ANDREWS five months ago. We are now part of that Bill Hinkley (center) and Semester 44 students outside the dining hall with the Cambells. Leah Cooper and network of super-empowered individuals, Callum McCulloch are on the far right. sloshing around the country, connecting different corners of the sauerkraut, but I now know that each individual in this world has the world. Since my transformation to alumna status, I have founded a power to make a positive and lasting impact. Chewonki is the epitome singing group at my school called “Musical Memories.” Each time we of global community service for this reason—it empowers students by sing at a retirement home, I think of my Chewonki semester. catalyzing the realization that just one person, that you, can change I am so thankful that I attended the semester school; I am very the world, glacier by glacier, nursing home by nursing home. grateful to have met Amy Rogers and Bill Hinkley, whose personal commitments to volunteerism were essential for the success of the Leah Cooper is from Washington, Connecticut, and is a senior at Loomis service program. I do not want to be a glaciologist, and I still loathe Chaffee School.

Community Service on the Trail

The growing trend in community service during the semester builds on a long tradition at Chewonki—as Wilderness Programs director Greg Shute knows well. “I did my first wilderness service project 25 years ago, and even then there was nothing new about it,” Greg recalled recently. Chewonki trippers have been lending a hand in the woods and waters of Maine for years. They routinely clear brush, haul gravel, build bridges, paint buildings, and pick up trash. For many years, trippers have assisted rangers on the Allagash and the West Branch of the Penobscot with campsite maintenance. “There are a lot of CORY CRAMER adults who can paddle those rivers today and recognize campsites they worked on when they were Chewonki trippers,” says Greg. This past summer, Chewonki’s five-week Boatbuilders expedition spent a day working on Hurricane Island in Penobscot Bay, where they scraped the old rescue station (shown above) and cleared a mile of new trail. Once the home of Outward Bound, the island is now leased by the nonprofit Hurricane Island Foundation, which seeks to preserve the island’s rich history and provide educational opportunities for Maine youth. Chewonki helped organize a service day there on 10-10-10 and will be a supportive partner in the future. Retracing the Steps of Clarence Allen

WILLARD MORGAN

y journey to New Discovery, District pupils ages 5 through 18, often in temperatures so low they had No. 9, in Marshfield, Vermont, started to thaw the inkwells on the woodstove. with an email in July of this year from This particular entry documented a Saturday hike by Schuyler Gould, step-grandson of Clarence from his host family’s house across country and up a Clarence Allen, the founder of Camp nearby mountain. Reading it, I realized the rich well of natural Chewonki.M Schuyler had transcribed a journal entry written history information it contained. After an early encounter with by Clarence on December 3, 1904. That winter, at the ripe a skunk, which lured away his canine companion, Pompey, age of seventeen, Clarence worked a 10-week stint as school- Clarence recounted the next leg of his solo hike (spelling and master in a one-room schoolhouse, instructing over a dozen grammar verbatim).

14 / Chewonki Chronicle The foothill I struck first was covered with beautiful firs. They ranged from a foot high to fifty all rich green and being so thickly intergrown gave that healtfull firry oder in profusion. On the other side of this ridge of firs I came to a clearing. The trees had been felled and left branches and all as they were so that the thickly matted branches made a sort of mattress, which was appropriately covered with a blanket of snow. The blanket concealed the hollow places and wanting to rough it rather than going around, I started to cross. My foot would strike first a hollow and sink down to my hips, then a slippery branch or I’d stubb my toe and go headlong. It was great fun and exercise and I reached the other side in a little while. Another strip of firs, which like the first was literally covered with rabbit, mice, skunk, and many other tracks and beyond another clearing like the first.

Clarence’s description of this high country above Marshfield village is classically post-agricultural New England. By 1904 much cropland and pasture had been abandoned in favor of rich soils in the Midwest. Thirty- to 70-year-old forests were fine sources of lumber and firewood as loggers cleared much of the mountains across northern New England at the turn of the century. The slash left behind fed a series of conflagra- tions that incinerated peaks in the Adirondacks, Green Mountains, White Mountains, and western Maine, leaving soils exposed to erosion. Rocky bald peaks and a constellation of fire towers, familiar to today’s hikers, are long-lived reminders of that era. By 1904 deer, moose, beaver, mountain lions, wolves, and other large mammals were extirpated from the region, so rabbits and skunk would have been some of the larger wildlife left in Marshfield. Clarence knew his trees and his tracks, and he had a keen eye for detail. I wondered, could I retrace his trail and compare the landscape of 1904 to 2010? Although natural history was my first interest, I soon realized this would give me an opportunity to walk in Clarence’s footsteps and consider my own role as the heir to his Chewonki vision less than two months into my term as president.

It was early August, with camps in session, trips scattered JOCK MONTGOMERY across the state, Family Camp close at hand, and the semester on the horizon, but I chose a date, August 28, and made plans. Continued on page 16

Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 15 riving east along Route 2 from Marshfield village, I scan Dthe woods all around, trying to make out the original roadway along this grade. I usually drive the speed limit, but with a story to follow, I slow down to wonder. Curiosity brings me extra patience going up the hill and, right blinker, onto Route 232 South. Past the Cabot–Marshfield town boundary I cross a creek and head up the final grade toward the neighbor- hood where Clarence lived and worked as he sought a winter reprieve from the chronic bronchitis that dogged him in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Thanks to historical maps and modern aerial photography, I know what I am looking for. The 1873 Beers Atlas recorded the No. 9 schoolhouse across the road from the New Discovery Cemetery. The map also located a “T. Lamberton” house within a half-mile of the school; Clarence boarded with and

WILLARD MORGAN The Lamberton house today.

described the Lamberton family in his journal. He walked back and forth to the school each day; it had to be close to his residence, and this fit the facts. I find the cemetery first and soon find some Lamberton graves. Across Route 232, where the schoolhouse should have stood, I see only apple trees and shrubby regrowth. I crash through the goldenrod and blackberries, hoping to find some sign of the schoolhouse. Only 20 feet and I stop: my feet are resting on the old schoolhouse foundation. A rush of amazement floods over me. On this very spot Clarence battled a smoky woodstove, learned his first lessons in classroom management, and on some days struggled against numb hands to open the lock on this far-flung outpost of primary education. What of this winter in New Discovery influenced his later choices, including his pursuit of a career in education and, in 1915, the founding of Camp Chewonki? Buoyed by my success, I turn to finding the Lamberton house. East along 232 and on the right, I am quite sure I see it. Up the driveway I walk, just as a woman pulls out from the parking pad. She turns out to be the owner and yes, this home was owned by Lambertons. The family lets me park in the field so I can follow the December 3, 1904, hike. I leave a blackberry pie from the village general store as a thank you to my hosts, load up a small daypack, and set out southwest toward Burnt Mountain, a name that appears only on twentieth-century maps—after the widespread slash fires.

A page from Clarence’s 1904 journal illustrates his penchant for detail. The cover of the journal is shown on page 14.

16 / Chewonki Chronicle ithin another 10 minutes, I find a seasonal hunting Pompey started with me but did not stay with me long. Wcamp at the edge of a recent cut, with a steep hill We were running through a field, he barking and I yelling covered by a tight network of ferns and blackberry bushes and whistling when about two hundred yards ahead I ahead of me. Because of the heat, I had worn only shorts and saw an animal running for the edge of the woods. running shoes, to my dismay now. I recall Clarence’s account at this point as I rouse my enthusiasm for a brutal bushwhack.

Although I do not have a Pompey, I feel the same exuberance as I walk through fields and stone walls toward the edge of the The task before me was no easy one. This hill has all been wood, seemingly unchanged. The animal Clarence saw was the burned over and a tangle or rather miniature jungle or skunk that lured Pompey on an all-day chase. I am on thicket of thorny berry bushes has sprung up around the Clarence’s trail. burned stumps and the fallen logs. Then too the Before I reach the field-woods edge, I notice a white ash mountain is not one that a person looking for pleasure sapling with buds nipped off 5 feet above the ground—a moose. About 100 feet farther and I pick up a large feather— would pick out there being innumberable large boulders wild turkey. These are two animals that were extirpated in 1904 on every side. But it couldn’t have been better for me if it but have returned in abundance today. I pass through a short had been made to order. I dug into the bushes and stretch of early successional forest before popping out on a boulders and fallen logs, pausing rarely but just going up woods road along a stone wall. Behind the wall is a stand of and keeping a sharp look out for animals. The tracks mixed woods, with much fir, just bursting with the most were scarce on the mountainside and I looked in vain succulent blackberries I have seen this year. Within another until I reached the very summit. 100 yards I see a pile of bear scat and multiple moose bed sites There I was rewarded by the sight of a fine white amidst the blackberry bushes. rabbit. The view from the top was inspiring. All around Clarence’s balsam fir woods remain, but the large mammals have returned. I load up on blackberries and then scurry along. were mountains of equal size with mine, and rolling back to the horizon they served as mere foothills to the larger and grander mountains. I could look all around the circle, seeing Camels Hump and others of the same height. They were of course covered with snow and many of them reminded me of the sacred mountain of Japan. The general impression of the green mountains I had been told was of an ocean rolling away. It is so—only grander and more impressive and when one sees the whole circumference as I have today it awes you and goes deeper than cathedrals or any works of man.

Encouraged by the Clarence Allen spirit, I plow ahead through ferns and blackberries, which turn out to hide a tangle of

WILLARD MORGAN logging slash underneath. A few headlong falls and “innumber- able” scratches on my legs later, I clamber out of this thicket and into a beautiful mid-successional northern hardwood forest. American beech, sugar maple, red maple, and yellow birch dominate the canopy, with some striped maple and The view from atop Burnt Mountain. In 1904, Clarence wrote of this same scattered balsam fir in the understory. As I climb, the forest view: “The general impression of the green mountains I had been told was of an ocean rolling away. It is so—only grander and more impressive and becomes a woodland with a wide-open understory carpeted when one sees the whole circumference as I have today it awes you and with hayscented and bracken ferns. goes deeper than cathedrals or any works of man.” Continued on page 18

Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 17 In the fern carpet, I noticed periodic scurrying and associ- outdoor adventure—what professor and writer David Sobel ated jiggling of the fern fronds. Curious, I stop and ease myself calls “wild play”—is fundamental to a Chewonki education. to ground level. Looking under the fronds I catch sight of a Finally, the intellectualism that brought Clarence hare in its summer coat of brown fur. Here is Clarence’s knowledge of Mt. Fuji at the age of 17, and that drove my own “rabbit,” the snowshoe hare, which is ubiquitous in the north journey through higher education, is an essential companion to county year-round. what we call “experiential education” today. My opportunity is I encounter a few boulders, but no sign of the burn that to guide Chewonki as we steward these elements into a second earned Burnt Mountain its name; that evidence has long since century of programs. It is an awesome and exciting task that decayed and been reused in the forest of today. In fact, that gives me energy as I take one last look at Camel’s Hump before forest-woodland continues clear to the summit plateau from downclimbing between the branches. where Clarence observed the snow-covered Green Mountains rolling away into the distance. For the first time today, I feel disappointment. Yes, I found Returning my path was more dangerous than ascending. the school foundation, the Lamberton house, wildlife signs, Often I slipped and slid between cracks in the ledges, and plenty of sharp objects to thrash my legs, all in the spirit of scratching my clothes and body on the dense under- Clarence Allen. But as a hiker and mountaineer, I had looked forward to a summit view. The reference to Mt. Fuji had been brush…. Coming through the firs a partridge flew up. especially intriguing; I wanted to see for myself. I also heard a blue jay and a chick-a-dee. So, I push on, wandering in search of sky through the trees, hoping to find a vista point. Then I see an opening and wend through a stand of American beech trunks. All of a sudden I In keeping with the style of Clarence Allen in 1904, I had emerge onto the only rocky bald left on Burnt Mountain. It is intentionally set out without a map or compass. As befits a on the south exposure, where 100 years of sun and prevailing naturalist, I spend much of my time looking around as I winds have seared and scarred saplings so that lichen, low-bush descend what I thought to be the reverse of my path up. blueberry, and some hardy grasses still cover much of the rock. Whereas climbing a peak is self-correcting—if you keep going One red spruce has overcome the odds to grow to 30 feet up, you get to the top—descending a peak gives one many and mostly obscure my view of the mountains that Clarence choices to stray, especially since I had not ascended a fall line, described. Quietly asking forgiveness of my students and but rather bushwhacked a circuitous route through various colleagues for ignoring the Chewonki rule against climbing points of interest. trees, I scratch my way up through the spruce branches until, I soon find myself astray in a swampy dim lowland, where I finally, needle-covered and sap-encrusted, about 25 feet up, I trip over a forgotten rusty strand of barbed wire still strung have an unobstructed view to the west of Camel’s Hump, along some tree trunks, further abrading my shin. The swamp Vermont’s second highest peak. drains north via the stream I had crossed that morning on Route 232 just east of the Cabot–Marshfield line. uch as a “solo” on a Chewonki program provides a So I come full circle, walking along Route 232 past farm- Mcamper, tripper, or semester student a respite to reflect, houses and field still largely the same as they were in 1904. I this journey has given me the space to consider my place in pass the cemetery and old schoolhouse foundation on my way Chewonki history. Clarence Allen was a remarkable young to the Lamberton house. Turning up the driveway, I imagine a man, full of adventure and bold in vision. He had the audacity young schoolmaster walking home to an afternoon of reading to do at an early age and the curiosity to back that up with and writing in his journal. knowledge. He had a deep appreciation for the natural world, At the house I wave thanks to the family gathered in the and was inspired by its beauty, which invoked a near spiritual kitchen and continue to my truck. There, on the hood, I find response in him. an offering from them—a quart of maple syrup, boiled right Over 100 hundred years later, pursuing his roots has given here on their land, the Lamberton land. me space to mentally integrate my skills and vision with As I drive downhill to Marshfield village, I smile, satisfied. I Clarence’s legacy. Only two months into my tenure as now know something of the place that Clarence Allen called president, I am struck by the strength accrued to Chewonki home for a few months 106 years ago, and something more of over time. It is clear to me that natural history continues to my own connection to Chewonki. I have a long drive ahead to have a vital place at the core of our programs, for both literal consider how New Discovery shaped us and also to plan the and metaphorical teaching. And the elation I feel sitting in this next trip, to the shores of Lake Champlain, where Clarence red spruce, somewhat battered and bruised, reminds me that founded Camp Chewonki 11 years later in 1915. ■

18 / Chewonki Chronicle Lessons Learned at Montsweag Brook Dam removal creates a swirl of controversy

BETTA STOTHART CONNOR

emoving a dam, it turns out, is not an enterprise for the feint of heart. First, there’s the sheer cost of the job (nearly $800,000 in the case of Lower Montsweag Dam, which is entirely grant-funded), then the local politics (not everyone supports dam removals, especially when ponds are lost), and then Rthere’s the practical matter of actually taking down an enormous concrete structure and restoring a habitat to its natural state. As this article is being written, Lower Montsweag Dam, situated a mile north of the Chewonki campus, is being demolished. Project manager Dan Creek is spending heroically long days at the site keeping an eye on heavy equipment and a crew hard at work. Chewonki head naturalist Lynne Flaccus has spent countless hours at the site, setting up monitoring stations and reseeding the drained impoundment with indigenous vegetation. By the time the Chronicle reaches your mailbox, the dam will be gone. The story of how we got there, however, will not be forgotten. Lower Montsweag Dam was transferred to Chewonki as part of a natural resource damages settlement with the former Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant. Four years ago, when former Chewonki president Don Hudson proposed the Montsweag Brook Restoration Project at a staff retreat, there was great enthusiasm. Back then, the idea of a long-term endeavor to restore an ecosystem and its fish-breeding habitat sounded relatively straight- forward: find partners, raise funds, hire project manager, prepare a demolition design, procure necessary permits, remove barrier, restore fishery, be part of wonderful

JOCK MONTGOMERY habitat restoration project in own backyard. Continued on page 20 Fred Cichocki and a camper sample fish below the dam last summer.

Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 19 “Dam removal has become a very important tool in our efforts to bring back fishery resources to the Gulf of Maine,” said Catena. “We try to get fish back to their natal streams where they can spawn and return to the ocean. Dams have been a critical factor in the reduction of the natural species that are inhabiting these streams.” Graber concurred: “There is no single better way to restore habitat quicker and more effectively than removing a dam.” The U.S. has removed more than 830 dams over the last few decades, said Graber, and many of the projects have included controversy. “The change that occurs when you take out a structure like this is significant for people who have lived here a long time. Change can be a challenge for anybody.” But both Graber and Catena agree that the benefits far In the end, this is what will be remembered. But the actual outweigh the challenges. journey toward completion of this project has taught us According to Catena, the Montsweag project is one of many valuable lessons about how we connect with our neighbors; in Maine that NOAA is funding. The migratory fish being how we work with town government, elected officials, and local targeted here—alewives, American eel, and sea-run brook newspapers; and how we deal with controversy when it arises. trout—are linked to the Gulf of Maine and the broader Eastern The journey includes a surveyor’s tree-cutting error on a Seaboard, he says. “This is an interconnective project from a neighbor’s land; a series of challenging meetings with town leaders in order to explain the project and procure local work permits; and a series of unfortunate newspaper headlines, among them “Resistance to Chewonki Proposal Grows.” Despite a swirl of controversy and various levels of local disapproval, staff at Chewonki continued to applaud the effort, and the project received broad support from environmental, state, and federal agencies, many of which have helped fund this project. On September 29, Chewonki hosted a public discussion and tour at Montsweag Brook, and attendance was impressive. Speakers and guests came from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, American Rivers, Maine Rivers, The Nature Conservancy, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, and other organizations. Speaker after speaker made similar observations: first, stream and river barriers constitute an enormous problem for fish populations in the Gulf of Maine, and second, dam removal projects such as Montsweag need partners like Chewonki to succeed. Standing at the dam, Brian Graber, a fluvial geomorpholo- gist and water resources engineer with American Rivers, and John Catena, northeast regional supervisor for the NOAA Lynne Flaccus, Chewonki’s head naturalist, Restoration Center, spoke about the importance of the project. gathers data at the dam site. “There is no single better way to restore habitat quicker and more effectively than removing a dam.” —BRIAN GRABER, AMERICAN RIVERS

“Having an organization like Chewonki come in and do the monitoring and weave that into the education is a tremendous benefit,” says Catena. “We work with a whole range of organi- zations and municipalities, and having one that is here and will be involved at the site from a monitoring point of view is just tremendous. We don’t get that a lot.” Graber is enthusiastic too: “What a fantastic living classroom out here! There are so many things for students to look at, from macro-invertebrates that live in the river bed, to migratory and non-migratory fish and how populations will change when you convert a pond back to its native river habitat.” Graber sees great value in involving students and neighbors in this project. “We were excited to get involved with this project, and one of the things that appealed to us was fisheries point of view that helps the species themselves, but the long-term educational possibilities Chewonki is intending these are also very important forage fish for Atlantic mackerel, to implement here both with educating students at the site, but Atlantic tuna, stripped bass, blue fish, and any number of fish.” also by having a long-term monitoring plan to help us see the The dam removal improves habitat for these fish, and it also impacts and benefits we are having.” helps improve water quality, adds Graber. “As water sits in the At the end of the day, what many of us at Chewonki have sun during the summer in the impoundment, it warms up, and learned is that dam removals are almost always controversial, warmer water means lower dissolved oxygen, and that affects but they are also essential. “Not many schools or communities everything in the pond and downstream.” can claim to have a real-life restoration and monitoring effort in their backyard,” said Chewonki president Willard Morgan. he intangible goals of dam removal projects are “Aside from the environmental gains here, the educational perhaps more onerous than the removals themselves. value of this project will benefit our programs and our local T“NOAA is helping to restore the environment, but in community for years to come.” ■ so doing we are also trying to bring the community into a given site, to get stewardship going, and to instill some real under- To learn more about the Montsweag Brook Restoration Project and to standing about the environment,” says Catena. This is where see videos, go to www.chewonki.org/about/montsweag.

Chewonki’s involvement becomes notable. ALL PHOTOS BY BRIAN PETERS, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED. DIRTY JOBS—CLEAN

A day in the life of the ENERGY Sustainability assistant

TOM TWIST

orking in Chewonki’s Biodiesel Shed is kind and dripping onto my work, and my hands are becoming too of like being in a sauna, with the proviso sweaty to properly push the plumbing connections together. I that the sauna was first used to render lard. glance over at Tucker—he is working away, blithely unaffected WThe building has its own particular smell, by the staggering temperature. After about 30 minutes, little and every touchable surface is covered with rivulets of sweat are poring into my eyes, making it hard to see. a greasy sheen. I like to tell people it is by far the least aestheti- Tucker turns to me and good-naturedly says, “It’s starting to cally pleasing part of Chewonki, and no one seems to disagree. get pretty warm in here.” I grimace and say “Mmm.” I’m afraid This is where we convert waste vegetable oil into biodiesel, that if I open my mouth, sweat will pour in. Squinting in the which fuels Chewonki’s fleet of diesel vehicles: tractors, vans, direction of Tucker, who is now only a wavy blur, I say, “I think commuter cars, and a heavy-duty pickup truck. Each summer the plumbing’s about done. Let’s see if it holds.” we produce about 1,000 gallons, which is enough to displace a Tucker moves over to the control panel, as I stay near the quarter of our year-round diesel fuel use. The polyethylene- newly plumbed vegetable oil tank. “OK, turn it on.” Tucker covered shed is effectively a greenhouse, and in the summer it switches on the pump. can produce temperatures up to 120 degrees F.—which is good Even through my squinting eyes and fogged-up safety for making biodiesel but bad for one’s personal hydration level. glasses, I can tell immediately that something is wrong. From a On this early September day, I have a Chewonki Semester loose connection, a flume of warm vegetable oil is spraying School student with me for work program. The students horizontally across the room. I move toward the plumbing to routinely help with our sustainability projects, doing every- close the leak but succeed only in changing the direction of the thing from making biodiesel to installing solar hot-water spray so that it’s instead hitting me in the face. “Nope! Turn it systems to building their own solar iPod chargers. The ugghff,” I yell over to Tucker, my words garbled by the students are always excited about these projects, and the one vegetable oil spraying into my mouth. “Turn it off,” I say again, helping me today—Tucker Deane-Krantz from Riverdale this time more with resignation. Tucker switches off the pump, Country School in New York City—is no exception. and the grease fountain cascades slowly to the ground. I stand Tucker and I get right to work in the Biodiesel Shed, there for a few seconds, my head, shoulders, and chest covered tearing out the old plumbing and replacing it with a new, and with vegetable oil. I can definitely taste that this particular we hope more efficient, system. It’s a hot, sunny day, and the batch of oil was used to fry fish. I reach for a nearby towel and temperature as I step inside immediately makes me start start to wipe my face off, wondering vaguely about what effect looking for a chair to sit down on. Right away it’s clear to me this will have on my pores. that Tucker is so enthused about the work that he is taking no I look back at Tucker and start phrasing an apology for this notice of the sweltering heat. We get to work on the plumbing. disastrous work program. “I’m sorry it didn’t work. We can try About 20 minutes into the task, sweat is running down my nose fixing it again tomorrow….” His expression cuts me off.

22 / Chewonki Chronicle Project To-Do List A typical weekly to-do list for the Sustainability assistant— this one from early September—illustrates the multifaceted nature of the Sustainability Office. • Help install wind turbine • Organize energy audits and student-led weatherization on oldest buildings • Repair solar-powered waterslide at waterfront • Replace batteries on electric truck • Make batch of biodiesel • Figure out new electricity monitor for CEE • Design solar iPod chargers for summer camp • Assemble and plumb solar hot-water system on Hoyt’s with semester students •Work on wind power podcast •Work on concept for new Zero Waste initiative

RHAN FLATIN Tom Twist (right) with semester students during work program at the Biodiesel Shed.

“That was amazing,” he says, beaming. I find that I’m able agriculture, clean water, solar energy, solid-waste manage- grinning in spite of myself. ment, and more. There is not a single department on campus now that isn’t his is a working picture of a day in my job at involved with renewable energy, and the synergies and collabo- TChewonki’s Sustainability Office—and like a working rations that occur among the programs are really inspiring. harbor, it is only picturesque from a distance. The The Maintenance Department routinely comes to us with new Sustainability Office is tasked with making Chewonki’s campus ideas about reducing the campus’s carbon footprint, and the more sustainable in all aspects, as well as teaching and devel- teaching programs are constantly looking for ways to make oping curricula for the 35,000 students that partake of a their renewable energy classes more thoughtful and engaging. Chewonki program annually. The job is inspiring, technical, Our work also extends beyond Chewonki Neck. Chewonki and complex. Some days it is also dirty and grimy. manages over 1,200 acres outside Wiscasset, including four There are three of us in the office: Peter Arnold, Ruth coastal islands and our Girls Camp and Big Eddy Campground Poland, and myself. Ruth is a teaching fellow for the semester in the North Woods. The Sustainability Office has played a school and teaches its weekly renewable energy class. Peter is significant role in energy education in Maine for many years, the head of the Sustainability Office. He and former Chewonki and our annual Sustainability Conference is known throughout president Don Hudson founded it 12 years ago, at a time when New England. The office has also begun to play a role in few other people were talking about climate change or carbon helping to advance new commercial technologies, as Peter is footprints. The office began with the writing of a waste currently doing with tidal power in collaboration with the management manual. In 1999 Peter moved the endeavor into Town of Wiscasset. the national spotlight with the first of two groundbreaking There is a palpable momentum to sustainability at projects: the biodiesel production facility, followed a few years Chewonki, and it is wonderful to see. And though I sometimes later by our renewable hydrogen system (the first such system leave work covered in grime of some sort or another, I wouldn’t in the nation that was publicly accessible). trade it for anything. Don Hudson, when asked what his job Today we are working on so many different projects that it was, would occasionally answer, glibly, “Saving the world.” occasionally makes my head spin. And though we are often on This is how I feel about working in the Sustainability Office— “the bleeding edge of technology,” the depth and breadth of saving the world, one greasy batch of biodiesel at a time. ■ our renewable energy systems have placed Chewonki at the forefront of education on sustainability. Year-round, we Tom Twist is Chewonki’s sustainability assistant. Thanks to his develop lessons and demonstrations on topics that range from constant work with used vegetable oil, he claims to have the softest geothermal systems and wind power to climate change, sustain- skin of anyone on campus.

Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 23 t SingingTheir HeartsOu Songs mark transitions and become tradition

GENELL VASHRO

t starts early, and it ends late—every day, rain or shine. Songs have been uniting the Girls Camp community since It happens in the dining hall and on the dock. In the its inception. Girls and women from all over the world join yurts and in canoes. Over dishes and on the trail. And their voices to the lyrics of “River,” “Voyageur Song,” “I Knew especially at campfire. It’s singing, of course, and as This Place,” and many more songs that speak to their adven- anyone who has spent time at Chewonki Camp for tures and experiences at camp. As the summer progresses, IGirls knows, it happens all day long. the songs become more and more familiar, and many are In its third year of existence, our camp on the exquisite memorized, so that the use of the songbook the staff created— shores of Fourth Debsconeag Lake has fully embraced the and that continues to grow with recommendations from making of a small, unique community. One of the most campers and staff alike—is no longer necessary. Even the page treasured traditions the girls have established is singing. From number a song is on gets memorized; when someone the youngest camper to the oldest staff member, we all join in announces the page number of the song we’ll be singing, you the fun. On summer days and nights, the voices of young girls can see the smiles widen and hear voices saying “Oh, I love this and women ricochet off the cliffs from the west side of the lake. song” even before the songbooks are cracked open. Song fills the camp daily, almost hourly, marking transitions Visitors often comment on how wonderful the singing is. and daily routines. “Song is everywhere at Girls Camp. It’s just a part of life,” says The harmonies often start as early as 7:00 A.M., when the communications director Betta Stothart Connor, who visits counselors sing to wake the girls from their slumber. The each summer. “The singing is beautiful and fun and powerful. singing increases as, three times a day, we join voices to mark I’m always moved by what a joyful community it creates.” the end of our meals together. It is not uncommon to walk I think our campers feel the same way. They must, if the around camp during the day and hear the rhythm of a song time and energy they devote to singing are any indication! I being tapped on a wooden paddle, the picnic table, or the dock, look forward to watching this tradition they’ve established accompanied by humming, made-up lyrics, and often belly grow and prosper through the years. In the meantime, I’m laughs. already looking forward to Summer 2011, when the voices of Many campers will tell you that campfire is one of their Chewonki Camp for Girls will once again rise in unison above favorite activities at camp. The musical instruments make their the lake. ■ way out of their cases and into campfire circle for an evening filled with skits, songs, and storytelling. But it wouldn’t be a Genell Vashro is the director of Chewonki Camp for Girls. campfire without first jumping to your feet and belting out the Girls Camp cheer! Just as our campfires start with a song, they also end with a song. Slowly walking away from campfire, we all sing “River” to mark the close of the day. Every yurt group at Girls Camp goes on a wilderness trip, which can be anywhere from 2 to 22 days long. The day a group returns to camp is especially full of song. Once a group is spotted paddling back to camp, the girls in camp run to the costume box to get ready for the “welcome.” What follows is an ongoing call-back of the Girls Camp cheer and multiple rounds of singing. Anyone who has witnessed this “welcome home” ceremony knows the excitement and energy that fill the air. Both from the canoes and the shore, the girls’ voices are strong, loud, and confident. Later, at campfire, the trippers often share their trail experience by singing a familiar tune with made-up lyrics that tell the story of their adventures. The newly renovated Lynn Harrison Lodge is bright and energy efficient.

24 / Chewonki Chronicle Girls Camp Cheer (Sung to the same tune BRIDGET BESAW 2 as the Boys Camp Cheer)

Summer 2010 Highlights at Girls Camp Debsconeag Lake, awake, awake Nahmakanta, ata, ama • If all goes as expected, Girls Camp will soon receive American Camping Association accreditation! A two-member accreditation team visited Fourth Debsconeag Lake on August 5 and had a great Katahdin pow, Allagash now time exploring the campus. “It is an amazing program, held in a magical location. You and your staff Paddle and dip do a wonderful job,” one of the visitors later wrote to camp director Genell Vashro. The 100-year-old Chewonki, what? ACA accredits more than 2,400 camps, ensuring that they meet recognized standards for health, Chewonki, what? safety, and program quality. Girls Camp attained 100 percent compliance with ACA standards. A Chewonki girls! formal vote on the accreditation will be held at the November ACA board meeting.

• Campers and staff celebrated the dedication of the Lynn Harrison Lodge with an official ceremony on July 19. The lodge is named in honor of long-time Girls Camp supporter Lynn Harrison of Bridgton, Maine, who was on hand for the celebration. The building that houses the dining room and kitchen was sorely in need of expansion and renovation. Don Lamson, Chewonki’s director of operations, and a hardworking crew undertook the work last fall and spring. In addition to being more spacious and comfortable, the refurbished lodge has an updated kitchen, expanded office and library, solar electricity, and new south-facing windows that make the building considerably brighter and more attractive.

• Girls Camp continues to grow! Our wilderness offerings for girls ages 8–18 now include eight programs and this year served 102 girls—an impres- “I have NEVER seen [our daughter] as happy as she was when we picked sive increase from 74 in 2008, when Girls Camp her up after her ten days at Girl’s Camp!! She was glowing, beaming!.... opened. In 2010, campers and 28 staff came from all over the U.S. as well as South Africa, Australia, This was, by far, the best thing we have ever done for [her]. We will be Spain, France, Kuwait, and Russia. Twenty-seven percent of campers received financial aid. signing her up for Session I, 2011.” ~A camp parent from Ohio

Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 25 Sunday Service at BoysCamp A time for community GARTH ALTENBURG

magine askingg 170 boys to sitt still in the woods for close are forthcomingg in the weekk aheadahead. I begin the service with our to an hour, engaging in quiet contemplation, singing, traditional reading of the “Salutation to the Dawn” from the and sharing their reflections on community, the natural Sanskrit, much as Dick Thomas and Tim Ellis did before me, world, and friendship. What may seem close to impos- reminding our campers to “Look to this Day…” sible to an outsider happens weekly at our Sunday From here, the service follows a Quaker-style meeting IService under the Pines, just below Campfire Circle. format, with an open floor for songs, readings, and expressions The concept of a Sunday “Service” is a bit of a misnomer in of gratitude. I am always impressed when a young boy is able to that our time together is not a religious service, but rather a stand in front of the entire camp and express thanks to his time for our entire community to slow down, come together, counselors for his experiences at Chewonki. and reflect on the week that has just passed and the opportunities that In the middle of the service, we are treated to a skit based on a story with a theme or parable that we can apply to life at Chewonki. Earlier skits have included Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax. Campers are always surprised to learn that this book was campers Matt Weeks, Charlie first published in 1971, and saddened to learn that we still Fear, Sam Pelgrift, and Zack Alfonse all haven’t solved our environmental challenges in the almost 40 working hard and well as counselors was fulfilling in years since then. This summer we enjoyed a presentation by unforeseen ways. It was a huge part of my wonderful welcome back the Jungle cabin of Leo Lionni’s Pezzettino. The moral of this into the Chewonki community.” story is that we all have unique elements to our personality, Papa Osprey Wiley Robinson recalls a significant turning point elements that are so valuable in a community like Chewonki for one of his campers during Sunday Service. “I had a camper this and in our larger home communities. past summer who made it a point to let us all know that he would Guides director Jason Chandler considers Sunday Service a definitely break down during the final Sunday Service because it time of peace and calm, away from the bustle of camp life. reminded him of how much he loved not only Sunday Service but “Time slows down, you remember where you are and why and Chewonki as a whole.” Remember, Ospreys are teenage boys, who what lies beyond Chewonki Neck. The words and lessons of are not known for their introspection! campers and counselors are filled with light and space in that While I know Sunday Service will probably never rank at the top forested clearing. And the lessons shared there tend to infiltrate of the list of favorite Chewonki activities such as Rocks, dodgeball, your life outside Chewonki.” or a cabin trip, I know our campers are often surprised to realize Jason also speaks movingly about one of the greatest gifts he that some quiet time for reflection is indeed valuable, especially in a received last summer. “At the final Sunday Service, I stood up community as busy as ours. Our final Sunday Service is traditionally to give thanks to friends and colleagues and to former campers held at the Point, at the southern tip of our peninsula. During one of mine who were now counselors. I shared feelings I hadn’t yet final service, an Osprey took flight over the water within view of the described—fatherly feelings of seeing those you have taught entire camp. I will never forget the collective “Wow” that was and counseled grow into themselves and help others in uttered by our community. It was a symbolic moment as our turn. I had spent the previous three summers campers prepared to take wing and head home. away from Chewonki. On return, On Sundays during the school year I try to incorporate a little to see my former Chewonki Sunday Service into my morning. Sometimes I think of a favorite song such as “Willie’s Song” or “Caledonia.” At other times I go for a quiet walk to listen to and observe the world around me. I also try to find a few moments to give thanks for the many blessings in my life, including my place in the Chewonki community. It is my hope that our campers will also find time to connect with the lessons of a Chewonki Sunday Service throughout their lives, as children or adults, campers or counselors. ■

Garth Altenburg is the director of Chewonki Camp for Boys.

JOCK MONTGOMERY SHARING THE HARVEST Chewonki’s farm thrives on the shared work of many hands

MEGAN PHILLIPS

m often amazed at what we accomplish when we Loading the farm truck with buckets of sweet potatoes, I work together. On August 26—day two of head to the wash station, where two students, Ben and Lydia, Semester 45—all 40 students and much of the are dutifully rinsing each tuber. There, standing in the mud faculty of Chewonki Semester School came down that inevitably forms here, these two potato washers have— to the farm for work program. The tasks we without encouragement—incorporated a group of sixth graders I’completed in that two-hour block were significant: more than into their efforts. My heart swells. I came to the farm crew last 600 pounds of potatoes were harvested, washed, dried, and November after three years on the Outdoor Classroom staff packed away to store in the root cellar, and four rows of onions and have worked in these past months to connect those two and two rows of dry beans were pulled and set aside to cure. pieces of Chewonki that I love so much, the OC and the farm. For some of the students, it was the first time they had ever This OC group just completed harvesting all of our leeks, some really stopped to consider that potatoes grow underground— destined for the root cellar, some for Packout, where the leek is let alone that harvesting them is hard work. the featured “Vegetable of the Week” for school groups on Now, five weeks later, these same students seem like old campus. The farm crew has imagined and offered opportunities hands on the farm. Today seven of them are digging sweet for OC students to get dirty on the farm, to do work here that potatoes. Our new laying hens—bolder than our old girls—are is real and meaningful as a way of connecting to the source of intermingling with the diggers, pecking at the newly harvested their food and furthermore to this place. And here, potatoes. From time to time, we unearth a burrow of mice: unprompted, our semester school students are making that they scurry, we shriek. During shared harvests like these, I have connection happen. Lydia is using her best teacher voice: “It tried to be both fully present with my dirty knees and my looks like some new help has just arrived. Thanks so much for current company, and also to honor all that I recall experi- helping with all the potato washing.” This is a simple thing, encing in my exact location over the past months. Here, I this particular form of outreach by Lydia and Ben to some remember plowing this garden with our draft horse, Sal, in late starry-eyed-because-big-kids-are-talking-to-us sixth graders, spring; planting spindly sweet potato babies in early June; but a significant thing too—a reaching out through the shared reuniting with a former student returning to work a few weeks work of hands. on the farm; and weeding for days with our stellar farm crew That heart-hands-head connection is further evident—and under the blazing summer sun. certainly at its tastiest—when we consider what happens to all

“Words fail me when I consider what our kitchen staff has done all summer and fall, what they do three times a day, every day.”

28 / Chewonki Chronicle Megan Phillips (second from right) discusses the harvest with her helpers of the day, a group of Adventure Week day campers. JOCK MONTGOMERY the food that moves from the farm to the kitchen. Words fail when we were reeling from the combined effects of torrential me when I consider what our kitchen staff has done all summer rains, late blight, and pests. Midsummer, one particularly and fall, what they do three times a day, every day. There is enterprising young camper looked at our garden cart of vegeta- much to celebrate here, beginning with the weekly conversa- bles bound for the kitchen and asked why we don’t sell our tion to establish what produce should be harvested for the vegetables off the Neck. “Just think,” he said, “how much more kitchen on the upcoming Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. money you would make. You could expand the farm. You could Once harvested, that food is made into delicious meals that buy tractors.” nourish more than just our bellies. We have turnips hidden so My response was a rambling one that touched on the ability that eight-year-old boys cannot even find them. We have kale of this land and our farm crew to support diverse but limited stew, roasted potatoes, spinach salad, baked squash, tomato vegetables and pastured animals, and went on to extol the value soup, pesto. We have a kitchen crew that pours itself into its of horsepower. But mostly what I had to say was this: we grow work daily, that thinks creatively and flexibly about what and food for people we love, for a community of which we are a how to cook in order to accommodate what is most fresh and valued part. And that is a good and a right thing to do. We on in season. These days, each meal begins with an announce- the farm are rooted deeply here, and so grateful to be a part of ment: “Today from the farm we have…. And from other local something greater than ourselves. farms we have ….” Some meals end with an ovation for the Thank you for supporting our work. Come visit—there are cooks, usually impromptu, always deserved. many more stories to tell. ■ This growing season has been a precious time on the farm, one of fullness and bounty and sheer exhaustion, and there is so Megan Phillips is a Chewonki farmer/educator and former Outdoor much more to come. It is an amazing contrast to last year, Classroom teacher.

Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 29 Returning to Chewonki Neck

JOCK MONTGOMERY LUCY HULL

n a bright day in late July, Ellen Gould-Silcott (Maine Reach ’78–’79) returned to Chewonki Neck with her family. Ellen and her brother, David, have a long connection to the land here: they remember with obvious love the days they spent as children visiting their family’s farm. The details are still vivid: there was a hand pump just outside the house; David was tucked into bed under a thick layer of “horse blankets” in that little upstairs bedroom. It was Ellen and David’s parents, Donald and Josephine Gould, who sold what is now Saltmarsh Farm and approximately 150 acres to the Chewonki Foundation in 1974. This property comprises Omuch of the eastern side of Chewonki Neck. Years later, Ellen returned to Chewonki Neck to participate in Maine Reach. On this July morning, she was delighted to reminisce about that experience too. It was a “wonderful, formative time” for her, she said, and she fondly remembers her faculty and fellow students, including Craig Kesselheim and Beth Dilley, Mark and Deborah Altemus, Kate McClain, Scott Andrews and Sue West, and Tim Ellis. Together we looked around campus, stopped in to see Doc Fred at the Nature Museum, paused for Julian (age three) to ring the bell, and enjoyed lunch together in the Wallace Center. On the day of their visit, the family’s mission was a poignant one. Donald and Josephine had always requested that their ashes be spread on Chewonki Neck when the time came; this was the time. The mission was buoyed by the lovely summer weather, the possibility of finding old haunts along Chewonki Creek, and especially by the ebullience of Ellen and her husband Tom’s children. Harris (12), mature and responsible, asked to carry his grandfather’s ashes; Naamah (5) and Julian bounced between their parents, their uncle David, and their aunt Sandra. We set out along the Back River Trail, dodging wet areas along the way. Harris, Sandra, and I came out on a lovely, narrow point that juts north into Chewonki Creek. The tide was high, and the lush grass and green trees made a vibrant contrast to the blue sky and water. I doubled back to find Ellen and David, who were standing motionless on the shore, just south of the point. Ellen breathed, “This is the place!” David pointed to a flat rock. “We used to swim right here! I didn’t know if we would recognize it.” The memories came thick and fast, tumbling out of both of them, the return to this spot a deep pleasure for which they had distantly hoped. I was privileged to witness this family “coming home” to an iconic place, and I left them to their family rite of passage. Being with the Gould descendants reminded me that there are countless stories rooted on this saltwater peninsula. Some are known, some we will never know, but all are part of Chewonki’s history. I like knowing that Donald and Josephine Gould are back for good. ■ Lucy Hull is director of development at Chewonki.

30 / Chewonki Chronicle People

1930s 1980s Douglas Allen (boys camp ’33– Vera Buchanan (boys camp staff ’41; camp staff ’42, ’46, ’47; ’81, ’93, ’94, ’96–’01; former former trustee), son of advisor), who served for years as a Chewonki founder Clarence volunteer librarian at Chewonki, Allen, made the trip from his wrote that at age 88 she’s not home in Salem, MA, to attend doing a lot of traveling, although the send-off celebration for Don her note shows that her memory Hudson at Chewonki on 6-5-10. is as sharp as ever. She has enjoyed seeing pictures of Colton Thomas (boys camp ’00, ’03, ’07; 1950s Aaron Paul’s wedding. Ted Haffenreffer (boys camp boys camp staff ’08, ’10) and ’56–’59), who lives in Cape Charlie (boys camp ’91–’93, ’95– photo, left to right): Ryan Rodel investment banking and consulting Elizabeth, ME, writes that his ’99; boys camp staff ’02, ’03; (MCS 27; boys camp staff ’02– in Europe. Kiko’s young cousins son George is “best friends” MCS 24) and Reuben Hudson ’05), Will Ginn (boys camp ’97, Juan and Jose Urquijo were at with Will Altenburg, son of (boys camp ’95–’03; boys camp ’99; boys camp staff ’02, ’03, ’05, Chewonki this summer, the latest Garth Altenburg, director of staff ’07–’10) “so handsomely ’08, ’10), Aaron, Kristin, Lindsay members of their extended family Chewonki Camp for Boys. grown-up,” in recent issues of the Urquhart (boys camp staff ’02– to bring Spanish culture to George attended Chewonki Chronicle. Her son Rob (Wilder- ’05, ’08, ’10), Jeremy Johnson Chewonki Neck. Vacation Camp last spring. ness Trips ’77) is a boat builder (boys camp staff ’06), and Malte and yacht rigger, whose work Reiss (boys camp staff ’01–’04, 1960s takes him around the world. Son ’07). Aaron is now a student at Otis “Mac” Jernigan (boys David works for the Massachu- the Yale School of Forestry and camp staff ’62, ’63, ’67, ’93–’04) setts Department of Education. Environmental Studies. sent the happy news that he married Susan McBane on 8-16- Sabbath Sanchez (Wilderness Jabali Sawicki (Wilderness Trips 10 in Boulder, CO. Mac and Trips ’88) recently moved north ’94) is living in NYC, where he Susan live in San Francisco, from Florida with his wife, two founded and is the principal of where he offers free help with teenage stepchildren, and two Excellence Boys Charter School, repair and maintenance of Volvo English bulldogs. He is studying an all-boys public school in 544s and 122s. for a master’s degree in education Brooklyn. “I hope to one day at the University of Massachu- achieve what you’ve achieved Spencer Woodward Simonds setts, Boston, through the Boston with Chewonki,” he wrote to (boys camp ’63) enjoyed seeing Teacher Residency. Don Hudson. Excellence Boys is another Chewonki generation at the top-performing public the ’08 wedding of his nephew 1990s elementary school out of Spencer Taylor (MCS 21; see Ken Berndt (boys camp staff 700 in NYC! To hear more

MCS Class Notes). ’97–’99) oversees the remote about Jabali’s story, go to DAVID FOSTER Knights Cove campsite for Camp www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKA 1970s O-AT-KA in Sebago, ME. 8i66TLEg. Chewonki coinci- Julius Alexander (boys camp dence: Brooks Eaton (MCS 39; ’75, ’76; Wilderness Trips; Luke Brody (boys camp ’94–’96; maintenance crew ’09) worked on former advisor; current trustee) Wilderness Trips ’99–’01) and this video for NOLS! Don Hudson has been as busy as ever since reports that his daughter, Emi, Kelsey joyfully welcomed a son, retiring from Chewonki last July. “My days spent the summer working with Arlo, on 12-22-09. Bob Smith-Petersen (boys have been filled with the restoration of fish special-needs kids and is now a camp ’92, ’94, ’96–’99; boys camp passage to lower Montsweag Brook, planning freshman at Princeton Gib Brown (boys camp staff ’93– staff ’00–’05, ’07–’09) came to for new European chapters for the Interna- Chewonki for Don Hudson’s University. Son Jack, 15, ’95, ’01, ’02) enjoyed a few tional Appalachian Trail, wilderness trips to months of paternity leave in send-off party. Bob is a second- continues to love water polo, a Labrador and the High Arctic with Greg Shute, passion he has pursued in Maine last spring thanks to his grade aide at the Carlise, MA, and participation with a fisheries and California every summer. new daughter, Ada Kay Brown. elementary school. When not teaching, he enjoys hiking, renewable energy delegation from Maine to John Robbins (boys camp ’78– Jeffry Chase (boys camp staff kayaking, art, fire dancing, and Japan,” he emailed us in November. “Time at ’82; boys camp staff ’86, ’87, ’89, ’96–’98; OC staff ’97, ’98) and his blacksmithing. home with Phine and Charlie (who is working ’90, ’92–’95, ’97, ’98) and his wife, Carey, made it to Chewonki away at creating a new business) has been wife, Shaye (Wilderness Trips & to toast Don Hudson at the June Kiko Urquijo (boys camp ’98– filled with gardening and carpentry.” camp staff ’93, ’94, ’95, ’98; 5 party for his reirement. ’01) wrote a great letter More than 300 people gathered on the former advisor), live near Spruce reminiscing about camp, Neck on June 5 to celebrate Don and his especially his friendship with Creek in Kittery, ME, with Aaron Paul (boys camp ’97–’00, remarkable career. He’s shown here, with ’02; boys camp & Wilderness Dick Thomas. Kiko was an views to the Piscataqua River Phine behind him, holding the two beautiful and beyond. Trip staff ’03–’06, ’08) celebrated international politics and cherry paddles they received from the his 7-31-10 marriage in Waltham, economics major at Middlebury MA, to Kristin Russell with a College; he graduated in June. Chewonki staff. hearty Chewonki contingent (see He’s looking for a job in

Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 31 People Dear Maine Coast Semester and Chewonki Semester School alumni, 2000s elementary school. She’s keeping Jason Chandler (camp staff ’02, her hand in farming by working ’03, ’06; Wilderness Trips staff part-time for a local organic farm n this issue, we are incorporating your Class Notes into the ’05; semester school teaching in southern Vermont and grows a Chronicle for the first time. Your news has been accumulating since fellow ’09, ’10; semester school big garden of her own. 2007, when we put Coastlines, the magazine of MCS, on hold as we faculty ’10) now teaches Environ- sought to trim our budget. We were overjoyed this fall when mental Issues at semester school. Alexander Martin (Wilderness Ieveryone here decided it was important to include semester school news Before coming back to Chewonki Trips ’00, ’01, ’03) paddled down in ’09, Jason served in the Peace a stretch of the Presumpscot with updates from other programs in every Chronicle—a symbolic Corps for two years. He worked River and landed at East Beach in unifying step. in Armenia with Green Camps, Portland, ME, after completing a This presented a daunting dilemma, however. We were sitting on a 4,300-mile human-powered trip “a grassroots environmental LOT of news. Two and half years ago, many of you were in very different youth program that since 2001 across the U.S. from Portland, situations than you are today. You may have a different job, hobby, or pet. has educated underrepresented OR. He traveled all but 800 miles communities in ecology, conser- by canoe, using a bicycle to haul You may live in a different corner of the world. The child you wrote us vation, and environmental his vessel across land when about then may now be trotting off to pre-school—or to Chewonki! responsibility…energizing and necessary. See We considered all this as we discussed whether to print the dated www.ajc.com/news/nation- empowering educators and information or simply delete it and start anew. But you are too wonderful. students toward community world/cross-country-paddler-co Your news, even old news, was too important to ignore. We wanted to action,” writes Jason. mpletes-621947.html. He’s To learn more, see already thinking about his next honor the amazing kaleidoscope you have created and the many paths http://greentavush.org/content/. trip! you’ve taken since you were here. So, here is a historical snapshot of what’s been happening over the past Susan Rodriguez (former Hadley Clark (camp staff & few years in your lives. With a new home in the Chronicle, semester news MCS staff ’07, ’06) writes that she advisor; current trustee) can now be shared in a much more timely way. is enjoying life in Cambridge as a announced in June ’10 that her student. “It is a lot of work…but architecture practice has a new Thanks for your understanding. We look forward to your updates and the more I learn, the more it all name: Ennead Architects. corrections. Please stay in touch! Your lives provide us with constant falls together and the more inter- “Ennead” is the Greek term for a inspiration. esting and intriguing it becomes,” group of nine, reflecting the she says. “I think about Chewonki number of architects in the firm. Bill Hinkley, Interim Head of School, Chewonki Semester School often and miss all of the “We believe in architecture and wonderful people and amazing design as open, shared, and Elizabeth Pierson, Editor, Chronicle work that is being done up enduring,” reads the announce- there!” ment, “in collaborating with our clients for the benefit for their Corwith Cramer (boys camp communities and the pubic MCS & SEMESTER SCHOOL CLASS NOTES staff ’08, ’10) earned his master’s realm; and in the creation of degree in education from sustainable architecture.” MCS 1 Columbia University in June, Fall 1988 then led trips for Chewonki Caitlin Scott (boys camp staff Class Agent: Torrey McMillan, Camp for Boys before heading to ’01, ’02, ’06; semester school staff [email protected] Midland School in California, ’09, ’10) spent last year at where he’s teaching English and Chewonki as a fellow in the Kate McElderry (Wilderness an integrated humanities course, semester school admissions Trips ’89) and her husband, helping with the oudoor office. She is now teaching grades David Curson, welcomed a program, and coaching soccer. K–4 in Tallahassee, FL, and daughter, Mary Kells Huber recently became engaged to Bob Curson, on 10-6-09. Little Mary Emma Hallowell (OC staff ’05, Ellis. joins big brother Seamus and “is a Mary Kells Huber Curson. ’06; boys camp staff & farm peaceful, easy baby thus far…. apprentice ’06, ’07) attends Genell Vashro (director of We’re all happy and doing really tion’s global development Antioch University-New Chewonki Camp for Girls ’08– well,” writes Kate. projects, focusing on opportuni- England, pursuing environmental ’10) married Saer Huston on ties for girls in the developing studies and getting her 9-4-10 on Cow Island in Casco MCS 2 world. Kate consults for Mercy certification for teaching Bay, ME. Spring 1989 Corps. Alicia Gray married Class Agent: Critter Thompson, Adam London in ’08 and they [email protected] live in San Francisco, where she’s Connecting with Margaret Ellis project manager of a small inter- As many Chewonki friends already know, the vivacious Margaret Ellis is under- Kate Goodrich Day (boys camp national NGO called the Aquaya going treatment for a rare form of intestinal lymphoma cancer. You can read her staff ’93, ’96; former trustee; Institute. “We work on drinking journal and write a note to her at www.caringbridge.org/visit/margaretellis. Both current advisor) lives in Portland, water issues in the developing Margaret and Tim love hearing from friends and cherish the messages of love and OR, with her husband, Adam world,” she writes. Most of her support that come in almost daily. “I feel surrounded by such amazing support and (boys camp staff ’96), and their projects are in India. Marsha strength,” Margaret wrote in late October. sons, Nolan and Quinn. Adam is Lenz hasn’t “been back to the manager of the Nike Founda- Neck since the last day” and

32 / Chewonki Chronicle MCS 3 election in Mexico with his young Fall 1989 son. Brandon Stafford (boys Class Agents: Teal Krech Paynter, camp staff ’93–’95, ’97; staff ’04– [email protected]; & Will ’06), while working for Redfield, [email protected] GreenMountain Engineering, designed a 180 L ethanol fermen- Liz Bluhm has been living in tation system that uses woodchips Washington, D.C., “working on as its feedstock. Brandon and girl- some National Institutes of friend Sharon Komarow (boys Health studies of environmental camp staff ’04) bought a purple causes of cancer and genetic-envi- house in Somerville, MA. If he ronmental interactions,” she were to ignore traffic laws, he reports, but is about to begin a says, he could coast to work on Briana Eickhoff Brumaghim. job at the Washington Hospital his bike. Goody-B. Wiseman is Marsha Lenz’s son, Ezra. Center, “where I hope we can put an artist living and working in hopes for a West Coast reunion more of the research into action.” Castine, ME. Her bronze sculp- of MCS 2 sometime soon. She also serves as a mentor for tures will be exhibited over the Marsha’s local-foods restaurant, public-school students through a next few months in Toronto, Los Folie Douce in Arcata, CA program called College Bound. Angeles, Miami, and NYC. (www.holyfolie.com), is getting Tina Hartell works at the rave reviews, while her children, Mountain School in Vermont. MCS 4 Ezra and Kobi, are busy with “Recently, I’ve been writing Spring 1990 Legos. Amy Mayer lives in college recommendation letters, Class Agent: Mitch Levesque, Greenfield, MA, with little Elias, weaning myself off coffee,” she [email protected] who is “fascinated with trucks and writes. “I’m looking forward to a sled dogs.” Her partner, Beth, surf trip to the Dominican Briana Eickhoff Brumaghim continues work on a Ph.D. while Republic next month.” Sarah and husband Neal are relishing teaching oceanography. Amy is a Kapocias Maheras teaches time with their daughter Cady science and technology reporter kindergarten in Walla Walla, (born 1-11-05) as well as four and on the board of directors of WA, where she also enjoys dogs and six cats (“from many the Association of Independents “sweet, sweet daughter” Mattie years of volunteering/fostering in Radio. Sara Kirby Mitchell and “inquisitive and wild stepson” with rescue organizations”). (boys camp staff ’89, ’90; former Mason. “I am forever grateful for Briana works as a trusts and trustee; current advisor) left her the positive impact of MCS 3,” estates paralegal in Hartford, CT. teaching post at the Sheepscot writes Sarah. Chelsie Wheeler Gregg Carville (boys camp ’85– Aimee Clark Morland. Valley Children’s House in Olney gave birth to Scout Elsie ’88) received a master of fine arts Wiscasset, ME, and is now a full- Olney on 10-24-08. Scout and degree in lighting design from time mother to Michael (now her older brother, Myles, are NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts almost 3) and Colin, born 1-21- keeping Chelsie busy but very and is now the technical director 10. She still finds time to serve as happy. Teal Krech Paynter for Merrill Auditorium and the an EMT and has worked on the moved to Washington, D.C., City of Portland, ME. Elise Wiscasset ambulance crew. Laura from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in Elliott-Smith studied birds and Borden Richter lives in Zurich, ’09, with her husband, Nat works in Oregon for the U.S. Switzerland, and provides Paynter (boys camp ’83), and Geological Survey. She organizes learning support to children with their daughter, Clara. “It was fun large-scale monitoring of shore- dyslexia, ADHD, and other chal- driving around Tanzania with a birds of conservation concern, lenges. She gave birth to her third Chewonki bumper sticker on the “no doubt due in a large part to child on 5-29-08 and writes that back of our car,” recalls Krech. my field biology class at she was “swimming in diapers, “We met one person who had Chewonki,” she writes. Hilary breast milk, and Legos.” Critter spent time on the Neck!” Will Trenkamp Greenwood lives in Thompson (boys camp staff ’93; Redfield, who lives in Chicago, Zurich, Switzerland, with her former advisor) and his wife, Jody sat out the ’08 presidential husband and their son Bryn. Kennedy, welcomed a son, Bryce, They are enjoying great hikes in the Alps! Kristin Listerman on 4-4-08. Kathy Kwei Wong Mitch Levesque. (advisor) was married in Bali in Indge lives in Leominster, MA, ’08. She and her husband now and teaches first and second Rowley, MA, with husband Erik live in NYC, where she is the graders in the Acton public Morland (boys camp staff ’95), 6- owner and designer of Katherine schools, while her husband, Tom, year-old Haley, and 3-year-old Kwei Handbags, distinctive for a serves as a police officer at Emma. Mitch Levesque (boys weave inspired by the Chinese Bentley College. Kristin enjoys camp staff ’93) continues to live eternity knot. She received a being godmother to Haley in Germany with his wife and master’s degree in accessories Morland, daughter of Aimee children, Leo and Beatrice. Mitch design from the London College Clark Morland (boys camp staff is a scientist at the Max Planck ’93, ’95, ’96). Aimee lives in Institute. of Fashion. Scout Elsie Olney.

Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 33 People

½ years), and Charlie (4 months). Concepts of Advanced Mathe- She reports, “I have been back to matics at the Tatnall School. She’s Chewonki once with my teaching her son Malachi that husband…It still looked the boys can be anything they want to same—even Binnacle.” Bill Pugh be: “astronauts, fire chiefs, and his wife moved to Alexandria, doctors, math teachers, or VA, after two years in Hong princesses!” Will Willis is Kong. She teaches English at director of international programs Episcopal High School while Bill and sustainability coordinator at works in urban planning, sharp- Mercersburg Academy. His ening an interest in policy and children are 3 and almost 5, “and advocacy. “If any of you work or growing too fast.” T.R. Amsler. have friends working in sustain- ability, transportation, urban MCS 7 MCS 5 policy, etc., especially in the D.C. Fall 1991 Fall 1990 area, I’d love to chat,” he says. Class Agent: Brooke Peelle Guthrie, Class Agent: Laura Howard Leduc, Mo Saldanha is “head of online” [email protected] Kendall Pryles. [email protected] for Jamie Oliver, the celebrity chef. “We launched Jamie’s Liz Brown (Wilderness Trips, T.R. Amsler (boys camp staff ’95, Ministry of Food [go to camp staff ’92, ’93) writes, MCS 8 ’96) makes his home in San www.jamieoliver.com] to promote “Looking forward to additional Spring 1992 Francisco, “a little slice of urban people teaching each other to excuses to come to Maine in the Class Agents: Jenn Parfet Gudebski, Chewonki. We just hosted a pig cook, and then launched his new future when my son is old enough [email protected]; & Sarai Hinkley, roast with a pasture-raised pig lifestyle brand, for now only to attend Chewonki!” Liz and her [email protected] from north of the city.” He and available in Europe,” she writes. husband run a digital studio in wife Chalida are now parents, and “In my free time, I am captain of NYC called StudioE9, where they Dylan (formerly Gabby) Bosseau T.R. teaches English and history my women’s doubles tennis team, “create emerging media solutions (camp staff ’92, ’94, ’95) has a at the June Jordan School for do loads of astanga yoga, and run that help non-profits, educational dual degree in social work and Equity. “It’s not quite the Wonk, Momaya Press, promoting the institutions, and online publishers. education with an emphasis in but we bring a real community short story amongst writers and We are working with True- early development (infants and spirit to the tough situation in readers worldwide and accepting Carbon.org to help bring toddlers) and families. Dylan urban public schools,” he writes. entries for the annual Momaya accountability to carbon offsets writes, “My partner of 6 years, “My experiences at Chewonki Short Story Competition. Last and incentives for commercial Barb O’Neill, completed her definitely shaped my educational but not least, I’m single again.” entities to participate.” Katie dissertation this spring, earning a philosophy.” Amber Melosi Jeff Urbanus is “still waiting for Stein Fahey recently moved to doctorate in early childhood Aponte (boys camp staff ’94) a Chewonki event in Anchorage”! Concord, MA, with her husband special education.” They live in welcomed a daughter, Sophia Jodie Townsend Willis now has and their children, TJ and Ella. Brooklyn, and Dylan studies Louise Aponte, on 8-14-07. three children and is “trying to Rachel Godlewski now has a acrobatics and static trapeze with Jason Bilanin works for AIG and stop practicing law.” master’s degree in education. a company called LAVA, where lives in his wife’s home state of Brooke Peelle Guthrie she sees Zach Strassburger New Jersey. Sarah Davies MCS 6 welcomed twin girls on 8-22-08. (MCS 26). Aaron Kadoch, an teaches second grade at a private Spring 1991 She writes that her older daughter, architect at ORW Associates in school in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Class Agent: Andy Wilbur, Lyla, has been having fun with White River Junction, VT, She now has a daughter, Eleanor, [email protected] them, and Brooke “can’t wait ’til married Camille Hensler, an born New Year’s Eve ’07. She has they are old enough to go to attorney. They built their home shown her husband around Adam Hoverman (boys camp Chewonki Camp for Girls.” in Quechee and love Vermont Chewonki “and even poked ’87, ’88, ’90; boys camp staff ’91, Meghan Jeans (boys camp staff life. We are both sad and happy around in Binnacle.” Joy Fyfield ’92, ’95) is a doctor of osteopathic ’92–’94, ’98) is “still living the to print this note from Sam lives just outside Portland in medicine and works for the good life in San Fran and enjoying Maier (boys camp staff ’92), who Milwaukie, OR. She and her Yakima Valley Farm Workers as a the tropical adventures that come died in March ’09. A memorial to husband are teaching children, family physician. He sometimes along with working in interna- Sam appeared in the Spring ’10 Stella (5), Cyril (3), and Cole (1), walks at a Don Hudson Pace and tional marine conservation.” Liz Chronicle. In this note, received in to flyfish. Emma Jacobson-Sive still savors Lao Tzu. Ben Lipson Carmany Perreten now has a February ’09, Sam warmly is enjoying life in Los Angeles. has been “living and studying in daughter, Annie, and likes living describes his life: “The twins, Liv She is acting when not working in Israel ever since Emily Kellert just outside NYC. Sara Wight and Dag, are 4, and Solveig public relations at a Pasadena Lerner, Jennie Kalberer, and (Wilderness Trips ’92) and her Grace is 2…. We have really museum. Laura Howard Leduc, Nivi Nord left me here on their husband, Michael, live in New found community in Maud’s little her husband, Craig, and their way to India. I am married with Hampshire, where she is a sixth- hometown on the west coast of young daughter, Tessa, live in five lively children between the grade teacher at a small Norway. Quiet street, everything Arlington, MA. Laura’s finishing ages of 1 and 11 and am currently elementary school. “Though my you need within walking distance, her residency in anesthesia and studying and teaching in the students do not know me as lovely walking trails and right on will start a fellowship in pediatric Raanana Community Kollel in ‘Wigit,’” she says, “I have held the ocean. Perfect for the kids, anesthesia. Debbie Perelman central Israel.” Veronica onto the persona and am known as and we have Maud’s family and her husband live in New York Vasquez teaches algebra 2, ‘Auntie Wigit’ to my nieces and here…. Thanks for all the good City with Maia (4 years), Jacob (2 geometry, and a course called nephews.” memories of Chewonki.” Kendall

34 / Chewonki Chronicle still deployed as an Embedded composting program for the Tactical Trainer in Afghanistan. town.” Amy also works as a That means I’m taking care of massage therapist and sells her our small farm and eight dogs by own line of body-care products, myself!” She and Paul are Safar Bodycare. Adam Borden is “working on a memoir about the now the father of two children time we’ve spent apart,” in hopes and runs a food-focused venture of helping other military families. capital firm called Bradmer Alison Kemlitz, her husband, Foods, while his wife, Meredith, Josh, and their son, Zachary, have works for the Maryland attorney moved from Cambridge, general’s office as the Medicaid England, to the Minneapolis–St. regulatory counsel. Adam serves Allie Burke and Parker. Allie Burke and Betsy Paul area. Alison is “loving the on the board of their synagogue Stubblefield Loukes. healthcare field,” and Josh and heads the D.C./Baltimore teaches geology at the University Alumni Club of the University of were born in May ’10. “I got to of Minnesota. Whitney Rapp’s Michigan’s Ross School of see Allie Burke (MCS 9) this work for the National Park Business. Heidi Fessenden lives summer with her little nugget, Service takes her to Katmai, in Boston and is “having a great Parker,” writes Betsy. Jane Alagnak, Aniakchak, and Lake time teaching second graders Spencer does environmental Clark in southwestern Alaska. about geology, maps, affordable reporting for the Wall Street Brooke Wilkerson (boys camp housing, and Boston neighbor- Journal. She has spent a lot of staff ’94, ’99, ’00), who is married hoods.” She leads wilderness time overseas, especially in Hong to Shale Rosen, studies forest trips, too, and gets to the White Kong. Becky Silverstein fragmentation in Uganda but is Mountains to hike as often as she Tinsley received a master of based in Bergen, Norway. She can. Josh Haddock (boys camp science in animals and public Katie and Paul Dyer. writes, “We truly would enjoy staff ’93, ’94) has been living in policy from the Tufts-Cummings having Chewonki visitors here, so Cambridge, England, and Veterinary School and hopes for a Pryles reports that all is well in if you’re itching to climb some working for a start-up company, career in either animal law or Miami. In her photo, she’s mountains, sample some lever- which is “both exciting and animal welfare. She and her enjoying a family trip to the postei (liver paste), or wear your exhausting,” he writes. “As I was husband live in Paxton, MA. Seaquarium. Pau Torruella (boys raincoat in the rainiest city in writing this, the Spin Doctors’ ‘2 camp ’84, ’85, ’87; boys camp Europe, we’d be happy to have Princes’ came on the radio. What MCS 11 staff ’93) lives in Boulder, CO, you!” are the odds?” Taylor Swanson Fall 1993 with his wife and daughter, Lia Holley works on sustainable Class Agent: Jessica Montgomery Sofia. Pau has started his own MCS 10 sourcing initiatives for the home Green, [email protected] business, Eco-Flame Colorado, a Spring 1993 division of Walmart. “Never distributor of eco-friendly fire- Class Agent: Betsy Stubblefield thought I’d end up in Arkansas,” William Abbott (boys camp staff places. He and his family try to Loucks, [email protected] she writes, “but we really like it.” ’96, ’01–’03) has married spend every winter weekend Betsy Stubblefield Loucks Brunswick, ME, native David skiing at Vail. Amie Arlen and her partner, (boys camp staff ’94–’96, ’98) has Paige in California, where they Matt, live in Brunswick, ME, and earned a master’s degree in live and tend 3 milking goats and MCS 9 have “started an initiative that business administration and is 20+ cover-crop-fed broilers. Fall 1992 picks up food waste from local looking for work in sustainability William is the conservation Class Agent: Katie McClelland Dyer, restaurants and composts it,” she and business strategy while her director for the Land Trust for [email protected] writes. “My big dream is to husband, Eric, teaches at Brown Santa Barbara County; David is establish a community-wide University. Their twin daughters cultural geography editor at Karrie Amsler and husband Joe welcomed identical twin girls, Maisie and Anna, on 5-14-08. “Things are busy, but very good, too,” writes Karrie. Kipp Bovey is still living in northern Vermont, “working as a nurse midwife when not on maternity leave.” She and her husband, Mark, have a daughter, Anna, and a younger son, Charlie Isselardt, born 10-9-08. Melissa Schatzberg Dassori and her husband, Frederic, are enjoying a whole new side of NYC with their young daughter, Charlotte Willa Dassori, who arrived 3-25- 08. Katie McClelland Dyer writes that her husband, Paul, “is Adam Borden. William Abbott and David Paige.

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writes. “Would love to hear what you think and get constructive criticism from the Chewonki community.” Gen Pence Kent and her husband, Mark, who live in Cape Town, South Africa, welcomed a daughter in November ’08. “Zoe Grace came six weeks early (nearly on an airplane), weighing just 4 pounds,” writes Gen, “but is now a chubby, grinning, gurgling baby girl!” Alex McMackin spends almost all of her life on wheels, she says. “When I’m not biking, I roller-skate for the Gotham Girls, MCS 13 alums at reunion. New York’s roller derby league, Danny Field and Jimbo Schley. currently ranked #1 in the SC. Danny Field and Jimbo country. For money, I am a Schley shared a stupendous ABC-CLIO publishers. Kenden staff ’04–’06) and partner Sharon gardener in Brooklyn, which I journey from Bariloche, Alfond (advisor) married Charles Komarow (boys camp staff ’04). alternately love and detest.” Argentina, where Jim was an Vincent in ’08 in Boston and gave Says Justin, “The social network Michael Morgenstern (boys Outward Bound instructor, west birth to a daughter, Yael Chava that buys vegetables together, camp ’87; boys camp staff ’93, through the Andes and on to the Alfond-Vincent, on 1-5-10. stays together.” Elsa is working in ’95, ’96, ’98–’00, ’02–’04) and his coast of Chile, where they Charles is head of the World the Materials Systems Lab at wife, Mish (OC ’99, ’00, ’05; finished with sea kayaking and Food Bank, and Kenden works at MIT. Justin is working on his Wilderness Trips leader ’02, ’03), camping at hot springs. “Once, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Ph.D., researching how K–12 now have two children, Dylan lost in the mountains, we tested Tuberculosis, and Malaria. students use Wikis. and Lucy, and live in Rockland, ourselves by attempting to name Jessica Montgomery Green, ME. Jo Reardon Prince (boys every single MCS 13 member,” her husband, Greg, and their MCS 12 camp staff ’96, ’97, ’99) teaches in recalls Danny. “It took us some daughter, Abi, welcomed little Spring 1994 the Elementary Education time, but you’ll all be relieved to James on 12-27-07. Jess still Class Agents: Becky Palmer Dickson, Department at the University of hear that we succeeded. We teaches high-school English in [email protected]; & Lara Maine, Farmington. She and her haven’t forgotten even one of Pittsburgh. She writes, “Mont- Fox, [email protected] husband, Steve, live in Kingfield, you.” Jimbo now lives in the gomery and Rust, once my ME, a good base for skiing, Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, father’s and now my husband’s Claire Anderson still loves hiking, and gardening. Congratu- where he is logging and reno- company, just built a house in 106 teaching at Nightingale-Bamford lations to Hayden Smith Temin, vating his house. Caroline hours for ‘Extreme Makeover: in Manhattan and living in Park who married Jon Temin in Murphy Freedman and her Home Edition’!” Hampton Kew Slope, Brooklyn. She recently Atlanta, GA, in June ’07. husband, Joey, welcomed a has been working in the ski shared lunch and good conversa- daughter, Audrey Anna industry in the Rockies, tion with David Liebmann MCS 13 Freedman, on 5-1-08. They are Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, (MCS faculty ’91–’96; chair of the Fall 1994 busy renovating a home in the Montana, and New Zealand but semester school advisory board; Class Agents: Erin Quinn, hills of Austin, TX. Melissa is now settled at Backcountry.com trustee). India Landrigan Bayley [email protected]; & Jencks teaches reading during in Park City, UT. “No marriage is married and recently did a Besenia Rodriguez, the school year and arts and crafts or babies yet,” writes Hampton, pediatric residency at New York [email protected] in the summer—a perfect “but hopefully now that I am in Hospital/Cornell. Becky Palmer balance. Jess Kemper (boys one place it might actually Dickson lives happily in NC with Meghan Brennan is finishing camp staff ’96, ’97) completed the happen and I will have something Silas (born 3-29-07) and Virginia her residency in internal medicine NYC marathon, calling it “an more interesting to write about (born 3-30-05). Mike Ellsberg at the University of Wisconsin incredible, eye-opening journey next time!” Fiona Kouyoumd- lives in Brooklyn with his girl- and looking forward to an through the five boroughs. Very jian (boys camp staff ’94), a friend. His book The Power of Eye upcoming fellowship in infectious inspirational!” She’s pursuing a medical doctor, is also finishing Contact, a guide to using eye disease. When not working, she master’s degree in public adminis- her Ph.D. Justin Reich (boys contact effectively in business, often kayaks on Wisconsin’s lakes. tration while working at a camp ’87–’91, boys camp staff sales, public speaking, and Erica Catlin married Galeet nonprofit called PENCIL. ’94–’97, ’99–’05; advisor) and his romance, has received glowing Cohen in San Francisco. Erica Chen-I Lin is living in Boston, wife, Elsa Olivetti (boys camp reviews. He writes, “Getting a loves teaching math at a charter where she’s getting her Ph.D. in staff ’01–’04), split a share of book deal has been one of my high school in Philadelphia. Paul civil and environmental engi- community-supported agriculture biggest life-long dreams, and it Davis is still working in the neering and racing “dragon vegetables with Ben Urquhart finally came true!” Ginny movie business, based in Los boats”! Lauren Lochner is (boys camp staff ’97, ’99, ’01–’03) Gardiner reported from Macau, Angeles but frequently shooting providing academic, social, and and his wife, Julie Shoemaker where she was attending the elsewhere. He recently worked on emotional counseling to seventh- (OC and Outreach staff ’01, ’02); World Toilet Summit. “I made a Brothers, which he says “should be graders at a middle school in and Brandon Stafford (boys waterless toilet for my degree a pretty powerful film,” in Santa Shoreline, WA. Carrie Judd camp staff ’93–’95, ’97; MCS 3; project in industrial design,” she Fe, and Dear John in Charleston, Miller and husband Brett are

36 / Chewonki Chronicle enjoying parenthood in Eugene, foundation that focuses on OR. With a master’s degree in economic and social development education from Pacific Univer- programs in India. “I also just sity, Carrie works as the dean of started my first knitting project students and admissions director since MCS!” she writes. “It’s all at Oak Hill School. She was coming back to me and I intend thrilled to write a letter of recom- to move on to Lopi sweaters as mendation for a student who soon as possible.” Hilary became part of MCS 41! Erin Williams finished her master of Quinn enjoys catching up with fine arts degree in graphic design other MCS alums in NYC. She at the University of Tennessee works at Credit Suisse in fixed- with a thesis exhibition on local income research and says this foods. “If curious, please visit “has been an interesting and www.aforkintheroad.org to see educational time to have started a Glynnis Roberts and Emily Goodwin. photos and resources,” writes career in this field, to say the Hilary. She now teaches graphic least.” Kate Renner (boys camp Macleod is simultaneously MCS 15 design at Drake University in Des staff ’95–’98, ’00–’01) lives in building the sustainability Fall 1995 Moines and continues to investi- New Hampshire with her practice at Fitzgerald Analytics, Class Agents: Fitz Cahill, gate “how design can prompt husband, Ben Mirkin, and works the specialized consulting firm [email protected]; people to change individual habits at the White Mountain School. where she works, and her own Emily Dellas, [email protected]; for the common good.” “One perk of my job is that I get straw-bale, timber-frame house in & Glynnis Roberts, to live and work in the same Vermont. Loren Merrill is an [email protected] MCS 17 dorm as Torrey McMillan (MCS official candidate for a Ph.D.! As Fall 1996 1),” writes Kate. (Torrey has since his work moves forward, he’ll Kate Figge is a social worker in Class Agent: Page McClean, moved to the Boston area.) Sarah spend time “in the labs of a few Los Angeles. Damaris Wollen- [email protected] Scally, happily sharing married researchers who do work on burg Maclean (boys camp staff life with Anthony Stevenson, is ecological immunology and ’96, ’97) is the associate director Susannah Clark enjoyed an the assistant horticulturalist for endocrinology…an opportunity of college counseling at the internship at a farm in Tuscany, the State of Maine. Ben for me to learn some new tech- Nightingale-Bamford School in helping to harvest grapes and Thompson has had a front-row niques for measuring levels of NYC. Ben Thompson (MCS 8) olives, prune olive trees, feed view of the market turmoil: he immunity and hormones in wild had been their roommate for chickens and pigs, and do other produces a CNBC financial news animals.” He builds in time for three years but is now himself tasks around the farm. She show in NYC. Ben married volleyball, mountain biking, and engaged! Glynnis Roberts works enjoyed “going to lots of small- Courtney Urfer on 8-21-10 in surfing. Drew Mowery is for NOAA in Washington, D.C. town food and harvest-themed Seal Harbor, ME. Sarah Wolf engaged to Lucy Seche and has festivals (wine celebrations, finished law school at Rutgers started a new job with Genentech MCS 16 sausage, mushrooms, chocolate, and now works at a Manhattan in San Francisco. Singer/song- Spring 1996 cheeses, chestnuts).” Tim law firm. She and her husband, writer Valerie Orth gave a Class Agent: Bailey McCallum, Kidman (camp staff ’97) earned a Carlos, live in Jersey City. memorable performance at the [email protected] master’s degree in environmental Kirsten Klimt Zefting 20 Years of MCS Reunion in science and management at the completed her first half-marathon August ’08 (hear her at Lucy Diekmann (camp ’94) University of California, Santa and likes her work as a physical http://valerieorth.com). Jamie married Lee Panich in June ’08. Barbara, and is working on devel- therapist, but she and her Shutzer married Jenny Morgan They asked that guests give oping greenhouse gas offset husband are scheming a move on 8-29-09 on Cape Cod. They donations to Chewonki to standards in Los Angeles with the west from Syracuse, NY, to “put are now the proud parents of support MCS, the MCS Scholar- California Climate Action down some roots that stick.” Julian, born 9-22-10. Tessa van ship Fund, or the Andrews Fund, Registry. Merrielle MacLeod der Werff Abbott (camp staff in lieu of wedding presents. has been living in Washington, MCS 14 ’01) and her husband, Robert, are Thank you so much, Lucy and D.C., and working for the World Spring 1995 busy with farming and marketing, Lee! Kyle Durrie spent a year in Wildlife Fund since receiving her Class Agents: Erika Brown, although Robert recently found Asheville, NC, working at a master’s degree from Brown [email protected]; & time to write a magazine article letterpress print shop. He has University. “I am definitely Colby McGavin, about his grandfather. Arianne moved to a winery in Washington dreaming of when I can move [email protected] Zwartjes lives with her “sweetie where he spends “most of my somewhere that is quiet and and their two dogs” in Tucson, days stomping grapes and starry at night but in the Jess Brakeley LeClair and her AZ, where she teaches English at wandering around outside” and is meantime things are fine here,” husband, Matt, live in Durham, the University of Arizona and setting up his own letterpress she writes. Morley McBride is at ME, where Jess has started her Pima Community College. She print shop. Lizzy Grubin works the Yale School of Management own photography studio, Jess also leads courses for NOLS and on urban environmental policy in after living in Aspen, CO, LeClair Photography. “Check is an EMT teaching wilderness San Francisco. Annie Levy working for an environmental out: www.jessleclair.com,” writes medicine courses for the Wilder- moved to San Francisco after research and consulting firm, Jess. “I do portraits, events, ness Medicine Institute. Her first living in India researching and Rocky Mountain Institute, and weddings, and photo restoration. collection of poetry, (Stitched) A monitoring education initiatives the Aspen Art Museum. Two of I even offer discounts for MCS Surface Opens, was published by for seasonal migrant communi- her roommates in Aspen were alums!” Cynthia Rothschild New Michigan Press. ties. She’s working for a Allison Lassiter and Bailey

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McCallum (MCS 16)! Page California, Thailand, and Massa- programs, and events promoting McClean (MCS faculty ’03–’04) chusetts; the School of Natural ecumenical contemplative inquiry studied non-fiction writing and Cookery in Colorado; a story- into the science of mind,” writes editing at the Salt Institute for telling course in England; and Nick. He wants “to build a cedar Documentary Studies in studies in “eurythmy” at the yurt in the Pacific Northwest and Portland, ME, and was recently Rudolf Steiner College in Sacra- get off the grid as soon as in Argentina. Rose Minier still mento. “I feel like I am jumping possible!” lives in Seattle, where as a grass- into the deep end of the richest roots organizer she led many compost bin with tinted goggles,” MCS 19 different aspects of the Obama writes Geoff, “but I am pretty Fall 1997 campaign, including helping to sure they have little windshield Class Agent: Josie Rodberg, set up the meeting Obama had wipers and solar-paneled rims, [email protected] with Crow tribe elders. She’s and I know I can swim, so I’m not considering further adventures too scared.” Michaela Andrews lives in into politics. Youssof Nadiri Nachiket Pandya and Chloe Stevenson. Providence, RI, where she graduated from the University of MCS 18 teaches middle-school English California, Berkeley, then spent a Spring 1997 written by Peter Field called and history at the Lincoln School, year in his native Afghanistan Class Agent: Sarah Klain, Wolfe Sings Field. Henry performs an all-girls Quaker school for working for the UN and [email protected] under the name “Henry Wolfe.” grades K–12. She spent three American University. He’s hoping You can hear two songs, weeks in Japan with the Japan to work in the field of environ- Amanda Aikman is a lawyer at “Birdseeds” and “Nobody Does Fulbright program and enjoys mental education. Stewart Peery the Department of Justice. She Nothing,” on Henry Wolfe’s incorporating that experience teaches biology at Charlotte married Stephen Townley (boys music page. Sarah Klain (camp into her classes. Brewster Country Day School in camp ’92–’94) in August ’08. staff ’97–’99) is in a master’s McCall is an actor and bartender Charlotte, NC, where his wife, Nicole Casper is studying for program at the Institute for in NYC. His family has released Ellen Runnels, teaches English. her master’s degree in marine and Resources, Environment, and its first vintage of wine from their Jesse Reich (boys camp ’88, ’90, estuarine science at Western Sustainability at the University of farm on the North Fork of Long ’93; camp staff ’97, ’98, ’01), who Washington University in British Columbia. Sierra, who is a Island, NY, and they are still believes that “Orchard House Bellingham, WA. Jaed Coffin’s fellow student there, gave Sarah a converting the farm to wind rules,” got his Ph.D. in chemistry first book, A Chant to Soothe Wild good welcome to Vancouver. power. Jess Rochester is earning from Texas A & M University and Elephants, received very positive Sarah Low lives in Venice, CA, a master’s degree in public health is an assistant professor of reviews and launched Jaed’s with husband Michael Cyrulnik, from the University of chemistry at Massachusetts national book tour. He and his whom she married in October Minnesota. “Aside from class Maritime Academy. He has wife live in Portland, ME, where ’07. Sarah is doing post-produc- work, I keep busy with paid work started two businesses: Berkshire they are enjoying daughter Jae- tion work on television at a food bank doing development Community Wind Power and Yen, born 7-21-08. Her name commercials while she plans her and hanging out in all of the Baystate Biofuels, a 10-million- means “‘cool heart,’ ‘cool’ as in a next move. Chad Martin lives in urban nooks and crannies of gallon-per-year biodiesel facility summer breeze,” writes Jaed. His NYC with his wife and young Minneapolis and the wonderful in Massachusetts. He is also next book will be about “rough- daughter and works for a state parks,” writes Jess. Becky running for state representative. house boxing” in Alaska. Sierra management consulting firm with Seel is also studying public health Jesse and his “very understanding, Curtis-McLane is studying how a client base consisting of social- at the University of Minnesota, patient, and charming” wife, trees are expected to migrate in sector entities in the US and and she’s enjoying Minneapolis Alene, live in Ayer, MA, with new response to climate change as Canada. “Chewonki lit a spark with her husband, Jared daughter Isabella, born March part of her Ph.D. program at the causing me to spend years Goodman. Chloe Stevenson ’10. Molly Rosenman left University of British Columbia in working in and around the (camp staff ’98–’02) sent happy Wyoming (“sleeping in, spending Vancouver. “My partner, Denny, nonprofit sector,” writes Chad. news of her marriage to Nachiket long, lovely hours hiking in my and I stay sane by doing fieldwork Katie McAlaine has taught social Pandya on 7-23-09. favorite mountains”) to begin in the summers and by biking to studies and art at the Deep Creek graduate school in Boston. She school and hitting the mountain Middle School in South MCS 20 invites MCS folk to make use of bike and backcountry ski trails,” Eleuthera, the Bahamas. With Spring 1998 “the most comfortable sofa in the writes Sierra. Lauren Downey Katie’s help, two girls and two Class Agents: Marley Aloe, whole world” if they are in the teaches Latin at Needham (MA) boys from Deep Creek came to [email protected]; & Boston area. Carter Scott lives in High School. Her two parrots, camp at Chewonki last summer. Kerry Quinn Granfield, Portland, ME, with her longtime Lucy and Olive, keep her Chartey Quarcoo (advisor) and [email protected] partner and works for First Wind, company while she’s grading his wife, Ashley McCants, who a wind development company. papers. Anne Figge earned a met at Harvard University, are Jenny Olmsted Herring (boys Nalyn Siripong works for master of science degree in inter- living in Washington, D.C., camp staff ’98) married “the most UNAIDS on a joint national development from the where Chartey works at a law wonderful Renaissance man” in UNAIDS/ADB project in University of Bristol, England, firm. Elise Trucks (camp staff March ’08 and also became Bangkok. Billy Wailand and his before working for the nonprofit ’98) is studying for her master’s curator at the Coastal Georgia wife, Heidi, have moved to the organization Five Talents in degree in art history in London. Historical Society. Malin Pinsky great state of Alaska, where Billy Tanzania. Her husband, a bone Nick Vail is the operations (Wilderness Trips ’94) and his is practicing law. Geoff Wood surgeon, joined her en route to manager at Seattle’s Nalanda wife, Kristin Hunter-Thomson, has followed a path that’s already Malawi. Henry Gummer West, “a Buddhist meditation whom he met at Williams included massage training in recorded an album of songs center that offers classes, College, married in August ’09.

38 / Chewonki Chronicle They asked wedding guests to giving for Harvard Law School, working as the director of major lenging.” Lindsey Horton make donations to Chewonki in when she reported to his office as gifts for Teach for America. moved back from the Marshall lieu of gifts. Thank you, Malin the new in-house website coordi- Islands after three years and and Kristin! Chewonki nator. “It’s a little chilly, so I’m MCS 23 enrolled in a program in global “continues to echo and resonate wearing my green fleece Fall 1999 environmental health at Emory through my life and the paths Chewonki vest,” Charlie Class Agent: Ariane Lotti, University. “I spend most of my that I choose,” writes Malin. recounts. “The web designer [email protected] free time studying,” she writes, They are living in Monterey, CA, shows up and sees the Chewonki “but have also decided to train for where Kristin is getting a master’s emblem and says, ‘Oh! You went Marselle Alexander-Ozinskas my first half-marathon and am degree in marine science while to Chewonki? So did I!’ Eliza said got her master of science degree working to start a mentoring Malin works on his Ph.D. in that Chewonki was a life- from Brown University after program for high school girls biology. changing experience. She’s very studying nitrogen cycling and who are refugees from good at what she does and we’re climate change in arctic Alaska. Afghanistan, Pakistan, East MCS 21 fortunate to have her here.” Kate She then studied community- Africa, etc.” She and her sister, Fall 1998 Petersen (boys camp staff ’99– managed marine protected areas Lauren Horton (MCS 29), Class Agent: Malia Haddock, ’00) lives in California but “feels in Senegal with the World recently enjoyed a trip through [email protected] an undeniable pull to move back Wildlife Fund and worked as an Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. to the East Coast,” she says. “I environmental legislative assistant Enyi Koene (advisor) studied for Matt Altman has been studying have numerous animal friends, in the office of Congresswoman a graduate degree while enjoying hard at Harvard Medical School including felines, canines, Madeleine Z. Bordallo (Guam), the local culture in Poitiers, but found time to plant “a horsines, and ratines.” Raisa chair of the Subcommittee on France. Tyler Lewis lives in sizeable patch of corn, butternut Rexer (boys camp staff ’99, ’01) Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans. Boston’s South End and works on squash, peas, sunflowers, dinosaur and her husband, Wesley Tate, Meredith Benedict is an invest- the trading floor for Fidelity kale, and the like in the Fenway live in Brooklyn. Spencer Taylor ment analyst in the energy Investments “for the fixed- just across from my apartment,” (boys camp ’95–’98) married program at Innovation Works. income sales people and traders.” he writes. “City officials were not Serena Hollmeyer in September The program provides funding He skis whenever he can. Devon amused.” Ella Goodbrod teaches ’08 before “numerous MCSers, and services for energy companies Liddell won a Fulbright grant to outdoor education and ecology at including Margie, Malia in southwestern PA. Writes do research on Moroccan immi- Prescott College. Margie Haddock, Kate, and Raisa. It was Meredith, “I find it really exciting gration to southern Spain and Graham (boys camp staff ’99), the best party ever and Andrew’s work…. I am helping spawn tech- hopes to get a Ph.D. in anthro- who finished two years in the sister, Amanda Gustafson, was the nologies that could have a pology. Ariane Lotti (boys camp Peace Corps, is “living in lead singer in the band!” dramatic impact on the regional staff ’01) was an intern with the NYC…happily in law school, economy as well as radically alter National Sustainable Agriculture making time for long walks in MCS 22 our relationship with the environ- Coalition in Washington, D.C., Central Park, quiet dinners in Spring 1999 ment.” Andy Colbert is happily before working on a Hell’s Kitchen, and…more walks Class Agent: Louisa Pitt, married to Dana Schifman “community-supported agricul- in Central Park!” Andrew [email protected] Colbert, living on NYC’s Upper ture” farm in the heart of corn Gustafson (boys camp, Wilder- East Side, and working in health- country in Iowa. While there, she ness Trips ’95–’98) has been Clare Creighton loves life in care mergers and acquisitions. wrote a column for the environ- “thinking a lot about energy- Oregon and is finishing graduate Rosie Dent, who lives in Quito, mental blog Grist. She is now in sustainable-architecture” and has school in the Student Services Ecuador, works as a clinical trials Washington, serving as a senior “tentative plans to collaborate Administration. Emily Isaacson monitor. Liz Dyke lives in policy analyst at the Organic with my state senators to launch received a master’s degree in Greenwich, CT, and works at Farming Research Foundation, the project soon.” Julia Judson- choral conducting from the Greenwich Academy. She focused on helping to develop Rea (boys camp staff ’99) University of Oregon and is now manages to see Ginger Walsh organic policy positions for Farm attended a conference in Turkey a doctoral candidate at the Larsen (MCS 19), who was her Bill 2012. Will Morris is on a “new conservation ethic” University of Illinois at Urbana- proctor at Deerfield Academy, finishing up his master’s degree in and enjoyed seeing “old friends Champaign. She got married in often. Mia Farber does outreach, chemical engineering at the and hearing about their projects Maine over the summer. Jon marketing, and public relations University of Utah. His research in environment and community Perez earned a master’s degree in for Pennsylvania’s organic focuses on oxy-fuel combustion, a development in the Middle East.” English and American studies at farmers with the Pennsylvania promising technique for carbon Julia’s been working on a master’s the University of Virginia and is Association for Sustainable Agri- capture and sequestration. degree in Pittsburgh. Hannah now part of the new class of culture. She writes, “I feel great Megan Nuttall is working her Kapell (boys camp staff ’99–’03) Ph.D. students at Rutgers having found my professional way toward a midwifery degree in continues to live in Portland, OR, University, where he will be niche in ‘green’ PR…. Pennsyl- Toronto while also loving life on where she’s putting to good use pursuing his doctorate “under the vania residents should check out her sheep farm. Julia O’Hern her master’s degree in planning. guidance of an interdisciplinary www.buylocalpa.org to find out spends a lot of time at sea while Her specialty is bike transporta- faculty dedicated to social change about their abundant local she works on her Ph.D. in tion planning, and you can see and progress.” Jon lives in options!” Rebecca Garfield oceanography from Texas A & M the kind of work she does at the Brooklyn. Chris Shutzer teaches Spanish at Kimball Union University. Her field research website of Alta Planning and married Georgia Walle in Academy in New Hampshire. focuses on the ocean between Design. Eliza Mitchell met September ’07. Chris is a student “I’m also attending a Mandarin Ecuador and the Galapagos, Charlie Gordy (boys camp ’69– of counseling psychology for Chinese class with the high where she studies whale habitat. ’75; boys camp staff ’89–’92; adolescents at Harvard; Georgia school students,” says Rebecca, Andrew Schapiro is a designer at advisor), the director of planned is finishing business school while “which has been fun and chal- Chronicle Books in San

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Francisco. “We publish really lives just a few blocks away from terrific books,” he writes, “and fellow MCSers Kate Moller and I’m proud that there is quite an Paige Ieradi, with whom he effort to be eco-conscious, even regularly meets at Starbucks for a though our products are all “Chew and Chat.” Kate loves printed on paper.” Andrew has a Manhattan, where she and her huge garden, “sure to bring me mother, Dr. Christiane Northrup, back to the days of compost and run Team Northrup (www.team- dirt on the knees.” Ellie Shepard northrup.com), which combines lives in New Zealand, where she women’s entrepreneurship and is engaged to a Kiwi and works as wellness. Allie Silverman has a travel agent in Queenstown. been working on energy policy She’s a bungee-jumper and issues in Chile. “It would be great skydiver on her days off. Callie if Chewonki alumni could be Gates Slocum (boys camp staff made aware of an absurd mega- ’00) married Jason Slocum, whom hydroelectric scheme slated for she met at Bowdoin College, in Patagonia,” writes Allie. “This June ’08. Jason attends Harvard project would not only destroy Business School, and Callie works the beauty, ecological value, and at New Profit, a venture philan- uniqueness of Chilean Patagonia thropy firm in Cambridge. but also set a precedent for unsus- Caroline Clark Sterkel got tainable energy development in married in Vail, CO, in July ’08. the region” (see www.savebio- She still teaches and leads hut gems.org/patagonia/slideshow). trips at Vail Mountain School. Liz Tunick finally left New York MCS 25 Maggie Simon and Georgia Green. and is back in New England, Fall 2000 getting a master’s degree in the Class Agent: M. A. Moutoussis, “really geeky start-ups get talked several other organizations history of art at Williams College. [email protected]; about in the press and online.” important to them. Thank you, After living in Guatemala, & Chris White, Betsy Bradford also lives in San Zach and Kate! Zach and Dylan Marissa Vahlsing returned to the [email protected] Francisco; she works at Bain as a Bosseau (MCS 8) are part of the U.S. by riding a bicycle through management consultant. Remy same trapeze and acrobatics Baja California and now attends Stephanie Kellam married Mansfield (boys camp ’94, ’95, group, LAVA. Elsie White (boys Harvard Law School. She wants Chris White in Charleston, SC, ’97–’99; boys camp staff ’00–’03, camp staff ’02, ’03) is in a master’s to emerge as a human rights in March ’08. Congratulations to ’05) moved to Sausalito, CA, degree program in Spanish and lawyer ready to litigate cases both! Dave Liebowitz teaches where he’s exploring nearby Portuguese in Bloomington, IN, to hold corporations more high-school English in New trails and the Sierras. “I’ve and also teaches Spanish to accountable. Orleans. “Having students read been keeping busy with a college freshmen. Thoreau’s ‘Walking’… tends to digital storytelling project MCS 24 bring me back to New England (http://themodernstory.wordpress MCS 27 Spring 2000 enough to make the bayou swamp .com/) that I co-founded in Fall 2001 Class Agent: Nora Gouge, bearable,” he writes. M.A. India earlier this year,” writes Class Agent: Chris Clark, [email protected] Moutoussis has resigned from Remy. “A lot of what I learned [email protected] PETS2VETS to pursue a from working at Chewonki… Rich Crowley is getting a master’s degree. Molly Wilson is profoundly impacted me in a Alden Alexander has worked as a master’s degree in environmental a teacher and dorm parent, “one positive way and now I’m looking deckhand on a Ron Holland 72- management at Duke University. of the hardest jobs you’ll ever to apply that somewhere else.” ft. sailboat in the Caribbean; When not studying, he plays love,” at Shady Side Academy Day Peery has been in Charlotte, raced on boats out of Newport, defense on the Duke hockey in Pittsburgh, PA, one of NC, since graduating from Elon RI; served on the race crew of the team. Miki Glasser lives in New Chewonki’s member schools. University and works for a 134-ft. schooner Altair from Orleans and would love to host recruiting firm. Annie Stamell France; and helped deliver a Swan any alums volunteering in that MCS 26 (Wilderness Trips ’98, ’99) lives 70-ft. to Sicily, Italy. She hopes city. Nora Gouge completed her Spring 2001 in Santa Monica, CA. She and “to do a few more boat deliveries” master’s degree at New York Class Agent: Andrea LaRosa, Alexander White work at the and then return to the Mediter- University and is getting her [email protected] same representation company, ranean. Alvydas Alexander- doctorate in clinical psychology at where he is in film finance while Ozinskas is studying holistic and Yeshiva University. Charlie BJ Atchley received a Fulbright Annie works in market research herbal sciences at Bastyr Univer- Hudson (boys camp ’91–’93, ’95– grant to do research in India. and consulting. Zach Strass- sity in Seattle. Rosie Bogan ’99; camp staff ’02, ’03) spent two Lucy Baumrind works for an burger, who lives in Brooklyn, works at Columbia Medical years teaching English in Japan athletic/cultural/educational works at the Legal Aid Society Center in NYC. Megan and is now a freelance videogra- nonprofit in the Vail (CO) Valley, helping poor people gain access Flenniken, who graduated from pher living in Maine. Noah Levy, where she skis on the weekends. to public health insurance. Zach Mt. Holyoke, is studying marine senior editor at In Touch Weekly, Nadja Blagojevic lives in San married Kate Jenkins in October biology at Stony Brook Univer- likes spending time with his dog, Francisco and works for a small ’10. They asked their guests to sity. Laura Hartz (boys camp Sophie, and boyfriend, Luke. He public relations firm that helps make donations to Chewonki and staff ’04) earned a master of

40 / Chewonki Chronicle science degree from the in Wellfleet, MA, where Elspeth break. Zach Goodnough, Life is not just good, it is stupen- Friedman School of Nutrition is a food writer and creator of another Colby grad, is studying dous!” Craig Hanson has taught Science and Policy at Tufts “The Local Food Report,” a in Nanjing at the Hopkins- science at Windham (ME) High University. She also spent a weekly radio show on NPR Nanjing Center for U.S.-China School. Rachel Hiles graduated summer in Maine working for affiliate WCAI. You can find a Studies. Emily Guerin (boys from Bates College and then Outward Bound in the North link to the show at her blog camp staff ’04) spent a summer in traveled from Alaska to India. Woods. Sasha Shyduroff works (www.dairyofalocavore.com). Jed Chile before returning to She’s headed to Europe and then for the Sierra Student Coalition, Weeks lives in Newark, DE, and Bowdoin College to write her home to NYC. Barbara Johnson the youth chapter of the Sierra has worked for the Democratic thesis on the Chilean forestry graduated from Hobart and Club. The coalition’s goal is to nominee for governor. He also industry. Rock climbing, environ- William Smith Colleges, train young people to be leaders tends “a big garden full of rapidly mental education, and writing completed a summer internship in energy and climate change dying vegetables.” continue to inspire her. Danielle at the Museum of Modern Art in issues. Maggie Simon is a full- Horowitz, after graduating from NYC, and is now the education time waitress and student of MCS 29 Lafayette College, was an intern coordinator at the Cathedral horticulture in Philadelphia. She Fall 2002 at the Democratic Legislative Church of Saint John the Divine is most interested “in the art of Class Agents: Nellie Black, Campaign Committee in Wash- on NYC’s Upper West Side. growing plants that feed people” [email protected]; Cara ington, D.C. She’s headed to Allison Klein graduated from and also likes aerial circus arts, Brody, [email protected]; Temuco, Chile, thanks to a Middlebury College with a acro-yoga, and indoor rock & Greg Daggett, Fulbright ETA fellowship. Lily degree in environmental studies climbing. Somehow she ended up [email protected] Mitchell (boys camp staff ’03) and geology. She’s hoping to on a camel with Georgia Green finished her studies in human pursue work and study related to in Israel (see photo)! Emily Nellie Black writes that all is biology at Stanford University sustainable/green architecture in Wellington and her boyfriend well in NYC. Cara Brody and is living with 11 roommates NYC and Paris. Nick Kruse is own an acre of land just outside (Wilderness Trips ’99–’02; boys in Palo Alto. She’s interested in waiting tables in Bethlehem, PA, Bozeman, MT, in the direction of camp staff ’03–’05) graduated public health, especially preventa- while contemplating a creative Big Sky. Emily has done from Skidmore College before tive care for conditions such as future, perhaps in architecture. rangeland health surveys for the heading to Los Angeles, where diabetes and obesity. James Lindsay Leone graduated from Bureau of Land Management and she enjoyed an internship helping Monaco graduated with high Dartmouth College, where she completed a stewardship appren- to produce the Emmy Awards. distinction and honors in was an earth science major with a ticeship at the Gallatin Valley Willy Crichton spent a summer chemical engineering from Penn minor in environmental studies. Land Trust. in Berlin, “speaking German and State’s Schreyer Honors College After a stint in South Africa, enjoying a city that’s full of wild and is now studying at Penn State where she explored Kruger MCS 28 activity,” as well as gathering Hershey College of Medicine. National Park, Namibia, and Spring 2002 information for his Bard College Matt Stenovec is a teaching Swaziland, Lindsay is working on Class Agent: Ellie Stewart, thesis on “the use of the intern in Nevada City, CA, at the her law school applications. Jason [email protected] Prometheus myth through Woolman Semester, a program Lilley is training for Peace Corps German literature of the past 200 for high-school juniors, seniors, service in Paraguay, where he’ll Jacob Dana (boys camp staff ’02) years!” Greg Daggett is in a and post-grads focusing on peace, be involved with agriculture and is taking time off from school and veterinary medical science justice, and sustainability. Pippa environmental conservation. works for a small company that program at Drexel University, White (boys camp staff ’04, ‘05) Tommy Otey graduated from makes water bottles in Boulder, thinking about vet school, and has settled into NYC after a Warren Wilson College and CO. Matt Dillon is a senior training for triathlons. Katie hiking/biking trip in Greece and served as a NOAA marine project associate, doing land Eberle lives in Emeryville, CA, time spent on the Obama fisheries biologist on a commer- acquisitions in New York, for the and works for a green-energy campaign in central Florida. cial fishing boat in the Bering Sea Trust for Public Land. In June ’09 consulting firm called Heschong before joining the Western he married Justina Kaminskaite in Mahone Group (HMG). She’s MCS 30 Center for Integrated Resource Vilnus, Lithuania. Jon Guss, a researching climate, heating, and Spring 2003 Management at Colorado State member of AmeriCorps, is cooling systems for the State of Class Agents: Will Davidson, University. Lieutenant John Pitts working as an education coordi- California, a job with “potential [email protected]; Kiira studied landscape design at nator at a historical museum in for true impact on how buildings Heyman, [email protected]; & Auburn University and completed the North Bend/Coos Bay region get permitted and what materials Olivia Sideman, U.S. Army officer candidate of the Oregon coast. He may also must be used,” she says. Corinne [email protected] school before accepting a be found “hiking through lush Fay (boys camp staff ’03, ’04) commission as an officer for a forests with giant trees, on graduated from Smith College Dylan Atchley graduated from field artillery unit in Elba, AL. sandstone cliffs overlooking the and works full-time for a food Bates College with a degree in Evan Schnidman (boys camp Pacific Ocean, or sand-boarding and cooking website called biology and is working as a ’98, ’99) is working hard at on our local network of ridiculous Cookthink.com. Christina Feng, researcher in the public health Harvard University for a Ph.D. in giant sand dunes.” Blair Lamb having graduated from Colby and science programs at the government. He’s already has been teaching in Princeton, College, is teaching high-school Natural Resources Defense received a B.A. in political science NJ, but is contemplating a move social studies in NYC through Council in Washington, D.C. and a master’s in political to Boulder, CO. Elspeth Pierson Teach for America. Caroline Will Davidson writes, “I economy and public administra- married Alex Hay on 11-7-09 in Goodbody works as a field currently reside in a tent, a tion. Bessie Schwarz works for Brunswick, ME, with Casey organizer for the Colorado luxurious canvas-wall tent…. Green Corps, a field school for Harwood and Lauren Miller in Democratic Party and heads to Whitman College was fooled into environmental organizing. Jesse attendance. Elspeth and Alex live the mountains when she needs a hiring me as a geology technician. Shapell (boys camp ’95–’99;

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Wilderness Trips ’00; boys camp works at a veterinary hospital. staff ’02–’05, ’07), “after much “Staying in Texas has allowed me time in flux with school and the to expand my small snake world,” is now back at Oberlin breeding program,” writes Luke. College getting his Latin degree He has a pair of corn snakes and and hoping to become a teacher. Nicaraguan boas. Olivia Sideman is also at Oberlin, playing a lot of MCS 31 “Ultimate” and anticipating a trip Fall 2003 to Thailand, where she will be Class Agents: Sarah Kirk, volunteering on a permaculture [email protected]; & Ben McGee, farm in a sustainable community [email protected] on the Thailand/Myanmar border that serves as an Hilary Best writes, “Missing the orphanage for Burmese refugees. warmth of the Binnacle Seth Silverman (Renewable woodstove…. Into the home Energy Fellow, Semester 38; stretch at McGill, serving as an former advisor) has finished a environmental reporter for a fascinating stint at the White campus publication and working House Council on Environmental away on my thesis on an ecolog- Quality, supporting the Intera- ical economics approach to land MCS 33 and 34 reunion. gency Climate Change use around Toronto.” Axie Adaptation Task Force—“the first Blundon is pursuing a bachelor’s MCS 32 sity, was camping beside the comprehensive effort to develop of business administration in Spring 2004 Penobscot River in Maine when federal recommendations for business management with a Class Agents: Julian Holland, she ran into Dave Wells (MCS adapting to climate-change minor in music industry at James [email protected]; & Molly 33) and Noah Isaacson (MCS impacts,” on both the domestic Madison University in Virginia. Martin, [email protected] 34). They shared a great meal and and international fronts. Seth just He’s also managing and a campfire. Nina Murray (boys moved to Bungoma, Kenya, to performing with his own band, Dave Brodell graduated from camp staff ’08) is studying in work for the One Acre Fund, “a 4DROCK!, raising Highland Washington University with a Ireland, where she’s soaking up young organization that works to cattle, and playing the bagpipes. degree in biology and women and the traditional music. Liz provide smallholder farmers with “Constantly reminded of the gender studies. Contemplating O’Neill, a Colby College access to the resources and amazing experiences in Maine, medical school, he’s chosen student, is studying English at support they need to double their both at camp and during my time instead to work at Bank of Oxford University. Grace farm income.” Tessa Solomon- in the dream world that is MCS,” America in Charlotte, NC, Rumford took a semester away Lane graduated from Vassar writes Axie. Tressa Eaton inspired in part by his fascination from Middlebury College, where College with a degree in neuro- enjoyed working at Gourmet in with the unfolding economic she’s focusing on geography, to science and behavior and then NYC “and getting to see Jill crisis. Katie Chomiak is a senior study in Argentina. worked at a biology field station Lingenfelter and Peter Kurtz in at Penn State, pursuing her studying the hormonal control of the city…[and] Olivia Dooley interest in communications and MCS 33 maternal behavior in salamanders. every day at school!” Ellen public service. Leading up to the Fall 2004 Dan West has been working as a Flenniken graduated from presidential election of ’08, Katie Class Agents: Bryce Koukopoulos, teacher and assistant coach for Middlebury College after attended both major party [email protected]; & the World Class Kayak Academy, studying international relations conventions with Andrea Mitchell Jasmine Smith, [email protected] which takes him all over the and Chinese and hopes to do from NBC. Sarah Dobro has world. He’s been teaching international environmental studied biology and English at A merry band of MCS 33 alums physics, geometry, literature, work. Sarah Kirk is researching Skidmore College and is thinking came together on the Neck for Spanish, and videography, as well urban development and designing about medical school. Emily the Five-Year Reunion in early as coaching. “Just the other costumes for student plays during Grady is an environmental June. Among those in attendance: night,” writes Dan, “after surfing her last year at Middlebury studies major at Bates College, Ellie Bomstein, Lisa Dadian, on the beach in Oaxaca, we got to College. Danielle Layton is concentrating in global environ- Hannah Gallo, Jane Koopman, see a hatch of baby sea turtles studying at the University of St. ment and social change. Emily Matt Larkin, Mikayla Lytton, make their way across the sand Andrews in Scotland, “after a Tupper Jackson works in the Ruth Sawyer, Rachel Schwerin, and into the ocean.” Casey difficult year of health problems. Wise Lab of Genetic & Environ- and Evie Smith. Ellie wrote to Whittier ran an arts program for As I find my feet again, I’m in my mental Toxicology at the Chewonki president Willard homeless and at-risk youth in bliss hiking in the Highlands.” University of Southern Maine. Morgan afterward: “So many Kansas City before returning to Hannah Waters is headed to She helped fundraise for the RV subtle parts of the semester did Maine to become assistant Costa Rica over winter break to Odyssey, which was scheduled to not impact me at the time…. manager for the Center for research leaf-cutting ants—a big collect tissue samples from Upon returning for the reunion, I Maine Craft in West Gardiner. change from college in marine organisms before and began to see what you and the Luke Yoder graduated from Minnesota! after exposure to oil and oil- rest of my semester experience Baylor University with a B.S. in cleaning chemicals in the Gulf of did for me…the sense of environmental science and now Mexico. Maria McMorrow, community, the connection to the who’s studying environmental land, the deliberateness that goes science at Mount Allison Univer- into each decision.”

42 / Chewonki Chronicle Max Cady is finishing Macalester social studies to sixth, seventh, Alexander-Ozinskas studied graduating from Bates College College with a bachelor’s degree and eighth graders in Northeast earth systems, specializing in and is now assistant media in psychology. Lisa Dadian is Harbor, ME. She’s a student ocean studies, at Stanford Univer- planner at Universal McCann. working with special-needs herself, taking education classes sity. She’s now back at Chewonki He has also co-created a clothing children on Cape Cod. Jane part-time at nearby College of as a teaching fellow in mathe- label, JAQK Apparel. Emily Koopman (boys camp staff ’08, the Atlantic. She taught at matics in the semester school! Kuehn had a summer job in Utah ’10) is sailing and kayaking when Chewonki Camp for Girls this Caroline Beattie graduated with working “on a small aquaponics she’s not hitting the books at summer. David Wells is in his a degree in Spanish from St. Olaf system for a summer camp that Bowdoin College. She enjoyed senior year at Bowdoin College. College and moved to St. Paul, grows fish and vegetables in a re- being back at Chewonki for her Last summer he raft-guided on MN, where she’ll be a literacy circulating aquaculture system,” summer job. Mattias Lanas the Penobscot River and worked tutor (grades K–3) with the she writes. “These systems reuse loved his gap year in South at Chewonki’s Big Eddy Camp- Minnesota Literacy Council’s water by establishing a complete America (mostly Ecuador). ground. AmeriCorps program. She’s nitrogen cycle, so I set one up in More recently, he’s worked as a become a passionate ice-hockey the kitchen of my house and have field assistant at a research MCS 34 player! Chris Biddle writes, been enjoying fresh lettuce all station in southern Arizona (see Spring 2005 “The more time that passes since year.” Cloe Shasha (Wilderness www.stanford.edu/group/seeds/ Class Agents: Alex Beecher, I was there, the more I feel as Trips ’02, ’03) spent the summer photos.html). Matt Larkin and [email protected]; & Liz though I was part of something at ABC News as an intern Alec Morrison rode their bikes Franchot, [email protected] really important out there in the reporter and writer. At Middle- from Maine to Georgia starting woods. I’m so proud of what we bury College, Cloe enjoys writing right here on Chewonki Neck. Among those from Semester 34 learned there.” Chris is a nonfic- for the newspaper, playing in the After Matt hurt his knee, they who made it to Chewonki for the tion writer at Warren Wilson band, and singing in an all-female resorted to hitchhiking to get to Five-Year Reunion in June were College. Find his blog at a cappella group. Katherine California. Katrina Moreno Peter Eustis, Liz Franchot, http://othersidechina.wordpress.c Ripullone is taking a year off writes, “Chewonki really sparked Peter Garber, Danny Growald, om. Danny Growald is in his from her British university to my environmental interest! I am Kit Hamley, Noah Isaacson, senior year at Princeton, where work on irrigation projects in the now a history major concen- Rachel Jacobs, Andrew Karp, he’s studying ecology and Dominican Republic and to serve trating in environmentalism and I Emily Kuehn, Stephanie evolution and very active in as a paramedic in Peru. will be studying sustainability and Schmiege, Cloe Shasha, Sarah climate-change issues. Kit human ecology in the Brazilian Smith, and David Sonneborn. It Hamley (boys camp staff ’09, MCS 35 rainforest.” Mary Ellen Pearce was a great weekend! girls camp staff ’10) is studying Fall 2005 spent a semester in Ecuador tropical ecology and conservation Class Agent: Cameron McKnight, studying ecology and conserva- Zarine Alam had a wonderful in Costa Rica. Rachel Jacobs is [email protected] tion through the School for summer in NYC with Kate Bell- enjoying an academic semester in International Training. “Many Hart, Sally Lemonick, Annika Singapore and plans to visit the Becca Abuza worked at aspects of the program reminded Alexander-Ozinskas,andCloe dragons in Komodo National Chewonki Camp for Girls for her me of MCS,” noted Mary Ellen, Shasha. Zarine is now studying in Park in Indonesia. Andrew Karp third straight summer. Lilly “especially our field trips to many London for a semester. Annika moved to Portland, ME, after Betke-Brunswick also worked different ecosystems.” Taylor Phillips spent the summer in Yellowstone National Park. Ian Rutkowski is focused on envi- ronmental studies and botany at Save the Date! the University of Pittsburgh. His particular interest is farm MCS 35 & 36 ALUMS strategic planning. Evie Smith is taking a year off from the Univer- sity of California, Davis, and Have you milked a cow lately, spent works as an intern at the Boothbay Region Land Trust, time weeding carrots, or done a trying to get local high-school seniors out of the classroom and polar bear swim? Your chance to into a community-based mentor- reconnect with your MCS classmates ship program. The land trust has a scholarship for students headed and with Chewonki is approaching! to Chewonki Semester School! Jaz Smith (Canoe Expedition for Come to your Five-Year Reunion on Maine Girls ’04; boys camp staff

’05; girls camp staff ’08, ’09; the weekend of June 10–12, 2011! RHAN FLATIN advisor) taught environmental science at the Woolman More details will be forthcoming, but for now, mark your calendars. Semester, a Quaker school run by We hope to see you on the Neck next June! the Sierra Friends Center, before becoming a teacher of science and

Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 43 People

there, before returning to pates in the university’s Sustained friends and enjoyed catching up videos for NOLS in Wyoming. Carleton College, where she is Dialogue on Race. Teddy with president-elect Willard He worked on a great video of captain of the women’s ice- Newmyer, a student at Wesleyan Morgan, Jenn, and Sierra as well Jawali Sawicki (Wilderness Trips hockey team. Trafton Bean University, visited Chewonki last as Outdoor Classroom assistant ’94) that appears on the NOLS spent a summer studying in spring while his brother James director Emma Carlson, who website! Cammie Taylor is Shanghai, China, where he was a Semester 44 student. were leading a trip there with “enjoying and exploring the discovered that “having red hair Meredith Ruhl spent two Semester 44 students. Liddy Appalachian Mountains through and white skin makes you some summers in the Practical Farm Hepner attends Virginia Tech, environmental activism, sort of a celebrity.” He is now in Training Program at the Farm where she’s pursuing a degree in community service, work, and his last year at the University of School in Athol, MA. She is a biology in the college of science. classes” at Warren Wilson Oregon. Linnea Paton spent a student at Wellesley College. Ailsa McCulloch is spending the College. She’s also “addressing semester in Morocco and wrote Rebecca Siegel enjoyed working fall studying with an international the global food distribution issue about her experiences at at Chewonki Camp for Girls last group of students in Norway. at a local level through Food Not www.moroccoa08.blogspot.com. summer, while her younger sister Annie Sprogell is heading for Bombs, cooking otherwise She recently won an Honorable was a camper. France after having taught ‘dumpstered’ foods into delicious Mention from the Udall English in Uganda. Drew vegetarian meals to share with the Foundation. Elliot Steinhardt MCS 37 Tanabe was in Copenhagen with hungry of downtown Asheville, is a geography major at Clark Fall 2006 SustainUS and worked on finance NC.” Cammie is pursuing University, “studying global Class Agent: Lizzy Tarr, policy in the United Nations environmental studies with climate change and utopian [email protected] Framework Convention and the concentrations in environmental theory in urban reality!” Kyoto Protocol. He writes, “I’ve policy and sustainable agriculture Amanda Warren is at Karl Berger bumped into been looking at things like where and forestry. Middlebury College, where she is Willard Morgan at the Portland, all of the needed money will an environmental studies major ME, airport last winter, just as come from, how countries will MCS 40 with a concentration in conserva- Karl was heading back to Lewis raise it, and how it should be Spring 2008 tion biology. Over the summer and Clark College. Karl is effectively distributed on the Class Agents: Rachel Madding, she ran a children’s program at enjoying his studies and art. ground to help mitigate and adapt [email protected]; & Nick the college’s organic garden, and Tarara Deane-Krantz continues to climate change.” Zemora McLeod, [email protected] she lives in a student house that to work in the NYC mayor’s Tevah enjoyed worked with two serves primarily local food. office each summer and is active community-theater projects in Lucy Bates-Campbell is at Bowdoin College, managing a Puerto Rico during her gap year. enjoying art, theater, basketball, MCS 36 cafe and volunteering for Maine One project was a collective and “finding things I love about Spring 2006 State Representative Seth Berry. dance and theater experience with NYC and my school.” Audrey Class Agents: Teddy Newmyer, Maddie Hobbs graduated from university students; the other Boochever and Danny [email protected]; & Chelsea Milton Academy, then back- involved “working with inmates Forrester started a movement at Pompadur, [email protected] packed around Europe to to create a play together about their school called “Fossil Fuel celebrate. She’s now attending their experiences both inside and Free Fridays,” to encourage Kelly Canfield is pursuing a Emory University in Georgia. outside of the prison.” Zemora is students and teachers to carpool, double major at the University of Hugh McCormick returned to learning to play the banjo as she take the metro, bike, or walk to Maryland, combining civil and Chewonki, with his guitar, last prepares for Hampshire College. school one day a week. Gabriella environmental engineering with summer to serve as a counselor in Olivia Woollam is traveling in Gentile visited Chewonki in late agriculture and resource South Hall for Chewonki Camp Europe, relishing “time away summer to drop off her sister, economics. Her international for Boys. Irene Syphers finished from the frantic race to the finish Francesca, for the start of focus and work with Engineers high school by serving on the line that is the norm in American Semester 45. Douglas Gledhill is Without Borders and the Ashoka board of directors of the high schools.” immersed in life as a student in Foundation are taking her around Cathance River Education China. “There’s a lot to do here the world, including France, Alliance and organizing Live MCS 39 and almost everything is an Burkino Faso, and Peru. Cathy Maine, a festival on the Mall in Fall 2007 adventure,” he writes. Zoe Coursen went to Seoul, Korea, Brunswick, ME. She is now Class Agents: Dana Golden, Mason is taking a semester off to learn about NGOs and “sold studying environmental writing at [email protected]; & Maddy from Prescott College, working slush in a movie theater side-by- Unity College. Woodle, [email protected] at Treats in Wiscasset, and side a 12-foot-tall cardboard learning Italian at the Penobscot superhero.” She is now at Bard MCS 38 Angela Baglione has had some School, a language school in College, “studying psychology, Spring 2007 great mini-reunions with fellow Rockland, ME. Malcolm organizing film festivals, working Class Agent: Franklin Jacoby, MCSers, including Dana Richardson (Wilderness Trips as an EMT, and occasionally [email protected]; & Golden, Annelise Haskell, and ’08) is studying sculpture at the raking Chinua Achebe’s yard.” Maddy Schwartz, Wyatt Davis, who joined her for Putney School in Vermont and Marian Messing is happy at [email protected] the Head of the Charles crew mountain-biking whenever he Princeton University, where her races in Boston. Brooks Eaton can. Eliza Taylor came to favorite class of every semester is Laura Coyne is thriving at (boys camp staff & maintenance Chewonki in August to deliver Arabic. She volunteers for Earlham College in Indiana. staff ’09) spent part of his gap her younger sister, Lily, a Amnesty International, plays the Evan Deutsch showed up in year in Patagonia with NOLS. member of Semester 45. clarinet in a campus orchestra, is Cumberland Island, GA, last He’s also learning to cook and an academic tutor, and partici- spring with some Middlebury serving as an intern producing

44 / Chewonki Chronicle MCS 41 children in Uganda become more Fall 2008 financially independent through Class Agents: Kevin Coleman, education, vocational training, [email protected]; & Ali and loans.” She’s having a busy Connolly, [email protected] senior year running her own firewood business, Freerange Kevin Coleman began Colorado Firewood, and participating in her College in January and saw Environmental Field Studies Willard Morgan in September Club. Lauren Harris, having when Willard visited Colorado as jumped out of high school a year Chewonki’s new president. Fiona early, is enjoying being a student Haslett spent a summer at the at Bard College. Rachel Appalachian Mountain Club’s Kleinman attended CITYterm in Echo Lake Camp on Mt. Desert spring ’10 and now attends the Island, ME, and is now in Nepal. Colorado Rocky Mountain Hazel Jacoby worked as a farm School. Brett Miller, who is busy activity leader for Chewonki working on sustainability issues at Camp for Boys last summer, his school, Riverdale Country while John Russell served as a School, took time to deliver his counselor at the camp. Addie sister, Corey, to Wiscasset, to Namnoum and Lyla Amini begin Semester 45. Rachel Ryan Dave Liebmann and alums birding in NYC. worked at Saltmarsh Farm. had a full summer—reading Great Books, carrying out a photojour- MCS 42 nalism project, and seeing friends. FORMER FACULTY NOTES Spring 2009 Class Agents: Carly Blumenfeld, SEMESTER 44 Meghan Giuliano (Teaching has finished treatment and has [email protected]; & Emily Spring 2010 Fellow ’07, ’08) made it to much more energy… She is Busam, [email protected] Class Agents: Charlotte Allyn, Chewonki for the party in honor skiing, taking dance lessons, [email protected]; & of Don Hudson in June, then reading, and honing her stubborn Cassie Greenbaum explored Hannah Perkins, moved to northern Virginia to six-year-old behavior! Emily is Peru’s rainforest while refor- [email protected] start work with ICF International starting a program to pursue esting, chopping down invasive as an environmental consultant becoming a nurse practitioner.” bamboo, doing construction Degi Erdenesanaa, back at focusing on energy efficiency. She During the quiet season on the work, and monitoring birds and Milton Academy, sent us a copy of keeps her hand in agriculture by farm last winter, Brad took a week monkeys. Diego Kendrick is a letter she wrote to Working volunteering at a couple of nearby to ski in Glacier National Park. planning to audition for the a Villages International last small farms. Don Hudson David Liebmann (MCS faculty capella singing group at his summer. Alexander Petroff, the (former Chewonki president and ’91–’96; chair of the semester school. He’s been on some inter- director of Working Villages, semester school faculty), who school advisory board; trustee) esting family excursions into the spoke to the semester students received L. L. Bean’s 2010 met with 11 MCS alums and 2 Australian bush. Alex Lee was a when Degi was at Chewonki, and Outdoor Hero award last June, guests “for two hours of birds and counselor at Chewonki Camp for his efforts to create sustainable makes a celebrity appearance Chewonki chatter” in Prospect Boys last summer, leading tennis. work for people in the Demo- in a video on L. L. Bean’s Park, Brooklyn, on a morning last Jack Phinney brought to our cratic Republic of Congo YouTube channel. See him at: May. “I wish I could say the attention an article about the impressed Degi. Degi’s family www.youtube.com/user/llbean#p/ group remembered all their birds Great Pacific Garbage Patch. See comes from Mongolia, and she c/E21B9F8C6C80EE3C/3/ZhS3 and calls, alas…” writes Dave. www.surfline.com/surf- sees potential for a Working mEswN94. Brad Johnson (boys “We did see a Baltimore Oriole, news/how-our-plastic-use-is-com Villages project there. “A lot of camp staff, MCS faculty ’99, ’00, Scarlet Tanager, Magnolia ing-back-at-us-in-waves_30095/. people still herd animals” in ’02–’07), his wife, Emily LeVan Warbler, Black-throated Green Jesse Wiener and her sister Mongolia, she explained, “but (boys camp staff, MCS faculty), Warbler, Downy Woodpecker, spent their winter break together pretty much nobody grows and their daughter, Maddie, are Northern Flicker, Ring-necked in a Spanish immersion school in food…. Now, most of the food enjoying life in Randolph, VT. Duck, Mallard, Rough-winged Cuzco, Peru. comes from China…and I can’t Emily is working at the Swallow, Belted Kingfisher, believe that importing food from emergency department at Central House Sparrow, Starling, and a SEMESTER 43 elsewhere is a sustainable practice Vermont Medical Center and bunch of warblers we couldn’t Fall 2009 that will last very far into the Gifford Memorial Hospital. name.” Pretty amazing for Class Agent: Sara Clark, future.” Callum McCulloch has “Maddie and I have lots of time at Brooklyn! Ted Oxholm [email protected] started an outing club back in home on ‘All Together Farm,’” (Teaching Fellow ’07, ’08) reports California. He decided to get writes Brad “We are raising that all is well in Boulder, CO, Over the summer, Addie running shoes after too much vegetables, meat, and eggs for where he can walk to beautiful Bakewell volunteered for the barefoot running in cross-country ourselves as well as selling pork, hiking trails and is working as an U.S. Fish and Wildlife invasive races in the fall. Adriana Walsh beef, and chicken. There is never AmeriCorps volunteer plant program and also for sang and played her guitar before a shortage of work to be done, teaching/tutoring/mentoring Project Have Hope, “an a big audience at the Common and working with our hands “at-risk” eleventh graders in the organization that is helping a Ground Country Fair in Unity, outside suits us both well and nearby town of Lafayette. community of women and ME, in September. keeps us out of trouble…. Maddie

Visit our website at www.chewonki.org / 45 People

president. When the Maine winters took their IN MEMORIAM toll, Mardi moved in 1999 to live near her daughter in Massachusetts. Chewonki lost as devoted a fan as it has ever had In addition to her son Don, Mardi is when Marguerite McConnell Hudson died on survived by her sons David (Camp ’59–’63; August 4, 2010, at the age of 91 in Northampton, Camp Staff ’65–’68, ’73–’79) and Ben (Camp Massachusetts. “Mardi” came to Chewonki in ’62–’63, ’67; Camp Staff ’68–’70, ’74), daughter 1962, when her husband, Bill Hudson, a Mardi Jane Abuza (Maine Reach ’73–’74; Camp Methodist minister, agreed to spend the first of Staff ’76), a sister, and eight grandchildren, who several summers as Camp Chewonki’s assistant have also spent significant time at Chewonki. director. The couple’s four children, the oldest of Gifts in Mardi’s memory may be made to the Meghan and Benjamin Arnold. whom had come to camp in 1959, accompanied Bill and Mardi Hudson Fund at Chewonki. them. Never one to sit idly on the sidelines, NEW BABIES Mardi jumped wholeheartedly into camp life, Henry L. Smith (Camp ’34–’36, ’40) of Brattle- ON THE NECK! helping out wherever a hand was needed. She boro, Vermont, died on April 25, 2010, at the remained an ardent fan of Chewonki for the rest age of 82. “Hank loved the time spent at Camp Margaret Youngs Coleman (boys of her life. Chewonki, which gave him many fond camp staff ’01, ’05; Farm & That life was long and full. After graduating memories,” wrote Barbara Smith, his wife of Woodlot Manager) and Chris from college, Mardi served in the Red Cross in 58 years. Coleman (boys camp staff ’01– England during World War II. After her After attending Marlboro College in ’05) welcomed a daughter, marriage, she nurtured her family and oversaw Vermont, Hank served in the U.S. Navy and Lilianna Dorothea Coleman, several moves as her husband took charge of then worked for many years at the Brattleboro on 8-7-10, at the height of a churches in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Daily Reformer. From 1967 until his retirement glorious growing season. Carob Colorado. She loved jazz, cheered tirelessly for in 1987, he was a senior safety supervisor for Arnold (boys camp ’86, ’87, ’90; the Boston Red Sox, and never shrank from an Ebasco Constructors in New Jersey. boys camp staff ’98, ’00, ’08, ’09; adventure. Hank was an avid outdoorsman and espe- Facilities Manager) and Annie When her husband died unexpectedly in cially enjoyed backpacking, canoeing, skiing, and Nixon (boys camp staff, ’99–’01; 1971, Mardi took a job in the Alumni Office of biking. After he retired, he and Barbara became OC staff ’98, ’01) are the proud Groton School, where she worked for 16 years, serious bicycle tourists, traveling “self- parents of a daughter, Meghan retiring just before her 70th birthday. She moved contained” with camping equipment throughout Elizabeth Arnold, born 9-28-10. to Arrowsic, Maine, in 1988 to live close to her Europe, New Zealand, and the U.S. Older brother Benjamin was kind son Don, who retired this past July after 44 years Hank is survived by his wife, his oldest enough to take a toy truck to on the Chewonki staff, the last 19 of them as brother, and seven nieces and nephews. their first meeting.

Please Write! We love hearing from you, whether by regular mail or email. If the latter, we’re just a click away, at www.chewonki.org/alumni.You can update your contact information and send us your news. Please be sure we have your up-to-date mailing name and address—see our plea on page 5!

Have Some Fun! Shirt Sales Chewonki Vacation Camp Benefit FOR GRADES 1–8 Financial Aid FEBRUARY & APRIL 2011

It was a limited edition item— SANDY BANDU Wondering what your kids can do during Maine’s one-week 60 copies, to be precise—and it sold like the proverbial school vacations in February and April? Wonder no more! If hotcakes. But more impor- your child loves being outdoors, having fun, participating in tantly, the T-shirt sporting the hands-on activities, and playing with other kids, then retro Chewonki “C” raised almost $600 in financial aid for campers. “While this is Chewonki is the place to be. Camp runs from 8:30 A.M. to a drop in the bucket as far as dollars go, it’s a wonderful story that shows how 3:30 P.M., and participants may sign up for one or more days. dedicated our camp staff is to making Chewonki more accessible to more kids,” said Boys Camp director Garth Altenburg. The T-shirt was designed by Boys All programs are taught by our experienced teachers and Camp assistant director Andy Richardson and sold out instantly. It’s shown off naturalists at Chewonki’s Center for Environmental here (left to right) by Papa Heron Matt Weeks, Osprey counselor Charlie Fear, Education in Wiscasset. For more information, contact Garth, and guides director Jason Chandler. Emma Carlson, Vacation Camp Coordinator, at [email protected] or 207-882-7323 ext. 164.

46 / Chewonki Chronicle On My Mind

Turtle Seasons tures rise enough that the wood turtles year was marked by four turtles that Lynne Flaccus emerge; April is the best time to find were each missing feet or legs, all healed them, before riparian vegetation and healthy. Sometimes these Almost everyone at Chewonki knows I provides cover. The painted turtles appendages are eaten by raccoons or have a passion for turtles. Greg and Kyle appear later, and about the time the otters, but as long as the turtles don’t would call it an obsession. I am simply snapping turtles also emerge. The lose too much tissue, they manage to amazed by turtles—their beauty and painted turtles, with their black shells heal and move on. Each turtle I find tells their evolutionary history. shining and twinkling in the late a story, even if I can’t read all of it. Each of us marks the seasons in our morning sun, bask on logs and rocks. When fall arrives I once again watch own way, and my seasons are remem- Though easy to spot from a distance, the roads for those turtles wandering bered and marked by turtles. In spring I they are wary this early. back to their winter hibernacula, or look forward to ice-out and the first June brings nesting season for young turtles that may be hatching late warming rays of sun, when the tempera- Maine’s turtles and means more turtles in the season. There are always a few crossing roads and wandering in search warm fall days when turtles take of nest sites. When I’m traveling, my advantage of the low hanging sun to eyes are glued to the roads so I can stop warm and feed before their long winter and help turtles cross to the other side under the ice. A warm November day safely. One June day traveling down has not stopped me from jumping into Route 1 with Kyle and a friend of his, I the icy water to check out a basking pulled over and did a U-turn to go back musk turtle—a brisk swim for the reward and rescue a turtle. Much to Kyle’s of handling a usually secretive turtle. embarrassment, the turtle turned out to In another month or so, I will see be a bagel. In my mind, everything on turtles only in books and in my dreams the road in June is a turtle in need of until next April. Maybe one day I will help! learn from the turtles how to appreciate Summers are marked by explorations the warm sunny days at a turtle’s pace through long grass and alders along and perspective. riverbanks, or canoeing quiet pond coves. A perfect day off is one spent Lynne Flaccus is Chewonki’s head naturalist. GREG SHUTE “turtle hunting.” Just to look for, hold, She lives in Alna, Maine, with her husband, and admire a turtle, and then release it, is Wilderness Programs director Greg Shute, one of my favorite things to do. This and their son, Kyle.

FOR SUSTAINABILITY HOUSEHOLD WASTE

that’s filled with floating plastic (listen to excess packaging and let them know your Charles Moore’s talk at www.ted.com). thoughts; they provide this packaging So what can we do to improve? First, because they think consumers want it. we need to educate ourselves and others. Reuse—The little things count. Bring Manage Your Household Waste Some great resources include two short reusable bags to the store, get clothes RUTH POLAND, SCIENCE AND films: Isla de las Floras (a Brazilian film and furniture at thrift stores or have swap SUSTAINABILITY FELLOW with subtitles) and The Story of Stuff parties with friends, and close the (available at www.storyofstuff.com). For recycling loop by buying recycled goods “Reduce, reuse, recycle”—it’s been the some incredible visuals, check out whenever possible. mantra of the Green Movement ever since www.chrisjordan.com and click on his For more tips and info on the 3Rs, visit the first Earth Day in 1970. While there is artwork “Intolerable Beauty.” www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve. much to celebrate about recycling, Second, we can throw away less. You Finally, we can get involved in town garbage generation is still rising. Today can reduce your garbage generation by and government policy to address the the average American generates 4.6 practicing the following: issue using a top-down approach. Look pounds of trash daily, up from 3.25 in Compost—Biodegradable goods for opportunities to incentivize better 1970. This translates to 251 million tons of represent over 50 percent of our garbage! waste management, such as supporting garbage a year. Managing this volume See www.composters.com for tips on how “pay as you throw” programs, in which raises a host of issues, including green- to get your pile started. communities charge for garbage bags or house gas production, pollution, land use, Recycle—Call your local recycling or waste removal. These programs provide social and environmental justice, and redemption center to find out what they financial incentive to decrease your exploitation of natural resources to process. Visit www.obviously.com/recycle volume of household trash. replace the things we throw away. for more general info. To make matters worse, much of our Reduce—Buy items with minimal The bottom line: Decreasing the amount garbage doesn’t even make it to landfills, packaging. Unnecessary packaging of of landfill-bound garbage you produce is leading to environmental calamities such food and other goods is a major cause of one of the best things you can do to as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch: a increased garbage production in recent reduce your personal environmental swath of ocean twice as large as Texas decades. Write to companies that use impact. Are your name and address below up to date? If not, please see our note on page 5 Nonprofit Org. and set us straight. Thank you! U.S. Postage PAID Lewiston, ME Permit No. 82

485 Chewonki Neck Road Wiscasset, Maine 04578-4822 ANNIKA ALEXANDEROZINSKAS

Chewonki Joins Global Day of Service

n 10/10/10, Chewonki joined activists around the world for 350.org’s Global Work Party. We got behind the effort early and invited all of our constituents—staff, trustees, students, and alumni—to join. The passion and the action were Oimpressive! Chewonki organized or participated in 15 events from Maine to Seattle. In Wiscasset, we improved trails, wrote to legislators, and served the “35 Mile Meal,” a delicious community supper using foods grown within 35 miles. Semester students gathered the ingredients from local farmers and cooked the meal themselves. We also partnered with Habitat for Humanity to weatherize 10 local homes and sailed out to Penobscot Bay to help the Hurricane Island Foundation rejuvenate its facilities. Spirits were high, the weather crisp and gorgeous, and the power of community strong. “It was gratifying to see the enthusiasm for service so evident among our alumni and friends, not only in Maine but across the country,” said Chewonki president Willard Morgan.

We hope you’ll take part in our next Chewonki Day of Service on June 4, 2011—National Trails Day. Plan to partner with a local agency to maintain the trails that get you out on the land, bring some Chewonki friends together, and let us know about it. We’ll keep you posted about our collective efforts at www.chewonki.org.