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 CONNOR STOTHART BETTA 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