Hoeschen embraced environmental learning at camp Chewonki

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Submitted by Lucie Hoeschen

Junior Lucie Hoeschen attended Camp Chewonki for her first semester, learning about the environment and community living. “I’ll miss everything about Chewonki,” Hoeschen said.

For students entering junior year at Saint Paul Academy and Summit School, there are many changes that set this year apart from ninth and tenth grade, including the opportunity to study in a different state for a semester.

Lucie Hoeschen has been at SPA since ninth grade and decided that for her junior year she wanted to attend a semester away program.

I wanted a change in my life, and I wanted to experience new things and meet new people,” Hoeschen said.

Hoeschen decided that for her semester abroad she would go to camp Chewonki in Wiscasset, Maine.

I was attracted to Chewonki because I love the ocean and marine biology, and I also have an interest in animals so it seemed like a pretty ideal place to be,” Hoeschen said.

I wanted a change in my life

— Lucie Hoeschen

Chewonki is situated on a 400-acre peninsula located on the shoreline of midcoast Maine. It includes three and a half miles of shoreline, five miles of hiking trails, and an organic farm. At Chewonki, Hoeschen’s days vary in activities. Everyday Hoeschen has classes and then either community chores or a science field trip.

Living away can be challenging, says Hoeschen, especially when moving to a completely new environment with new people.

“Living with forty four other kids and having to not only see them everyday at school, but really live with them, [is the hardest thing for me]. I also share a cabin with seven other girls, which can be amazing and hard all at once,” Hoeschen said.

Despite the fact that things can get a little challenging at times, she will miss living at Chewonki after the semester ends.

“I’ll miss everything about Chewonki: the people, the farm, the early morning wake up, the food, the farm chores, the chores early in the morning, the music we play in the flintstones [the living room], living in a cabin, living with seven other girls, living with the kids I go to school. You name it and I’ll miss it,” Hoeschen said.