Work Program

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A Vital Part of the Chewonki Experience

Our idea of good work goes beyond the classroom. We understand work as a vital and exhilarating part of the Chewonki experience. Students and faculty work together to maintain our campus. We strive for excellence, whether we’re painting a boat, raising the wall of a new building, or sweeping the kitchen.

Maine Coast Semester students also go off campus to learn about and help meet the needs of the people of midcoast Maine. This service often happens during afternoon work program or on weekends. A group of students might deliver necessary firewood to a neighbor or take produce from our farm to the food pantry in Wiscasset.

  • Working for a shared goal
  • Putting food on the table
  • Skills that last a lifetime

Integrating Thought, Action, & Place

Through work, we discover the connections between different parts of our lives. Planting on the farm puts potatoes on the dinner table; cutting wood from the woodlot allows us to heat our cabins; mopping the dining room floor expresses care for our shared home. A wide range of physical work enriches intellectual pursuits, helping us integrate thought, action, and place.

Work That Matters

In this spirit, students and faculty participate together in a work program two afternoons a week. Each job they take on is integral to Chewonki’s operation; the work truly matters. Students gain experience by doing, learning skills that will last a lifetime. The satisfaction of good work well done accompanies a sense of companionship that grows from striving together to accomplish a common goal.

Providing Real World Help

During our Community Service Weekend, students work on larger projects such as conducting an energy audit of a residence or repairing fences at a nearby nonprofit. These experiences provide real assistance to people who want it and give students a deeper understanding of Maine. We encourage them to get involved in community service that intersects with their interests and passions.