Outdoor Classroom Program Director Katie Tremblay and Assistant Director Andrew Bezon greeted Wiscasset eighth-graders last week as they arrived at Chewonki in two school buses packed with students, teachers and gear.

Their arrival marked the start of a four-day camping and learning expedition on Chewonki Neck. The students are divided into groups of 10 students and two leaders, spending the majority of their time in the outdoors. Activities include farm, forest and pond studies; team building and group challenges, such as the “Barn Climb” and “Crossing the Gulch”; and camping along Chewonki’s shoreline.

Wiscasset eighth-graders have been coming for ecologybased day programs at Chewonki for years, but only recently has it evolved into overnight experiences. The students are joined by science teacher Sue Kistenmacher, English teacher Kyle Beeton, and chaperones.

The visit was made possible by a grant from the Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students Collaborative, whose long-term goal is to make residential environmental education accessible to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds in Maine.

“Sue Kistenmacher has been working with Chewonki for years and together we have customized a program that meets the specific educational goals of Wiscasset,” said Tremblay. “We are thrilled that students will be able to spend three nights and four days immersed on the Chewonki campus.”

“Chewonki is making a concerted effort to support local students and schools, especially those closest to us in Wiscasset, Westport, Woolwich, Bath, Newcastle, Damariscotta, Alna and Edgecomb,” Chewonki President Willard Morgan said. Great Salt Bay fifth-graders are due this week, he said.