Class Trips

Students and teachers begin each school year with a multi-day camping trip intentionally designed to nurture peer-to-peer relationships, welcome students who are new to the high school, and foster a spirited sense of community. Our senior class steps into the role of campus leaders as they help develop and facilitate group activities. Students enjoy their time together participating in the annual "Wilderlympics" challenge, taking turns cooking and, of course, singing by the campfire.

By taking a series of hikes through Acadia National Park in the fall, ninth graders experience evidence of the changes of the Earth over time. In the spring, ninth graders take a multi-day field trip to whaling sites along the New England coast as part of their study of Herman Melville’s great American novel, Moby-Dick. From old whaling ships to port cities to artifacts such as harpoons and try-works for liquefying blubber, seeing it all in person makes the novel come alive!

Tenth graders visit various fresh water sites in Acadia National Park and test water samples for key indicators of health, as well as recording qualitative indicators of water quality. In the spring, sophomores learn to use surveying equipment to gather data and apply trigonometry to create a topographical map of a 20,000- square-foot site of coastal Maine.

Grades 9 and 10 may opt to combine trips in select years.

Quebec City

Our community in Maine is located in the heart of America’s historically Francophone territory. To celebrate and deepen our understanding of this heritage, each year the eleventh grade takes a four day trip to Quebec City, Canada. While there, students practice their French, wander the city’s European-style streets, gaze in awe at the spectacular St. Lawrence valley scenery, and, of course, eat their way through all the town’s many wonderful French restaurants!

Botany of Coastal Maine

In the spring, the eleventh graders head out into the field to compare coastal ecosystems from sea to summit. This intensive week is part of their Botany course. Although locations vary, every trip explores the relationship between landscape and living communities through observation, art and nature writing.

Zoology of Coastal Maine

Twelfth graders begin their school year with a weeklong trip to Hermit Island in Phippsburg, Maine. During this immersive experience, students explore the tide pools, mudflats, surf, dunes, and forests with a range of professionals. This coursework is central to their studies and an annual highlight of the Zoology course. Students return from this trip with expanded perspectives, new contacts, and detailed observations and field notes that will fuel their academic work together.

The fieldwork is balanced by periods of swimming, watercolor, cooking, and poetry. The week culminates in a grand contra dance with live music.

Senior Trip

Our graduating class completes their year with a trip to a location of their choosing. Past adventures have been to New York City, Montreal, and Cape Cod.