CSW Spring Wilderness Trip Explores Maine Coast
The CSW Spring Wilderness Trip took place during last Mod Break weekend, from May 3 to May 6, 2013.
The CSW Spring Wilderness Trip took place during last Mod Break weekend, from May 3 to May 6, 2013. Led by Wilderness Trip Coordinator Karen Buck, a group of seven brave CSW students spent four days in the Casco Bay area of the Maine coast, just north of Portland, sea kayaking from island to island.
The group carried all of their gear, food and camping equipment in the kayaks. The weather ranged from sunny to cloudy and windy, with temperatures just above freezing at night. Luckily, they never had any precipitation, which is quite rare for this time of year.
The first night of camping was on Little Chebeague Island, which is unique for having been a place for soldiers to do “R&R” during World War II. There is a bowling alley on the island that has been around for decades!
The second night was spent on Jewell Island. Here, the group visited old bunkers and climbed tall towers that were used during World War II to monitor all ships going in and out of Casco Bay, one of the deepest channels of the U.S. coast.
According to Karen, “One of the highlights of the four-day excursion was launching from Jewell Island the following morning into a large set of waves while avoiding capsizing boats and nearby shallow reefs! It was extremely exciting!” The students then spent the morning paddling with harbor seals and osprey circling their kayaks. Lunch was at Cook’s restaurant, in full regalia: wearing their wetsuits proudly! After three hours of open ocean paddling, the students sailed with eight kayaks lashed together to Snow Island for another overnight camp.
The next morning, everyone woke up at 4 a.m. and packed up their gear for an early departure. Acting quickly, the group was on the water in time to watch the moon disappear, the sunrise, and witness a rare sighting of an eagle fly past a group of blue herons.
What a trip!
Back
The group carried all of their gear, food and camping equipment in the kayaks. The weather ranged from sunny to cloudy and windy, with temperatures just above freezing at night. Luckily, they never had any precipitation, which is quite rare for this time of year.
The first night of camping was on Little Chebeague Island, which is unique for having been a place for soldiers to do “R&R” during World War II. There is a bowling alley on the island that has been around for decades!
The second night was spent on Jewell Island. Here, the group visited old bunkers and climbed tall towers that were used during World War II to monitor all ships going in and out of Casco Bay, one of the deepest channels of the U.S. coast.
According to Karen, “One of the highlights of the four-day excursion was launching from Jewell Island the following morning into a large set of waves while avoiding capsizing boats and nearby shallow reefs! It was extremely exciting!” The students then spent the morning paddling with harbor seals and osprey circling their kayaks. Lunch was at Cook’s restaurant, in full regalia: wearing their wetsuits proudly! After three hours of open ocean paddling, the students sailed with eight kayaks lashed together to Snow Island for another overnight camp.
The next morning, everyone woke up at 4 a.m. and packed up their gear for an early departure. Acting quickly, the group was on the water in time to watch the moon disappear, the sunrise, and witness a rare sighting of an eagle fly past a group of blue herons.
What a trip!
CSW—a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12—is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.