Seguinland is truly a unique, once in a lifetime experience. The people here are so generous and they truly make you feel like family. I feel that I have made friends to last a very long time. Seguinland is set on a large and beautiful plot of coastal Maine. There is no better time for reflection while being supported by the team and getting college credits. You live in the cutest cottages and go to discussions in the treehouse most days (starting with yoga 3 times per week) with a lot of free time in the afternoon. You might even get to use the sauna(my personal favorite)! Otherwise this down time is used for class readings, journaling, or hanging out with people in cottages. The two hiking trips are so beautiful and the camping trip quite exhausting as it is rewarding as you sing and row up the river.
This program was a good experience for my first gap semester. However, it was slightly different from what I was personally looking for in my year. It did feel a little too inactive at times, left with too much down time. I would recommend bringing your favorite game. It is also has a significant academic focus, so know that the credits offered are worth taking.
What really makes this program so special is the people. Philip and the crew are so welcoming and nice and the students that come here are just as friendly and fun.

This was an amazing experience I was given the ability to meet new people and grow as an individual. The way the classes and living is set allows for you to connect with everyone there on a deeply personal level. The staff is incredibly supportive and were always going above and beyond to provide each student with the best experience they could. I highly recommend this program to anyone who has a love for the out doors or has a desire to learn in a way that differs from traditional forms of schooling.

I attended the good life gap semester in fall of 2022 and it was an incredible experience. I made amazing friends and our little community was so loving and connected. We had very interested and engaging classes that allowed for creativity and exploitation beyond a typical classroom setting, and we went on endless adventures that I will never forget. All of the staff were so caring and it really felt like a family together in beautiful maine. I carried many passions away from my semester, including a love of mushrooms, indigenous studies and activism, and poetry. I would be 100% recommend the good life semester for any type of gap student, we had a very diverse group and everyone benefited and loved it.

My time at Seguinland was incredible. The staff is amazing and so supportive in every aspect of the experience. They created a very accepting and nonjudgmental environment that made me feel excited to participate, share my ideas, and step outside of my comfort zone. I made great friends, and living, traveling, cooking, eating, and creating together every day created a deep sense of community. Being constantly surrounded by nature was one of my favorite parts of the experience. I loved exploring outside every day, but being immersed in the natural environment while reading, writing, and making art also helped me rediscover my love for learning. Mindfulness practice and the way the staff ran the courses helped me be more intentional and focus on process rather than product. I am going back to Seguinland for the winter term, and I can't wait! It has been a truly life-changing experience.

Seguinland Institute is a magical place. A strong, tight-knit community comes to life and thrives. There is a level of vulnerability, unlike any I have witnessed, and there is no shying away from deep conversations. The faculty is engaged and truly shows that they care about every student. The days look drastically different, but there is a strong underlying stability. These are people you can rely on. A vibrant landscape is the backdrop for powerful conversations and the starts invite many warm laughs. Everyone is accepting and inclusive, if you are willing to bring your full self, everyone is welcome, especially as we share a warm and delicious meal. A group motivated by shared values, rather than interests is rare, yet that is exactly what this is. An escape from the distractions of life, where you can learn from others and reveal to yourself what you need to live a good life.

I feel so deeply connected to this place and everyone here. Philip and the staff welcome you into this little island in rural Maine and turn it into a home with their energy, passion for teaching, and genuine love for the program. Through plunges into freezing cold water, discussions about the meaning of life, campfire songs, and cooking together, the faculty are always pushing people closer and showing how much they care. Seguinland cultivates such a level of comfort and togetherness that I hope I can bring even a fraction of to my life outside. There's no way I could have predicted how fast and deeply I'd fall in love with this place.

I love Seguinland! When I came to Maine, I was feeling burnt out, uninspired, and exhausted. Everything about this experience was exactly what I needed. The classes inspired me to start thinking bigger and bolder about how to live, the activities were new and exciting, and the lifestyle was fresh and revitalizing. This isn’t to say it was easy, but every challenge I faced was one that pushed me to grow in ways I haven’t experienced in any other scenario. The staff was the most supportive while still giving me room to grow from challenges. My fellow students were some of the kindest, funniest, and most genuine people I’ve ever met, and they are a big part of what made this experience special. My favorite memories include a 3 am hike, spotting 7 bald eagles on a boat ride, making food with foraged ingredients, candlelit mindfulness, town days, late night chats in the cabins, and lots and lots of bananagrams! I’m so grateful to have found this program that I know will have a lasting impact on my life.

My experience at Seguinland has been nothing short of a dream. While at times it was incredibly difficult, I always felt held and supported by the community here. Everyone conducts themselves with generosity and vulnerability in mind. Everyday was an adventure, a local one like exploring the Dawnland Trail, or my day of solitude, or a big one like hiking Cadillac Mountain to see the sunrise. My favorite part of this semester was the art class with Marsha- everyday we explored a new form of creativity and her emphasis on process over product made it a welcoming, expressive, and fun space for everyone. I will always remember the joy and wonder I found here in people, places, and art.