Good Life May Term in Maine

May term of 2024 was my second experience at Seguinland and, as much as I thought it couldn't get better, it did. There is something unique about sharing such an isolated experience with 19 other people that creates long lasting, deep bonds in even 4 weeks. There is no better way, in my opinion, to take a step back from the hustle and bustle of college life and academics to remember what really matters, which is the depth and quality of your relationships. Cooking together, getting through a stomach bug together, traveling, gardening, creating, paddling, and singing together are all things I will remember for the rest of my life with this group. Forever grateful for my Seguinland family :)

Finishing out my (discontinuous) year at Seguinland, the May term was the perfect way to start my last summer before college. The focus was community building, and an eagerness to get to know each other was in the air the moment we all gathered on the lawn. I will never forget the first night, when a group of us (as many as we could comfortably fit in our cottage) gathered together and shared our, at times quite dramatic, life stories. Despite a brief illness going around in the first week, which the staff expertly handled, we all formed great bonds. From farm work, to murder mysteries, to the first annual pond productions, May term was filled with unforgettable moments. Getting to bring to life our cohort's Mad Farmer Award ceremony was an amazing display of how our unique talents can be used to celebrate our local community.
Despite this program being the end of my time at Seguinland, the connections I made allowed me to plan a trip, stopping to visit friends I made during my time there, all the way down home to Florida. Having built friendships that will last well beyond the end of my gap year is absolutely priceless to me, and I'm incredibly grateful for every student, faculty and staff member that joins Seguinland and makes the courageous decision to bring their whole self into every experience.

Seguinland was an incredible and immersive program that challenged me to be my best self. We began our mornings with meditation and yoga, followed by thoughtful discussions about our readings from the previous night. We would spend our time up in the treehouse while getting lost in conversation for hours. Everyone was able to bring their unique perspective and analysis to the circle. I elected to do The Food Life track which took advantage of our beautiful location by doing activities such as lobstering, oystering, foraging, farming, and more. We interacted with the local community and learned about what it means to live a Good Life--- or if it even exists at all. I think about my time up there every day and yearn to have an experience like that again where I can disconnect from the outside world and give 100% of myself to what is important.

Being at Seguinland has undoubtedly been the most immersive and intense experience of any kind for me. The staff and instructors are truly awe-inspiring, providing unwavering support throughout the journey. I grew so much there looking back, and post-program relationships are the best I have seen anywhere so far. Expect to be consistently challenged, leading to substantial growth in all domains, personally speaking, looking back on it now. If given the opportunity, I would highly recommend taking part in this program. Moreover, there is a highly commendable consideration for financial aid, especially beneficial for individuals hailing from BIPOC low-income backgrounds who might quite frankly not be able to have such an experience underwise.

Throughout my gap year, I took part in multiple programs and can safely say this one is incredible. The staff is some of the kindest, most supportive people I have ever met. They are what make a program like this one flourish. I truly learned so much about myself and what it means to live the good life in the short three weeks I spent in Maine. The community that is created is like no other because everyone on the trip is open-minded and eager to ask questions, learn, and grow. I could not recommend this trip more to anyone.

Seguinland is a place and a way of being I will carry forever. This place and its people and staff allowed me to be seen and supported. I felt a deep sense of gratitude to be connected with this land and to enjoy the conversations I had with like-minded individuals. Those seeking meaning and balance from a hustle culture and technology world. It was a life-changing experience. The program's community and genuine friendship aspect was incredibly beneficial and healing. This program set the groundwork for a new way of experiencing life, learning, and contemplation. I am so grateful that a place like this exists and recommend anyone who needs a reset who needs real community and/or some time to heal in nature to go to Seguinland!!! Be ready to cook together, clean together, walk together, learn together, create together, and experience new things together. One of my favorite experiences throughout the program was cooking together in the cookhouse and trying everyone's different dishes; this place set the groundwork for community. There was nothing like starting the morning with a daily yoga/mindfulness practice, it was a grounding experience that helped everyday start on a great note. The staff are so caring and incredibly great listeners. Our one-on-one check-ins were helpful and a great way to ensure you got everything out of the program. The program's location also makes the program so much stronger, you really get to connect with nature and feel immersed.

This was an incredible experience for me. The people were so kind, genuine, and fun! The food provided has healthy and SO GOOD! The trips we took were incredibly fun, and everything we did bonded us closer to our cohorts. Nobody was pressured into doing anything that made them uncomfortable, but there was plenty of room for growth and risk taking for those interested. Couldn't recommend this experience more. The Seguinland Family and all the students I met have had such a positive impact on my life. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything, and I am even going back for the Wintering term! If you're like me and want to get out of your comfort zone and meet people, enjoy Maine, and learn from some incredible people, I highly recommend the May Term.

very fun program in a beautiful town in coastal maine, provided a wonderful supplement to the end of my final year of high school! i really enjoyed the scenic location and the opportunities to become involved in the community during my time there. the housing is very nice, as is the food, students are involved in preparing the food and are encouraged to bring a family recipe to share, leading to a wonderfully diverse menu over the course of the program! tons of amazing people, both in the staff and the students of my cohort, truly an amazing experience!