Good Life May Term in Maine

Good Life May Term in Maine

Location
  • United States of America
Length
2 - 4 weeks
Program Tags
Arts College Credit Yoga Retreats
Need-based funding, 529 Plan eligibility, BIPOC funding
Health & Safety

Program Details

Activities
Boating Canoeing Yoga
Timeframe
Spring
Housing
Cabin
Primary Language
English
Age Min.
18
Age Max
23

Pricing

Starting Price
3900
Price Details
Cost includes everything: tuition, room & board, fees, gear, books, journals & marshmallows. Travel to/from Maine NOT included. We can pick up at Portland airport or Brunswick train/bus stop.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Equipment Meals Park Fees
What's Not Included
Transportation
Jun 05, 2026
Dec 31, 2025
6 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Step away from the buzzing and blooming confusions of everyday life and hunker down on a 60-acre homestead peninsula in the coastal woodlands of Maine. You’ll be surrounded by a crew of fellow students who like you are setting aside time to focus on questions of the good life. You’ll be part of an intentional community of learners who are trying to gain perspective on what really matters in historic times like these. Come immerse yourself in nature, cultivate mindfulness, expand your creative capacities & explore the connections between community-building, the creative life and the food life. Along the way you’ll complete 1 college courses for 4 credits with award-winning professor who embody the spirit of experiential education.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

This program offers a supportive, close-knit community focused on self-discovery, creativity, and connection with nature.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

At Seguinland Institute, we are intentional about creating positive and respectful educational opportunities within a growth-oriented environment. As a student, you can expect an inclusive learning environment that is free from discrimination or favoritism. You are entitled to freedom from physical or verbal harassment of any shape or form. We agree with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's idea of "the danger of the single story." We thus create a multi-perspective, multi-narrative approach to all discussions.
At Seguinland Institute, we are intentional about creating positive and respectful educational opportunities within a growth-oriented environment. As a student, you can expect an inclusive learning environment that is free from discrimination or favoritism. You are entitled to freedom from physical or verbal harassment of any shape or form. We agree with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's idea of "the danger of the single story." We thus create a multi-perspective, multi-narrative approach to all discussions.

Program Highlights

  • Nature Immersion: connect to nature as a source of grounding, insights and contemplation.
  • Cultivate Mindfulness Skilsl: knit back together your attention span, calm and focus the mind.
  • The Good Life Course: asking the big questions of life, discovering ideas to live by.
  • The Creative Life Course: experimenting with a range of artistic practices, expanding your capacity for creative thought and action.
  • The Food Life Course: exploring the interconnection between food and the good life, getting our hands dirty in the garden.

Program Reviews

4.96 Rating
based on 27 reviews
  • 5 rating 96.3%
  • 4 rating 3.7%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 4.85
  • Support 4.85
  • Fun 4.9
  • Value 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 8 of 27 reviews
Karina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life Changing Community

Every staff member has a genuine desire to support each student. They curate a space where every student is included and accepted no matter what. Many qualities of a typical work or school environment either don’t exist here or have been completely reformed to better support the students’ well being. Discipline is replaced with patience and forgiveness. Restrictions are replaced with a platform for self expression. Strictness is replaced with freedom and play. The program is free from phones, allowing everyone to connect with one another and reconnect with the natural world without distractions. In all of the activities, the needs of every single student are considered.

47 people found this review helpful.
Riley
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best 3 weeks at Seguinland!

I absolutely loved this program! It is built around the idea of experiential learning. There is nothing like learning about community build from the people who are out there doing it, and the stories we heard will stick with me for a long time. This experience filled me with an overwhelming sense of hope. I learned how to connect with people and build a community, which are skills that have transformed my life both on the program and after. Georgetown, Maine is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been and having the opportunity to disconnect and embrace nature in such a unique environment was so special. All of this being said, my favorite part of Seguinland is the incredible people, staff and other students, who make the stunning marshland feel like home in just 3 short weeks. This program is truly so special and I cannot recommend it enough.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
One of my favorite activities we did was called the hyper local feast. We spent a few days traveling around the campus and Georgetown island finding ingredients for a feast where everything we ate came from the island. It was so fun to meet the farmers and fishermen who provided the food and to prepare the dishes for the feast in the cookhouse. The intentionality of eating food that you can tell the story of where it came from was so unique and inspiring. It was one of my favorite activities we did during the program.
Pros
  • Community
  • Delicious food
  • Nature
Cons
  • 3 weeks felt short
40 people found this review helpful.
Marcos Vinicius
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Strangers to Friends in Three Hours Flat

The May Term at Seguinland completely changed how I thought about learning. It wasn't only lectures or assignments—it was also experiential, hands-on, and deeply personal.

What struck me most was how naturally and quickly our cohort became close. I vividly remember laughing so hard my eyes watered during our "primal walk" (a tour around campus)—and this was just three hours after we'd been introduced. In that moment, all my doubts—about choosing a program in a country I'd never visited, with people I'd only met online—simply melted away.

We cooked meals together, explored Reid State Park (beautiful beaches, though admittedly a bit too cold), visited organizations across Maine, welcomed various artists, and spent evenings in deep conversation under the stars on the docks.

One of my favorite experiences was organizing The Mad Farmers Award event. We planned and presented an honor to Maine State Senator Craig Hickman, which showed me what community organizing and food justice truly look like in practice—not just in theory.

Practical notes: If you're Brazilian or international, start your visa process early. And if you feel this experience is calling to you but something is holding you back, definitely reach out to Philip—he has the brightest heart of anyone I've ever met (when you meet him, I'm sure you'll feel similarly. The rest of the staff is awesome as well).

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The depth of connection everyone shared with one another. There were no cliques or exclusive friendships—over those three weeks, I noticed that everyone was genuinely close to everyone else. At first, I wasn't sure how to approach certain people, but conversations unfolded naturally, and I found myself connecting with individuals I might never have reached out to in typical settings. The small group size (around 14 students) ensured that every voice truly mattered.
Pros
  • Rapid, authentic community building.
  • Experiential, hands-on learning.
  • Growing scholarship accessibility and inclusion.
Cons
  • Limited diversity in the cohort.
35 people found this review helpful.
Charlotte
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Seguinland was genuinely life changing

Seguinland was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. It is a place that fosters deep connections and thoughtful conversations. I made some of the closest friendships I’ve ever had at Seguinland, and felt 100% supported and uplifted by the wonderful staff. I highly recommend to anyone thinking of taking a gap year who values nature, mindfulness, and deep connection. I still think about my time there every day. I’ve never felt such a deep sense of belonging in another place/group of people. I grew so much as a person, and I’m so grateful for my time at Seguinland!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Throw yourself in 100% and you will get so much out of it!
Pros
  • Deep friendships
  • Insanely beautiful campus
  • Amazing adventures
35 people found this review helpful.
Yangtzr
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

General review

The good life program offers a thoughtfully designed curriculum that encourages students to reflect deeply on personal values, purpose, and well-being. Through guided discussions, interdisciplinary readings, and experiential learning(visitong local workshop, preparing feast…), the program creates a supportive environment( campus is so beautiful!) where participants are able to develop greater self-awareness and critical thinking skills. The program creates a supportive and inclusive environment where individuals feel respected and empowered to explore their values and life goals. By integrating theory with real-world application, it helps me slow down, reflect deeply, and make more intentional choices about how i want to live. Overall, it is a meaningful and impactful program with lasting personal value.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The most unfamiliar thing I ate was fresh oysters. At first, the texture was unsettling, but it challenged my assumptions about food and helped me become more open to new experiences.
Pros
  • Campus environment
  • Curriculum design
  • Small cohort
Cons
  • Homework i guess
  • Short term
  • Intense schedule
40 people found this review helpful.
Elise
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Transformative and Unforgettable Experience at Seguinland Institute

I came to Seguinland somewhat disillusioned with my college experience and seeking a change, though I was a bit on-guard when joining the program because it was so different from anything I had done before. But the community I found when I got there was so caring and naturally relatable that I often found myself forgetting I had only just met the people I was living with! The value of the friendship a person experiences here cannot be overstated and that experience will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Another part of the program that truly changed me was the curriculum itself, which explores the idea of community building and the people, ideas and practices that make it possible. To do this, we visited different members of the surrounding community - among them artists, community organizers, and builders - and both observed and participated in work that I'd never been able to experience the true beauty of previously. Interacting with the people behind these communities gave me perspective on my own life and taught me the value of staying grounded.

There are many, many parts of my experience that I am leaving out for the sake of brevity. But if this has made you even a little bit curious, I would urge you to go and experience it for yourself. At best, it will be life-changing. At worst, you will meet some incredible people and spend some time in some very beautiful nature. I truly believe you cannot go wrong.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
For me, the most nerve-racking moment I experienced was definitely preparing for the annual Mad Farmer Award Ceremony, where we honor a Maine resident who embodies the values of Wendell Berry's Mad Farmers' Manifesto. We invited many members of the surrounding community and prepared dishes, poems, and songs as part of the celebration.

I was tasked with performing some of the songs, and, more importantly, presenting the final award to our honoree. I have always struggled with something of stage fright and was very nervous that I would mess something up. But I began to realize that I didn't have to overcome my nerves. I had a community with me all the way supporting me, who wanted me to be my authentic self, even with the nerves. The experience was truly transformative and filled with so much joy and celebration.
Pros
  • Absolutely breathtaking scenery. You will have to see it to believe it
  • Community living in the truest sense, but won't force you to do anything you're uncomfortable with
  • Refreshing change of pace for people who want to live differently for a while
Cons
  • All of the experiences felt kind of packed in since the program was so short
  • If you are not an early riser, you might initially have a little trouble adjusting to the schedule initially
  • Though I found the tech-free/tech-light policy helpful, it could sometimes be somewhat inconvenient when trying to reach friends and family, stay in touch with people, etc.
41 people found this review helpful.
Sam
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The Best Decision I've Ever Made

After finishing my freshman year of college, I felt very stuck. I was questioning my decision about the college I had picked, not doing a gap year, and many other personal things. Deciding to drop the summer classes I had planned on taking and instead doing Seguinland's May Term Program turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. The connections that I made, the self-discovery and self-reflection that I had, and the pure amount of joy in a relatively short program was incredible.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
As a vegetarian, the most unfamiliar thing I ate was meat! During the program, we had opportunities to engage with such local and direct connections with the food we were preparing and eating, that even as a fairly strict vegetarian I felt compelled to sample the oysters we watched get harvested and helped to shuck and the lobster that was caught by peers on my program, and of course, a multitude of great veggie options too, like some classic Maine fiddlehead ferns!
Pros
  • Beautiful location right on the Maine coastal estuaries on Georgetown Island
  • Amazing connections with peers and staff!
  • Frequent sauna & cold plunge experiences
Cons
  • Only three weeks long
  • A little buggy
94 people found this review helpful.
Thalia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Worthy Place Among The Trees

In May 2023, I felt grateful to be welcomed into Seguinland's program as a less-traditional college student and at present I continue to feel gratitude for all the positive ripple effects upon my life and career since. I felt thoroughly supported both while preparing for and engaging in the May Term, but also had the freedom and space to process the program's content and experiences on my own. The beautiful campus was a perfect setting for reading and reflection, and during classes big discussions and intense workshops on life's important questions were handled with care, curiosity, and real depth. The responsive and co-created nature of Seguin's programming makes it difficult to describe to a prospective student, since instruction is somewhat adapted to the needs of each cohort - but be assured that it is a safe and worthy space to explore your wonderings, values and goals at any point in your journey.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Enter with a "beginner's mind" and be ready to meet new sides of yourself!
Pros
  • Thought-provoking content
  • Varied, enriching outdoor experiences
  • Kind, knowledgeable teachers and staff
82 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers