Program Reviews

My time at Seguinland was deeply meaningful and transformative. During my time here I was able to slow down and learn with intuition through a balance of academics, mindfulness and hands-on learning. My small knit cohort challenged me to grow socially and emotionally. I was very nervous about this program in the beginning and if people would be nice and like me but trust me everyone is in the same boat as you! By the time the program was over I didn't want it to end, and it seemed that everyone got even closer. I loved this program, and I know anyone who decides to do it will to.

Before I came to this program, I'd have considered myself very, very introverted (A part of me still is, of course). I didn't find many friends in Highschool because of this. Being vulnerable scared me, being perceived terrified me - so when I first entered this program, I expected to be labeled as a misfit. But I found myself more involved with a community of people, and more happy to be surrounded by others than I have ever felt in my life.

On top of this, the staff were so supportive, helpful, and a genuine joy to be around during my entire stay here. My conversations with them are apart of the many dear memories I've made in this program. I've had wonderful teachers in the past, but none quite like the ones here. I seriously couldn't ask, or imagine having better Professors than the ones at this program. I'm kind of repeating myself, but they were genuinely such a joy to be around.

This program was truly something special to me, and every experience here has become a light in my life that I hold very dear. I'm still very close with many of the friends I had made at this program (including my partner, who I also found here), and I wouldn't give a single one of them up for anything.

Fun and exhausting, it is an experience. The location is beautiful, the faculty are amazing, and the food is really quite good. The cabins are fine. The program is very intense, and frequently leaves you winded. In the end there aren't many things I'd cut out of the itinerary. You find yourself piling into a van for a transformative experience every day.

The time spent, though only 70 days, feels a great deal longer. Yoga and hiking punctuate a schedule of day trips and open-ended class time. Community is a theme. You spend a lot of time talking to locals and developing a culture on campus.

The 'Good Food Facilitators' function as sous chefs and glance over your shoulder when you are mixing ingredients. If you are an inexperienced cook, it is very helpful. They are very accommodating and the atmosphere of the cookhouse is always warm and jovial.

Every faculty member feels like a master of their respective craft. It really is an impressive group of people. Occasionally the program would invite guest speakers, and they were invariably incredible. One I remember well was Bowdoin College CFO Michael Cato, who gave an illuminating talk on his struggles with identity as a Black man in the whitest state in the union.

Cabin life was quite lively and I felt it developed my skills with regards to self-sufficiency and coexistence. I deeply enjoyed late-night talks with my roommates and working on puzzles and meals together between classes, and the proximity of everyone's accommodations forges strong relationships. There was a give-and-take with regards to sleep and communal space.

Overall, I would recommend Seguinland to anyone who is intent on being pushed out of their comfort zone over the course of their gap semester. It is one of the most eventful 70-day periods of my life thus far, and if you are looking for adventure, it is likely your best option. The program is world-class, and as one of my roommates said, on move-out day I doubt anyone regretted their decision to attend.

My time at Seguinland was unforgettable and filled with so much learning, laughing, and living. I have made so many great friends here who I know I will continue to talk to and hang out with for many years to come.

After coming here I now feel more confident in choosing my own "good life" not one bound by the traditional 9-5 or what other people expect me to do, but one that is completely my own. I would recommend this program to anyone, but I think its especially helpful for people who want to change things up and find their own path.

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.

I came to Seguinland without a clear plan for what the fall would become. What I didn’t expect was how much it would ask me to slow down and pay attention—not just to people, food, and art, but to my own mind. A line by Mary Oliver stayed with me the whole term: “You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.” That felt like good advice here. Less forcing, more listening.

I’ve always lived with a busy, restless inner world. My mind moves fast, jumps ahead, imagines ten futures at once. For a long time, I treated that chaos as something to fix or quiet down. At Seguinland, I started to see it differently. The chaos didn’t disappear—but I learned to relate to it with more curiosity than judgment. Instead of fighting it, I began to notice how much of my creativity came from that same restless place. There was space to sit with my thoughts, to feel things without immediately needing to explain or organize them. Mindfulness here wasn’t formal or rigid; it showed up in long walks, quiet mornings, shared silence, hugs, and moments of friendship—and in the permission to be present even when my feelings were tangled.

One of the biggest things I learned was about friendship. Not the idealized version, but the real one—messy, uncertain, sometimes confusing. As I became more honest with myself, I also became more honest with others. Some friendships clicked instantly; others took time or changed shape along the way. As the weeks passed, the group naturally split into smaller circles, but it never felt hostile or isolating. Even when dynamics shifted, people still showed up for each other, and there was a shared sense of respect that held the community together.

Food ended up being more important to me than I expected. Cooking at Seguinland brought back my desire to host—to invite people in, spend time cooking together, and let conversations unfold around the table. The kitchen became another place where my mind could slow down. Measuring, chopping, tasting—it grounded me. Sharing meals became one of the easiest ways to connect, and it reminded me how much joy I get from caring for people in a very practical, tangible way.

Creatively, the term pushed me to try things I had never done before. I made my first short film with my friends—something I had always wanted to do but kept postponing. Working collaboratively allowed my imagination to spill outward instead of looping inward. Being surrounded by so many artists—writers, musicians, painters, filmmakers—made experimentation feel normal, even encouraged. Creativity wasn’t treated as something special or rare; it was simply how people processed the world.

Beyond Seguinland itself, I met adventurers, artists, and thinkers whose paths crossed with ours and widened my sense of possibility. And within the program, I formed friendships that feel steady and lasting—both with other students and with staff members, who were present, generous, and deeply human in the way they supported us.

The Fall Term didn’t give me a single big revelation. Instead, it gave me many small ones: how to sit with a chaotic mind without judging it, how to trust my imagination, how to be more honest in relationships, how to enjoy cooking for others again, and how to let myself like what I like without over-explaining it. That feels like something I’ll carry with me for a long time.

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.

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).

As I inched closer to graduating High school I had no idea what I was going to do next, let alone what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I didn’t feel ready to jump right into collage, but I didn't want to float around either. This program gave me that perfect in-between space to reflect upon what it means to live a “good life” through its philosophy, writing and art courses. I can wholeheartedly say that this program made a huge positive impact on my life, and Im forever grateful I attended!

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!