Seguinland Institute: The Good Life Gap Year Reviews

It was truly a unique and rare experience where my cohort built a sense of community that feels alien to me in the modern world. Every one of the staff and teachers were great resources for the co-creation of the experience. Further, they were genuine, loving, caring, and supportive humans who were interested in our success in all aspects of our lives. Our minds, bodies, and souls were engaged, and I learned so much about myself, life, and my place in the world. If this opportunity at all intrigues you, take it!

Seguinland was my second program based Gap Year experience and I am forever grateful I got to be part of this meaningful community.

I was expecting to come out of this program with a few college credits and nothing much else. Instead I left with a vibrant community, a renewed outlook on nature and being, a deep appreciation for movement, a love for those breathtaking Georgetown views, AND college credits.

As a semi-international student (German/American but never lived in US) this program guided me to connect with all parts of my identity. To turn inward, grow, accept and connect with others in meaningful ways. If you are an international student and are afraid of how you might be embraced within the community, don’t be. They will welcome you, your language and culture with open arms and curiosity. Sie sind alle wirklich schätze :)

My only regret is not embracing it more, Seguinland is a captivating experience if you allow yourself to be immersed in it.

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.

Seguinland is truly a special place. I’ve never felt so free to be myself, to explore what’s around me, sit with my thoughts, and figure out what really matters to me. The experience gave me something I didn’t know I was searching for: a profound sense of place. In the physical sense—our close-proximity cottage living, the coastal rural community, the changing tides of the marsh—and in the deeper way of feeling truly rooted in and known by a community.

Our ten weeks were packed with unforgettable experiences: a day of solitude, fort-building, dance parties, cooking, community meals, stargazing, artist studio visits, evening mindfulness yoga sessions, canoeing to Beal Island, and a camping trip to Acadia National Park that somehow became one of my favorite memories (which feels crazy to say as someone who never considered herself a “nature person” before this).

This program attracts extraordinary people who are intentionally choosing to slow down and seek the good life, and because of that, I spent ten weeks surrounded by compassionate, curious, deeply thoughtful, and community-oriented people. And, we were given the rare gift of time together to connect and be present! My Seguinland friends are very different from any of my friends from home, and I think that’s part of what makes them feel so special. I feel so lucky to have found people who I love so deeply in such a short amount of time.

Academically, it was very manageable and balanced. I loved taking just one class at a time, and we often spent evenings together completing our homework while chatting. Learning felt very communal and experiential—not only did we spend many classes outside of the classroom, learning from hands on experiences, but ideas and discussions often made their ways into late night cottage chats and other parts of our lives.

Seguinland was the simultaneously the best place to land on after high school and to launch from into my gap year and college. While I sometimes struggled at home to explain my gap year to peers heading straight to college, Seguinland felt so safe and refreshing, filled with others on unconventional paths, all figuring things out together. I left feeling rooted in who I am, what I value, and what I want to look for in people and communities; carrying with me a sense of belonging and a readiness to step into whatever comes next. I couldn’t be more grateful for this experience and I can’t imagine my life without these people, these memories, and this special place. If you’re reading this, I hope you’ll take it as your sign to apply! I can promise you won’t regret it.

My experience at Seguinland has been beyond special, and I would describe Seguinland as just that: special. There is no way to articulate the specialness of this program—the only way to find out is by coming here! One might even say Seguinland is ineffable. I’ve been changed for the better because of my time here, and I’ll forever be grateful for that. I’ve learned the power of community and belonging, the importance of nature and re-wilding, the value of creativity, and so much more. From dance parties in the rain to cooking together to having deep late-night conversations to yoga class to field trips to camping to playing games on the beach, I’ve made life-long friends. Truthfully, I am much closer to the people here than I am to friends I’ve known for 10 years. That is the true power of Seguinland—the ability to forge an invaluable community I’ll never forget.

I spent a semester doing the Good Life program at Seguinland, and I made some of the most amazing memories and closest friends of my life. The courses and the adventures that we set out on brought the entire group together in a way I’d never experienced, we shared so many lovely home cooked meals and so many laughs. The instructors were so easily accessible and supportive, creating a safe and unique environment to create, explore, and be yourself. I would recommend this to anyone in search of a little peace, joy, and reconnection with nature!

Seguinland Institute is a truly transformative gap year program that creates a rare space for deep self-discovery and creative growth. From the moment you arrive, the emphasis isn’t just on mastering techniques, but on asking meaningful questions about who you are and how you express yourself in the world. Phillip (Director) really invites you to explore big ideas about identity, purpose, and human experience, while our writing workshops guide you to articulate your thoughts, reflect on your journey, and shape your voice with clarity and courage. You move beyond perfection and performance, learning to experiment, take risks, and communicate through visual forms. What sets this kind of program apart is the reflective practices with a supportive community living: you’re constantly encouraged to engage in thoughtful conversations and receive honest feedback. You challenge yourself in way you've never been challenged before. By the end of the experience, I would say I improved not just creatively, but gained a deeper sense of self-awareness, renewed confidence in my aspirations, and a clearer sense of purpose for the next chapter of my life.

Seguinland Institute was the perfect first away-from-home experience. From the second I set foot on campus, I knew this was the right place for me. The emphasis on community, art, nature, and "The Good Life" were all extremely important to me.

I made life-long friends, learned a lot about my self, and our world. Seguin core (a name for the vales we learned and took away from our time at Seguinland) is still relevant in my day-to-day life. I cherish the memories and friends I made, the community I found, the nature I experienced, the little moments with my Seguin fam, and the many inspirational and life-changing ideas, readings, conversations, and quotes I heard and learned about during my time in Maine!

The bond you get to experience with your cohort is such a gift and something that I truly appreciated about this exceptional, fun, and educational micro-college in the woods. As "life is in the transitions," I am now in my first-year of college. I really miss my time on the campus. I miss crossing the bridge over the Back River with my friends, staring at the glistening stars in the night sky, learning about and getting to experience a lunar eclipse, and looking out at the snow-covered trees and salt flats from the gathering space and cook house. However, I take the memories and moments from Seguinland with me, and use them to shape the future I want for myself and our world.

I'm still in touch with my Seguin fam (both other students, as well as instructors). I still listen to the songs I collected from my friends and cohort when I miss them. I'm truly grateful that my path lead me to Seguinland Institute. I'd choose this program again if I could. It was the highlight of my gap year, and I will never forget my time in Maine or the community that we built together!

My semester at Seguinland (February–April 2025) came at a very tumultuous time in my personal life and provided me with a kind of solace I couldn’t have found anywhere else. Where else can you take a solo walk in the snowy woods, watch the geese and bald eagles soar overhead and touch down along the riverbank, then return to a cookhouse full of friends, collaboratively homemade meals, and hours of music passed around on the speaker? And then, afterward, gaze up at a full dome of stars on your walk back home??

Seguinland is a world of constant learning, all of which was vital to my growth as an individual during my gap year. While I was something of a non-traditional gap year student (21 years old, already graduated with my Bachelor’s degree and taking a year off while applying for Master’s programs), Seguinland was the perfect place for me. In our “Good Life” philosophy course, I was encouraged to ask large questions of myself—what is the heart’s deepest desire? how can I seek out and embrace awe and wonder in my everyday life? what does it mean to live a “good life”???—with no rush to answer them completely or immediately.

I was constantly engaging with my own natural curiosity and creativity, inside and outside of the classroom, learning about the tidal cycles of Back River, building a toboggan in the wood shop, and tapping maple trees for sap. On walks with community directors, I learned more about the history of the program and the incredible land we were living on. I played card games and had dance parties and folded origami flowers with their children and my classmates, feeling like a part of a family I never knew I would have. We wrote poems that responded to the winter woods we were living in, created collages to reflect our journeys as creatives. We hiked up mountains and flew down hills on our toboggans, waded in the pond, strapped on some cross-country skis and wandered, wandered, wandered. The community we built was so tight, so “Seguincore.” I stay in touch with many of my cohort and wish more than anything for us all to be together again, washing dishes and singing “Spud Infinity,” painting together at the dining room tables, walking hand-in-hand to fill our water bottles at the well.

Now at my Master’s program, I notice myself reminiscing about my time at Seguinland often—not only the memories and relationships I made with the people and the place, but the lessons I learned, the habits I acquired, the values. The person it helped me become, and how it continues to shape me far beyond the program.

Thank you, Seguinland! My life will forever be Seguincore.

The Seguinland experience has been one of the most magical times of my life. The activities my peers and I participated in truly changed the way I think and connect with others. From discussing how to live the good life in class to building forts and creating together, my creativity was constantly reignited.

One moment that will always stand out to me was our first course final project, where everyone had to create a foraged feast and write an ode to their chosen plant. Seeing everyone’s creativity and passion, and getting to try their delicious food, is something I will never forget.

The human connection at Seguinland was just as meaningful. My peers were all so different, yet incredibly kind and welcoming. They showed me not only what makes a great friend, but what makes a great person. The teachers were equally impactful, always supportive, understanding, and genuinely invested in who we are.

I found some of my best friends at Seguinland, and will be forever thankful for this experience. Thank you, Seguinland!