Program Reviews

My time at Seguinland Institute was truly an inspiring, colorful, mind opening, wonder encouraging experience packed to the brim with love and laughter. My gap semester spent here was so vital to my journey of figuring out who I am, where my passions lie, and who I want to be. We did so many wonderful things like hikes, camping, day trips to close by towns, visiting beaches, had insightful conversations, nights in the cookhouse, and so much more. I made the best friends in the world and never felt more at home. If I could go back and relive this experience I would in a heartbeat.

I am so happy that I chose Seguinland for the start of my gap year. I think the most important thing was what I learned from the fantastic group of students that I became friends with, but I am so grateful for so much else. The academic/ class side of the program was such a great switch from how high school felt to me and I feel that the discussions we had were really valuable. I thought about new and interesting things, really had to write poems and gained more confidence with pursuing my creative passions. I learned so much and I feel like it has helped me to feel better about moving forward with what I might do in the near future. It is so beautiful, you spend so much time in nature. I loved every walk to and from class or dinner and my house each each day. It is a good next step to becoming an independent adult, but still not any kind of leap.

Seguinland was unlike anything I have ever experienced before, in all of the best ways. The people are absolutely wonderful— some of the most genuine, caring, and kind people I’ve come across. They gave me so much hope and excitement for life. It is clear the staff put immense thought and intention into every aspect of the program. Every day is different, from trips to the beach to cooking together to stargazing and so much more. It's impossible to not feel truly alive while you're there. I could not recommend it more.

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.

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 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.

Seguinland Institute is an unmatched transcendent experience, and the Good Life Writer's Retreat proves furthermore. In addition to the many literary and writing skills I obtained, this program quickly became a family, supporting one another day after day. Being able to utilize the great room, the gathering space and other locations throughout the campus, provided me with the headroom and drive to produce some of the best writing I've done. Truly an exceptionally special and grounding dwelling.

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.