By Vittoria Socolof ’22, News Editor

Newark Academy offers a wide selection of semester school programs, ranging from marine biology studies in the Bahamas to backpacking through Chile to farming in Maine. I sat down with two juniors who recently returned from their programs: Brynn Garrett and Cassidy Wong. Cassidy returned from her fall semester just a few weeks ago, while Brynn returned early from her spring semester last year when COVID-19 hit. Both juniors experienced semester programs that value leadership and independence, as well as featuring spectacular landscapes. 

Cassidy returned from her Maine coast semester at Chewonki in late December and is adjusting back to her NA lifestyle. She explained that while NA is more academically rigorous, she enjoyed the hands-on learning experience she gained at Chewonki. “It’s just different,” she remarked. For example, their science classes often involved traveling to a new ecosystem. Cassidy discussed her experience learning about dune systems at the beach, as well as learning about the wildlife in a bog. Learning about ecosystems came in handy as Cassidy embarked on expeditions. When asked the most important life skill she learned on her outdoor overnight trips, she said her “newfound sense of independence.” Her program required a two-night solo camping trip, which Cassidy took on at the end of the semester. She had to tie a ridgeline between two trees, stake tarps to make a shelter, and set up bug nets. “I was confident in my skills, but also scared to be on my own,” she said of the experience. She spent the day reading and crocheting, only climbing back into her shelter when nightfall arrived. Cassidy also highlighted the importance of disconnecting from electronics: “Staying off social media felt really nice.” Unplugging from her phone required her to focus on nature, and become self-reliant. The most strenuous part of the Chewonki program was the six-day canoeing expedition. Cassidy’s group paddled 8-13 miles a day in freezing temperatures. “Anything that got wet practically froze,” she noted. At one point, they crossed a beaver dam: “Portaging the 90-pound canoe on my back was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.” Even though the expedition was mentally and physically taxing, the group bonded over their shared hardship. Cassidy plans on keeping in touch with the friends she made, already FaceTiming them every day since she’s been back in NJ.                   

Brynn attended the Alzar school located in Chile and Idaho last spring and just completed her first fall semester back at NA. When asked if meeting everyone in the program felt awkward at first, Brynn immediately said no: “We had 20 hours of plane rides to bond.” The program opens with a six-week expedition in Chile, and as soon as Brynn boarded the flight, she felt everyone in the program quickly becoming close friends. When Brynn arrived in Chile, she described her living situation as “weird at first.” She then explained, “I had my own room and bathroom at home and I suddenly had to live in a tiny tin can with six people. It felt a bit like summer camp, but I loved it.” Brynn’s expedition group started on the Río Baker: “Paddling on flat water was easy, but I almost flipped a few times in the rapids,” she stated. Brynn and her peers spent a week on the river, paddling during the day and camping out at night. After the river expedition, another week was spent backpacking through the Las Horquetas Mountain Range. After scrolling through pictures of the peak, I asked Brynn if the hiking was strenuous. She explained, “It was hard, but I didn’t exactly train before and I was still capable. Everyone had a different level of outdoor experience, but were all still able to do the hike.” She also discussed immersing herself in Chilean culture. One of her academic projects was to film herself interacting with locals while speaking Spanish as the students traveled to the City of Coyhaique twice a week. She was also able to enjoy traditional Chilean meals, as the owners of a nearby restaurant cooked for the program every night when the students were not on expedition. Although Brynn’s semester was cut short due to COVID-19 and she was only able to experience one week in Idaho, she said her time in Chile was “life-changing.” Brynn is still in touch with everyone from her semester. She feels more “connected to the outdoors,” and is planning a hiking trip to Oregon with her Alzar friends for next summer. 

Along with Chewonki and Alzar, NA offers High Mountain Institute (HMI) in Colorado and The Island School in The Bahamas. HMI is a similar program to Cassidy and Brynn’s with backpacking, skiing, and other outdoor activities. The Island School, on the other hand, focuses on sustainability and water sports. If you are not interested in “outdoorsy” centered programs, NA also offers The School For Ethics and Global Leadership (SEGL) located in Washington, DC. The school provides a unique curriculum, highlighting ethical thinking skills and international affairs. Semester schools provide students with the opportunity to broaden their learning perspective and experience a new environment surrounded by a new set of peers.