Teenagers These Days!

Hard Work and Fun, Too

At the Mountain School Program

By Cornelia Cesari

Some area teens, such as Chelsea’s Grace Amber, are studying at the Mountain School of Milton Academy.

The Mountain School, in Vershire, is a junior year semester program. Each term, 45 high school juniors come together from public and private schools all over the country. Each group is diverse—geographically, economically, and culturally. Often they may have little in common, except their desire to be there and their willingness to work hard.

They live in dorms, but spend much of their time working on the farm (which produces much of the students’ food), keeping up with a rigorous academic schedule, and learning about the local environment. Through this intense experience, most students also learn a great deal about themselves. One component of the outdoor program is a three-day solo in the wilderness; not as a survival exercise, but as a time for quiet reflection.

According to director Alden Smith, "the Mountain School is a place of intellectual energy, stunning beauty, spontaneous play, and unrelenting honesty."

While Amber is the only Chelsea student there this semester, many area teenagers have attended the Mountain School in the past. The program is committed to maintaining a diverse student body, including local teenagers. Assistant Director Susie Rinehart is enthusiastic about the strengths and skills Chelsea teenagers bring to the program.  Generally she finds that they share a strong work ethic, a warmth, and a genuine appreciation for the program.

"They come ready to take full advantage of every opportunity we offer, with a smile and a ‘how can I help?’ attitude," Rinehart said. "And when there's work to be done, whether it’s finishing a paper or shoveling manure, they dig right in!"

Last spring, Ada Defriez, Willa Capobianco, and Joe Bonasera all attended the Mountain School. Bonasera admits he was a little apprehensive about dorm life, but "it turned out to be great. The best part was meeting kids from all over the place!"

"Local students gain a fresh view on the place and people that are home when introducing it to others," observed Rinehart.

The program also includes in-depth environmental studies. The academics appealed to Capobianco, who said the semester reinforced her goal of delving into environmental science and education. She loved the extensive time spent learning outdoors at the Mountain School. 

Capobianco and Bonasera, seniors at Chelsea School, found the academics to be demanding, although they both said they felt well-prepared. They enjoyed going outside for class and especially being surrounded by so many enthusiastic learners.

The pace was rigorous, packing so much into each day, "but it was really worth it," Bonasera concluded.

____________