September 20th was Hebron’s Maine Day, where the various grades went on field trips (or stayed on campus) to learn about different aspects of the surrounding Maine community. We asked a student from each grade to write about their Maine Day experience. The pieces they returned range from brief to long and while some are very literal, others are full of hyperboles that should not be taken too seriously. Thank you to all the local organizations that hosted us!
Perrin Gill ‘28 on the freshman class
Maine Day was a thrilling opportunity for students to come together and make a positive impact through community service across the state. As 9th graders at Hebron Academy, we stayed on campus, which might not seem exciting at first, but it turned out to be an adventure, as we explored hidden spots that many students had never seen before.
The day began in the science lecture hall, where Dr. Swenton presented the schedule and laid out our plans. My group’s tasks included cleaning the Atwood closet, organizing the Lepage closet, and cutting down trees around the sauna. Though it was hard work, Maine Day offered an amazing chance to connect with nature, bond with my classmates, and gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty of our surroundings. It was more than just a day of service; it was a day of discovery and teamwork, right in our backyard.
Addie Hancock ‘27 on the sophomore class
For the sophomore year trip, we went to Nezinscots. Nezincots is a local farm in Turner with various animals, gardens, and a cafe/bakery. Their store includes various locally sourced crafts and goods, plus an upstairs seating area with cats. It originally was a dairy farm, but over the last three generations, it has expanded to include many other forms of agriculture. The staff there were incredibly welcoming and eager to teach us about their operation, and overall it was a great experience.
When we arrived, they organized us into groups to take on different tasks around the farm. The first group went over to the animals, helping to feed and care for them. The second group headed to the farm and did general maintenance to prepare for the winter. After that, they harvested some food for the lunch that Nezinscots was preparing for us. The third group went into the bakery to make pizzas and bake a cake for when all of our respective tasks were done. As the groups finished up, we ended by picking flowers and eating a delicious meal. Altogether, this trip was a great hands-on experience that taught us about agriculture and ways of living sustainably and was an incredibly fun way to integrate into the local community.
Cale Proctor ‘26 on the junior class
For a class trip the junior class went to Ricker Hill, which is an apple orchard in Turner Maine. While we were there, we did a multitude of things: we played with animals, we went shopping, we picked apples, and had a great time. While picking apples my friends thought it would be a great idea to start throwing apples at each other, so we walked out of that orchard with more bruises than we walked in with.
Kate Dilworth ‘25 on the senior class
While everyone else sipped apple cider and pet goats on Maine Day, the Senior class got recruited by a cult in the deep wilderness of Farmington, Maine. To start the day we were introduced to a man fully dripped out in cargo shorts, tucked in flannel button-up, along with a pair of rain boots with no socks on. I know he wasn’t wearing socks because he would take his shoes off multiple times throughout the day to reconnect with nature. Next after a 5-minute walk to the compound itself, we circle up next to a tree with a swing. Now, what Rain Boots man does with this swing is unbelievable. He winds up and flies around the circle, rain boots still on. After introductions to the staff and the oak trees, we are sorted into groups to do the weirdest manual labor. I sat on the floor of a wooden cabin crushing acorns to get the meat out. That’s right acorn meat. Didn’t know that existed until I was sitting on the floor next to a man who was on a deodorant strike and his best friend was an ant who was not there to eat the food in the kitchen. News flash, the ants are there to eat the food in your kitchen. After crushing acorns for thirty minutes we made acorn pancakes which taste about the same as cardboard with maple syrup and by what I mean disgusting. Then we chopped some vegetables which were alright and had a lunch break. I know that rain boot-wearing David Kuresh hated to see all those Dorito bags pulled out of the abyss. Then came my favorite part. Tree hugging.
Contrary to popular belief tree huggers are not an old wives tale like the bigfoot or the yeti. No, they are real and they wear Blundstone and thrifted fisherman’s sweaters. As we walked in the woods we met the beech trees or the “beech people” and then we had to choose one to cut down. But do not worry guys! This tree’s life is not ending because it will live on in someone’s new hobbit home. I’m not sure what it was but I was just trying not to get brainwashed. When I tell you that these two grown men were crying about cutting down this tree. Tears physically fall down this man’s cheek to cut down a tree. Yes, I understand the consequences that deforestation has on the environment and animal habitats, however when I tell you I saw maybe a million other beach trees in the general area. I don’t think that this tree will be necessarily missed.