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N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 5 3 3 FromtopcourtesycoastalstudiesForgirlsmelissamullenphotography 6T wice a year a new crop of 10th- grade girls arrives at the little yel- low farmhouse at Wolfes Neck Farm in Freeport to attend a rigorous res- idential school semester focused on Science andLeadershipatCoastalStudiesForGirls. I dreamed of a semester school for girls for many years says Pam Erickson found- er and executive director. Semester schools which include such programs as Chewon- ki in Wiscasset and the Mountain School in Vermont are just what the name implies a single high-intensity high school semes- ter. All but CSG are coed and most are de- signed for juniors and seniors. We opened in February 2010 and have been running this transformational one-of-a-kind school for 12 semesters now. Its the only semester school for girls in the en- tire United States. For us the decision to work with 10th graders was very intentional I wanted to have an impactwhile theyre still youngand open to the possibilities of what they can become. How do 10th-graders learn lead- ership skills Positive role models 24 hours a day for four months says Er- ickson who studied biology and envi- ronmental education at the University of Wisconsin where shes from and has a mas- ters in education from UNH. We begin the semester with a 10-day Communication Moratorium where there is no technology and no contact in or out of school. The girls are issued a pair of muck boots on their first day. About those cell phones They can only be used for music or as cameras. This sounds like quite a shock to the teenage system but she explains that it en- ables the girls to settle into themselves their community and their environ- ment. Every day regardless of weather or season begins with a Solo on the shore of Casco Bay. We walk in silence down a gravel road through a farm with fields of cows to sit and set our intention for the day. Were out all the time on field trips. Were an academically rigorous school and while we focus on marine science and leadership the girls also take English his- tory of the Maine coast French or Span- ish and algebra geometry or pre-calcu- lus. We end each day with a closing circle citing successes and challenges from the day. And the leadership skills as we build a toolbag for them to take with them sit underneath all of the hands-on science. A new partnership with the College of the Atlantic benefits CSG alumnae who may later apply to COA. A CSG student who is accepted to COA is eligible for 10000 a year in scholarship money. We have four CSG alumnae in the freshman class right nowtwo from Maine and two from out of statethese are the first stu- dents putting this affiliation to use. Its ex- citing. Pams guiding principle helping girls reach for their goals and make a positive difference in the world. Pam Erickson Leader Freeport By Claire z. Cramer Thegirlsareissued apairofmuckboots ontheirfirstday.