Chewonki Foundation · CHEWONKI FOUNDATION / 2014 ANNUAL REPORT / September 1, 2013 –August 31, 2014 3 From the President C h r i s r i l e y P h o to WDear Chewonki Alumni, Friends,

Chewonki Foundation2014 ANNUAL REPORT / FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 2014

2 CHEWONKI FOUNDATION / 2014 ANNUAL REPORT / September 1, 2013–August 31, 2014

From the Chair

Dear Chewonki friends,

One of my great pleasures as chair of the board of trustees ishearing Chewonki parents, present and past, describe theprofound impact Chewonki has had on their sons anddaughters. Mentioning Chewonki in social settings sparksthese testimonials with wonderful regularity.

I hear how Chewonki kindled fascination with nature and how thatinfluenced decisions about education and career. I hear about self-confidence developed on a wilderness trip. I hear about a newfound depthof understanding of what is required to create and sustain a positivecommunity; and I hear about character growth that occurred over manysummers with the progression from young camper to older camper towilderness tripper to counselor, semester student, or trip leader.These testimonials resonate with me because of my own life experiences

as well as my observations. While I did not attend Chewonki, three years as acamper and five years as a counselor at an outstanding camp on a beautifullake in western Maine provided me with profound, life-defining experiencescomparable to what Chewonki parents describe so powerfully. And the fallthat Laura’s and my daughter, Amanda, spent at the Semester School haveoriented her priorities in ways that have been evident continually for thelast decade.None of the impactful Chewonki experiences that boys and girls and

young men and young women enjoy would be possible without thegenerosity of so many of you. Support for Chewonki is stronger than ever,and I am deeply appreciative of the vote of confidence for the currentprograms and the vision for the future that your gifts represent.The occasion of the Centennial has prompted many of us associated with

Chewonki to recognize all the more the wisdom and foresight of founderClarence Allen. For 100 years, the woods, fields, and waterfront thatClarence embraced and the people he and his successors hired havepromoted deep and lasting appreciation for nature and personal growth.As we head into our second century, we can have absolute confidence thatWillard Morgan and his team are leading Chewonki in just the right wayfor these times, building appropriately on our proud heritage.

With all best wishes,

John WarrenChair, Board of Trustees

MISSIONChewonki inspires transformative growth, teaches appreciation and stewardship of the natural world,

and challenges people to build thriving, sustainable communities throughout their lives.

CHEWONKI FOUNDATION / 2014 ANNUAL REPORT / September 1, 2013–August 31, 2014 3

From the President

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Dear Chewonki Alumni, Friends, and Families,

We ended our 2014 fiscal year on a high note – bycelebrating our 100th summer of Boys Camp andkicking off our Centennial Year, which culminatesAugust 14-16, 2015. It was a wonderful year forChewonki thanks to all of our students, campers,

families, staff, volunteers, and generous donors. Thank you!Our annual fund reached a new high of $847,608 (including gifts in

kind), thanks to a tremendous rush of support in response to our appeals.Meanwhile, our endowment continued to grow and provide meaningfulfunding for operations through a 4 percent draw. Together, these sourcesbenefit all of our participants through robust financial aid, staffprofessional development, facilities improvements, and programdevelopment. Some program highlights of the year included a successful first summer

of our Adventures for Girls, with 62 girls participating in 10-day and three-week trips, most of which spent some time at 4th Debsconeag Lake. BoysCamp leaders developed a new approach to activities for our youngestboys – the Puffins – to be sure every one of them experiences all thatChewonki offers in an age-appropriate way. Semester School studentspursued their own individual interests through new independent researchprojects, which are in the pilot phase of development as an integral partof the curriculum.We also offered a new educator workshop in collaboration with

Waynflete School, called “Teachings in Mindfulness for Educators”(TIME), which was enrolled beyond our planned capacity, and was awonderful way to introduce Chewonki to educators from Maine andaround the country.Throughout the year staff, trustees, and advisors continued an exciting

process of thinking about the future of Chewonki programs as we enterour second century. In summer 2014, we made the important decision tohire a team to create a long-term plan for the landscape and facilities onChewonki Neck that honors the best of the past while looking to the future.Stay tuned for master plan updates throughout this coming year.Thank you again for your loyal support and I hope you will join us

during the many events of our Centennial Year.

Best regards,

Willard MorganPresident

The summer of 2014marked our 100th

summer of camp andthe beginning of our

Centennial Year festivities. Theexcitement among campers,trippers, counselors, leaders, andalumni here on Chewonki Neckmade for a perfect kick-off. Wehonored the past but we also beganlooking toward Chewonki’s secondcentury. We have much to be proudof: successful year-round programs,an extraordinary staff, wonderfulcampers and students, and growingsupport from loyal and generousfriends who helped us exceed our2014 Annual Fund goal. Fiscal year 2014 was pivotal for

Chewonki. We transitioned from theprevious years’ focus on aligning,simplifying, and consolidating allparts of the organization, to a dualfocus on continuing this work whilealso making forward-lookingdecisions about growth that willdeepen and extend our mission. Wefinished the fiscal year with our bestoperating result in recent years, atremendous accomplishment due inlarge part to the support of ourdonors and the guidance andleadership of outstanding trusteesand advisors. We hope this report and selected

highlights of the year will giveyou a sense of the investments inChewonki’s programs and facilitiesthat your contributions have madepossible.Thank you for your part inChewonki’s success.


summer prog

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rams BOyS CaMp two hundred and sixty-nine boysparticipated in Chewonki’s memo-rable 100th summer. We cele-brated our history and blazed apath towards a second century offriendship, challenge, adventure,learning, and exploration of thenatural world. each sessionfeatured a different legacy guestto honor our past. session icampers will remember Donhudson giving the “Jar oflife” lesson during a sundayservice, while session ii camperswill recall renny little sharing hiscamp memories around the camp-fire. the core values of our camphold strong. in Fy 2014, we refinedthe progression boys makethrough wilderness experiencesand expanded the role the farmplays in camp life.

adveNtureS fOr gIrlSour all-girls program served 62girls, ages 10-16. they exploredthe forests, lakes, rivers, andmountains of the north Woods,from the allagash to theappalachian trail, fromnahmakanta lake to DoubletopMountain to the st. Croix river. Weoffered an introductory 10-dayprogram for 10- to 12-year-oldsbased at Debsconeag lake Wilder-ness Camps and four three-weektrips for older girls in beautifulremote locations. on every adven-ture, female leaders cultivated thegirls’ wilderness and leadershipskills, confidence, and under-standing of the ecological andhuman history of each place.

wIlderNeSS trIpS fOr teeNSninety-nine teens, 75 males and24 females, participated in 11 coedexpeditions across Maine and intoCanada. they backpacked alongthe appalachian trail, paddledcanoes on the allagash, white-water kayaked on several othergreat Maine rivers, sea kayakedalong the coast of Maine andQuebec, and sailed the waters ofPenobscot Bay. Development ofteamwork, leadership, wildernesspractices, self-discovery, andunderstanding of place continueto be hallmarks of our wildernesstrips.

New OutdOOrequIpMeNtWe invested $26,707 in outdoorequipment including 30 newfour-person, timberline outfit-ters tents; 30 backpacking tents(elixir 2s and 3s); waterproofdry bags for sea kayaking andbackpacking; and backpacks ina wide variety of sizes toaccommodate almosteveryone, from small campersto tall trippers. We also boughtfour Puffin-sized kayaks so ouryoungest campers can paddle aboat appropriately sized forthem.

CaMp IMprOveMeNtSWe purchased 50 newmattresses for camp cabins;enhanced our basketball courtswith new goals and lines; andresurfaced the tennis courts.

BIg eddy CaMpgrOuNdIMprOveMeNtSthe library at Big eddy, ourcampground and cabins on theWest Branch of the Penobscotriver in the north Woods, got anew roof.

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semester schoolINdepeNdeNtreSearChprOjeCtSall 84 students in semesters51 and 52 completedindependent researchprojects on a place-basedtopic of their choice relatedto improving the relationshipbetween human and naturalcommunities. in the first yearof this initiative, studentscompleted creative workranging from original folksongs to advocacy papersand community service. theypresented their findings tothe whole school at the endof the semester.

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travelINg Natural hIStOry prOgraMStnhP updated its lesson about vernal pools, utilizing newtechnology, displays, and activities to build a more relevantlesson tied to state and national education goals. the newversion invites participants to dive deep into the shallowwaters to take a closer look at the seasonal nature of a vernalpool and its impact on amphibian and invertebrate life cycles.Participants learn that these species-rich spring pools helpsupport food chains for a variety of animals living in adjacentecosystems.

OutdOOr ClaSSrOOMChewonki and the other four partner organizations ofenvironmental living and learning for Maine students(ellMs) deepened their collaboration to strengthen theirprograms, practices, and capacity to provide residentialenvironmental education to public school students across thestate. ellMs raises financial aid funds for Maine public schoolswho want their students to have a transformative experiencelearning outdoors. aid iscorrelated to the percentageof students in each applicantschool who are eligible for thenational school lunchProgram. in the 2013-2014academic year, ellMspartners welcomed 1,699students from 27 schoolsserving 45 towns. ellMsreceived critical support in theform of a $75,000 matchinggrant from Jane’s trust and a$225,000 grant from theelmina B. sewall Foundation.

school programsChris PerCy Photo

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farm

New hOOp hOuSethe farm and maintenance crews completed the building of the30’ x 72’ “high tunnel” hoop house for growing vegetables innovember 2013. this structure, funded by a grant from thenatural resources Conservation service (part of the U.s.Department of agriculture) and Chewonki donors, allowed us toincrease our growing season significantly. We also drilled a newwell to increase available water pressure and installed three newfrost-free hydrants to allow easy irrigation when necessary. theresults? additional kale and salad greens during the shoulderseasons and a dramatic increase in tomatoes. We harvested 2,600pounds of tomatoes, about triple our production of recent years.the kitchen crew worked long hours to process what theChewonki community could not eat fresh so we could enjoytomato sauce throughout the winter.

farM tO taBle (aNd wOOd StOve aNd furNaCe) the value of Chewonki farm products (food, firewood, and hay)totaled more than $68,000, close to $60,000 of which was foodserved through our kitchen and Pack-out—a new record. thisrepresents 19 percent of the total value of the food we served atChewonki.

increases in farm production were especially notable in relationto increased season extension (thanks to the high tunnel) andsignificantly more firewood production.

MIlk paSteurIzatIONthe kitchen crew processed bountiful amounts of milk throughpasteurization and making yogurt and cheese. the farm acquireda second cow, Gerry, last summer. Between June 4, 2012, when wecompleted the pasteurizing room with funds from donors, andaugust 31, 2014, we pasteurized 2,992 gallons of milk with a valueof $12,272 (based on $4.10 per gallon).

ChewONkI’S “fOrever farM”We received the Forever Farms designation from Maine Farmlandtrust, which awards it to landowners who have permanentlyconserved land for agriculture. a Forever Farms sign on Chewonkineck road now raises awareness of farming’s important part inthe ecological, economic, and cultural fabric of Maine.

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aCCeSS rOad IMprOveMeNtSWe worked to enhance the approach to the Chewonki campus.Between route 1 and Chewonki, we improved existing signs oradded new ones to direct visitors clearly into our central parking lot(by the Center for environmental education) and away from ourinner campus. stage ii will include landscaping around on-campussignage.

farM BarN IMprOveMeNtSContractors built new floors for the cow tie-ups and for the stall ofour workhorse, sal, continuing the ongoing process of maintainingand updating the 150-year-old barn.

New wOOd-fIred BOIlerWe used a $52,500 grant from efficiency Maine to help carry out amajor space heating project: installation of a high-efficiency woodgasification boiler in the Wallace Center to replace the ailing oldone. in addition to heating the Wallace, the new boiler now suppliesa significant portion of the allen Center’s heating needs, reducingour fossil fuel use.

New eleCtrIC vehICleCentral Maine Power granted us $15,000 for an electric vehicle, aChevy volt, for program use and to draw attention to thistransportation alternative wherever we go (all over).

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campus renewal


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Chewonki is proud to be a member of Maineshare, working with over 40 other nonprofitorganizations for a clean, healthy, and prosperous Maine. Maineshare offers easy, one-stopgiving to fund statewide groups working for a clean and healthy environment, fair treatmentfor all, and safe, livable communities. For more information on offering Maineshare at yourplace of work, please visit www.maineshare.org or contact Chewonki’s Development office.

Income StatementFor the fiscal year ending August 31 (in 000s) 2014 2013

Operating Revenue

Tuition 4,876 5,040

Financial aid and other discounts -974 -1,124

Endowment funds used for operations 254 225

Unrestricted and temp. restricted contributions 848 751

Grant revenue 79 136

Other revenue 212 239

Total Operating Revenue 5,294 5,268

Operating Expenses

Wages & salaries 2,841 2,894

Benefits & staff development 466 474

Food 262 289

Promotion, alumni relations 177 198

Transportation, supplies, IT & telecom 493 447

Professional services 110 122

Campus maintenance & utilities 260 207

Insurance 175 185

Depreciation 277 287

Interest, taxes, bank & credit card fees 137 139

Other expenses 77 72

Total Operating Expenses 5,275 5,313

Net Operating Income 20 -45

Non-Operating Activity & Adjustments

Permanently restricted contributions 80 34

Less: Endowment funds used for operations -254 -225

Other non-operating activity, including

investment gain (loss) 1,047 703

Total Non-Operating Activity & Adjustments 872 512

Net Consolidated Income 892 467

Balance SheetAs of August 31 (000s) 2014 2013

Assets

Cash 27 110

Accounts Receivable 184 1,082

Pledges Receivable 602 843

Investments 8,161 7,141

Land, Buildings & Equipment, Net 10,507 10,290

Other Assets 126 99

Total Assets 19,607 19,565

Liabilities

Accounts Payable 79 100

Deferred Income 1,015 1,791

Line of Credit, short and long-term notes 1,573 1,825

Other liabilities 267 69

Total Liabilities 2,934 3,785

Fund Balance 16,673 15,780

Total Liabilities & Fund Balance 19,607 19,565

this report is available online at www.chewonki.org.

Chewonki Endowment History as of 8/31/14in $ mn

8.0

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0.0

12/31/05

12/31/07

3/31/09

8/31/2009*

2/28/10

8/31/10

2/28/11

8/31/11

2/29/12

8/31/12

2/28/13

8/31/13

2/28/14

8/31/14

OFFICERSChair of the Foundation: John Warrenvice-Chairs of the Foundation: edward P. Barker, Jr., and sherry a. thornburg treasurer of the Foundation: theodore Deinard Clerk of the Foundation: sandra s. lehnerPresident of the Foundation: Willard Morgan

TRUSTEESJulius alexander, new Canaan, Connecticutedward P. Barker, Jr., Cambridge, MassachusettsD. scott Beebe Jr., Milton, Massachusettssamuel C. Buttrick, new Canaan, Connecticute. Barton Chapin iii, arrowsic, Maine (term ended May 2014)Kevin Connors, new york, new yorktheodore Deinard, Greenwich, ConnecticutJeffrey l. eberle, Concord, MassachusettsCharles B. Gordy ii, Concord, MassachusettsGordon hall iii, Marblehead, MassachusettsWilliam B. hetzel iii, Kennebunk, Maineharold Kingsbury, Cape elizabeth, Mainesandra s. lehner, holderness, new hampshireDave liebmann, southborough, MassachusettsJosh Marvil, yarmouth, Maine (term ended May 2014)rebecca e. Marvil, houston, texaslaird McCulloch, Woodside, Californiasuzanne McGinn, Cape elizabeth, MaineWillard Morgan, alna, Mainealyssa Pei, narberth, PennsylvaniaJohn F. Phinney, Wilton, ConnecticutM.-t. Charkie Quarcoo, Brooklyn, new yorksusan t. rodriguez, new york, new yorkroseanne saalfield, harvard, MassachusettsFrederick h. scott, Jacksonville, Florida (term ended May 2014)Joseph C. selle, Concord, MassachusettsGary a. spiess, Marblehead, Massachusettssherry a. thornburg, hanover, new hampshireJohn Warren, southborough, Massachusetts

HONORARY TRUSTEESharwood ellis, Jr., Woolwich, Mainerobert l. elmore, Jr., Carbondale, ColoradoWilliam B. hetzel, Jr., Brunswick, MaineKevin W. Kennedy, new york, new yorkF. Danby lackey iii, Groton, Massachusetts

Fay lampert shutzer, Ph.D., new york, new yorkWilliam B. tyler, Boston, MassachusettsJean t. Wilkinson, Cumberland Foreside, Maine

ADVISORSKenden alfond, Battambang, Cambodia e. Davies allen, Westport island, Maine (term ended May 2014)laura appell-Warren, southborough, Massachusetts David s. Barrington, Burlington, vermontharold K. Burnett, Winthrop, Maineelizabeth P. Burroughs, stockton springs, Maine (term ended May 2014)e. Barton Chapin, iii, arrowsic, MaineKatherine C. Chappell, Kennebunk, MaineMargaret (Peggy) Mathieson Conver, Flourtown, Pennsylvania Paul a. Crowell, Falcon heights, MinnesotaKirstin G. edelglass, Marlboro, vermontl. lincoln eldredge iii, Dallas, texas Michael Fleisher, Brooklyn, new yorkK.C. Golden, seattle, WashingtonGenevieve e. Gudebski, lafayette, CaliforniaCaleb P. hemphill, Falmouth, Mainerobert P. henderson, Jr., Dedham, Massachusetts (term ended May 2014)sherry F. huber, Falmouth, MaineW. Donald hudson, Jr., arrowsic, Mainestephen r. Kellert, new haven, Connecticutenyi-abal Koene, Fontenay-aux-roses, Francerichard Krantz, new york, new yorkWarren M. little, Cambridge, Massachusettsariane lotti, new york, new yorkhenry lovejoy, strafford, new hampshirevictoria Macmillan, Charlottsville, virginia sean Mahoney, Falmouth, Mainelydia Maier, Portland, Maine terry Marsh, Bremen, MaineJoshua D. Marvil, yarmouth, MaineJ. Bailey McCallum, Portland, oregonJoyce e. McCormick, Baltimore, Maryland sara s. K. Mitchell, south Bristol, MaineWylie l. Mitchell, auburn, Maineelizabeth Mygatt, Pittsburg, PennsylvaniaJerome Pieh, arrowsic, Maine stephen Chartey Quarcoo, Washington, D.C.erin B. Quinn, atlanta, Georgia B. Justin F. reich, arlington, Massachusettsa. syd roberts, Palm Beach, FloridaChristina Barrett robida, sherborn, MassachusettsClaiborne B. smith, atlanta, Georgiaisabelle de trabuc smith, new york, new yorkJasmine W. smith, Bar harbor, MaineBenjamin W. spiess, anchorage, alaskasue stafford, Cambridge, MassachusettsBenjamin thompson, new york, new yorkKarin tilberg, augusta, MaineBirgit townley, rye, new yorkDavid vail, Brunswick, MaineKate Wilkinson, Falmouth, MaineJohn P. Wilson, sr., Greenbrae, CaliforniaJulie Wormser, Cambridge, MassachusettsDale C. Wright, nobleboro, Maine

Chewonki FoundationBOard Of truSteeS aNd advISOrS

MISSIONChewonki inspires transformative growth, teaches appreciation and stewardship of the natural world,

and challenges people to build thriving, sustainable communities throughout their lives.

485 Chewonki Neck Road, Wiscasset, Maine 04578-4822

Tel: (207) 882-7323 • Fax: (207) 882-4074 • email: [email protected] • www.chewonki.org

this paper is made with 100% post-consumer recycled fiber using 100% renewable electricity and is manufactured through a carbon-neutral process.

Claire hartnell Photo

Documents

Chewonki Foundation · CHEWONKI FOUNDATION / 2014 ANNUAL REPORT / September 1, 2013 –August 31, 2014 3 From the President C h r i s r i l e y P h o to WDear Chewonki Alumni, Friends,