National Geographic Student Expeditions - On Campus Bar Harbor Maine

The Program

From Bar Harbor to Acadia National Park, Maine's magnificent seascapes offer endless opportunities for exploration. Dramatic rocky promontories give way to quiet coves and fingerlike inlets, and hundreds of tiny islands dot the coastal waters. Harbor villages and lighthouses grace the shore, and lobstermen ply their trade according to long tradition. Settle into our campus on Mount Desert Island, and explore coastal Maine through your On Assignment project.

From our seaside base at College of the Atlantic, set out in small groups under the guidance of our trip leaders and a National Geographic expert. You might capture a spectacular sunset, the surf crashing against the cliffs, or a lighthouse perched on a misty bluff; write a short story about a local personality; or explore marine life in tide pools along the shore.

A typical day begins with an activity focused on your On Assignment project such as a workshop on photo techniques or a seminar with a local fisherman. Then head out on field assignments or active excursions—hiking, kayaking, biking, or exploring nearby islands. We'll return to campus in the late afternoon so that you can take advantage of some free time to play a pick-up game of basketball or write in your journal. In the evening, attend an enrichment workshop on topics such as whale behavior or the region's maritime history, or organize an open-mike night with your friends. On the final day of the program, share your On Assignment project with the group.

Active Excursions

Bar Harbor's evocative setting—between the mountains of Acadia and the craggy Atlantic coast—makes it an ideal base for photographic adventures. We'll explore Acadia National Park and its many trails, hike to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, go kayaking along the rocky shores, and take to the seas on a whale-watching cruise. Discover outlying islands on a boat trip and visit the picturesque maritime villages and lighthouses along the water's edge.

The Campus: College of the Atlantic

Set on Mount Desert Island overlooking the ocean, College of the Atlantic has gained an international reputation for its focus on sustainability and its environmental studies and marine science programs. Students live in single and double rooms within modern, eco-friendly suites. The campus has spacious meeting rooms with ocean views for workshops and discussions and a cafeteria that serves free-range meats, vegetarian options, and local organic produce.

National Geographic Experts

Photo of National Geographic Expert Amy Toensing

Photojournalist AMY TOENSING has been on assignments around the world, producing stories that reflect the lives of ordinary people. A graduate of College of the Atlantic, Amy has photographed 11 stories for National Geographic magazine, including a March 2003 article on the cultural heritage of Puerto Rico and a November 2007 piece on the kingdom of Tonga. Her story on Monhegan Island, a winter lobstering and artist community off the Maine coast, was featured in the July 2001 issue.

Choose one of the following On Assignment projects. Throughout the ten days, break into teams to focus on your selected area of interest through field activities, workshops, and discussions.

icon for Photography On Assignment Project PHOTOGRAPHY: Refine your photography technique in a series of field workshops, photo shoots, and critiques with working photographers and a National Geographic expert. Create a portfolio of lighthouses on Maine's rocky coast or lobstermen at work. Photograph the diverse scenes around you — from harbor villages to the rocky outcrops of Acadia National Park. Assemble a photo-essay on a subject of your choosing, and share your images in a final slide show.

icon for Exploration On Assignment Project EXPLORATION: Identify a topic that interests you and explore it in depth. Interview a fisherman and write an essay about his life, or research and present the conservation history of Acadia National Park. Trace changing whale populations at the Bar Harbor Whale Museum, or report on colorful local characters at an annual pancake breakfast and lobster race.

Your participation in a National Geographic Student Expedition provides support to National Geographic's mission of increasing global understanding through exploration, geography education, and research.