Field Term Offers an Experience Like No Other

Kara McDuffee

Oct 8 2021

As most Brewster students embark on their academic year in Wolfeboro, a small group of students chose to start their year in a different setting. This setting, while only 35 minutes away from the main campus, looks quite a bit different than the main campus. Cabins take the place of dorm rooms, outdoor pavilions replace traditional classrooms, and mountains stand in the place of sports fields.

This setting is the home of Brewster's new Field Term.

Field Term is a trimester program located at Camp Bell, 3,500 secluded acres containing forests, lakes, and mountains. Despite its reclusive nature, the camp's proximity to the main campus allows Brewster students and teachers to travel between the two easily.

"This Field Term program would not be able to work anywhere else because it's designed specifically for the setting that Brewster uniquely occupies among other schools," says Ben Rendall '07, the founder and director of Brewster Field Term. Ben, who will complete his Ph.D. in Geology in the spring, served as a science teacher at Brewster's main campus last year as he collaborated with other Brewster faculty and administrators to bring the Field Term to fruition.

From day one, the students at Field Term have been taking advantage of this unique location.

They live two or three to a cabin and use the main lodge (endearingly called the "rec room") as their home base for meals, lounging, and learning. However, most of their classes take place outdoors–either in the diverse settings around the camp or on trips throughout New Hampshire.

"I chose to go on Field Term because I love to spend time in nature, and I feel like I'm happier in nature," said Zak Maxey '23. "Here, I can be in school and feel more like myself. It's been a great combination."

Afternoons and weekends are dedicated to outdoor activities that include hiking, canoeing, and exploring. A highlight thus far amongst students has been canoeing down the Pemigewasset River. For four hours, the group enjoyed the history and wildness of the landscape around them.

While some students joined Field Term because of their experience in the outdoors, other students wanted to challenge themselves. "I signed up for Field Term to try something new," says Sylvie Skibicki '23. "I'm not necessarily someone who goes into nature everyday, but I wanted to push myself to do something I'm uncomfortable with."

"Challenge is at the heart of Field Term," Ben Rendall explains. "It's about learning how to overcome challenges and setting high expectations while giving high support."

This combination of challenge and support shines through in Field Term’s rigorous curriculum. Each day is dedicated to a different subject, and coursework has been intentionally designed to inspire connections between classes. Whether the students are mapping watersheds, writing creative essays, or studying the history of the land, their classes are centered around the lens of nature and humans’ effect on the natural world.

As director, Ben oversees the curriculum and teaches several subjects throughout the week. When he’s not teaching, Brewster faculty travel to Camp Bell to teach, including Craig Gemmel, President of Brewster and BA International. Advisors and Instructional Support teachers also make the trip from campus to Field Term to visit their students. All of these measures will help aid the students’ transition back into regular classes in the winter trimester. Additionally, the students will continue to take AP Seminar with Ben after Field Term ends.

Challenges don't solely come in the form of academics, however. Students also must learn how to interact in a tight-knit community and work together during their action-packed days. They rely on each other for daily tasks like cooking meals, doing dishes, and cleaning their shared spaces.

"I've gotten to know and see a different side of people than I would have on campus," Olivia Tibbs '22 said, commenting that the small group size was one of her main motivations for joining Field Term.

To learn more about Field Term and the unique experience it offers, explore our website and videos.