The liminal space of the seacoast, that threshold between land and sea, and between sea and sky, is an ideal thinking and growing place for adolescents, who are also in transition, between childhood and adulthood.

When this opportunity in Maine showed up in my email, I found myself humming Gordon Bok’s Hay Ledge Song,” . . . give sadness to the wind, blown alee and gone . . . ” But sea chanties and sentiment aside — Coastal Studies for Girls is something I would have loved at age 15. (See earlier post on opalescent squid, if you don’t believe me.) Read on and see if you know a girl who would love it, too. Public school, private school, or home school background, it’s all good at CSG.

Coastal Studies for Girls is the country’s first residential science and leadership semester school for 10th grade girls. The girls who will thrive here have a love for learning and discovery, curious minds, adventurous spirits, and a desire to challenge themselves.

CSG is much more than school—it is a profound experience with the potential to change a life. Girls leave here empowered to make a difference at home, in school, and in their communities.

The curriculum is built around three strands:

Scientific Research: comprises the challenging and rigorous science-based exploration that is the foundation of Coastal Studies for Girls. The Coastal Marine Ecosystems course is based in authentic research-based inquiry. Using the Maine coast as a natural laboratory, students design and conduct original research projects and present their results to an audience of peers, staff, family and community members.

The Core: ensures that students maintain good standing at their local high schools, enhances their college admissions prospects and adds the perspective of environmental stewardship in all subject areas.

Leadership: offers opportunities for personal growth and environmental stewardship. In the Leadership Adventure girls learn traits of an effective leader as well as a cooperative group member, through activities such as ocean sailing, backpacking, sea kayaking, team challenges on a ropes course, rock climbing and snow camping.

Do you know of a current tenth grade girl who would be successful at CSG? Is she willing, capable, adventuresome? Would she like the opportunity to live on the Maine coast in an 1850s farmhouse with a bunch of other girls, for 16 weeks, beginning in February?

Some very generous donors have committed to making this opportunity available to ALL girls, regardless of their ability to pay. Go to the CSG website and get excited. Tell them the NCGS AllGirls blog sent you.