How did we spend time on Penikese Island?
The Gull Island project is organized around the three pillars of labor, self-governance, and academics. Each day we participated in all three activities – labor in the kitchen, garden, or on the coast; self-governance every evening; and seminar every morning. These three aspects of the experience intersected and made each other stronger.
Labor, Self-Governance & Academics
Labor on Penikese Island
What did it mean to work on the island?
Labor on Peniskee Island is oriented toward practicing the mission of the institute, being living on the land well. Coastal Cleanup, Pruning Poplar Trees, and Gardening made up the labor done on the island. All of the labor puts energy toward maintaining the island itself or the habitats and health of the life on the island. This was an opportunity for reflection upon our role as stewards of the land.
Self-Governance on Penikese Island
What did it mean to make decisions by ourselves on Penikese Island?
Self-Governance is a key principle of the Gull Island Institute, but is not typically part of a traditional college class. Along with labor, self-governance was central to the experience on the island, pushing us to take ownership over the trip, and think about what it means to live in community.
Academics on Penikese Island
What did it mean to learn on Penikese Island?
This section explores the intentions and outcomes of the Penikese Island trip, focusing on students’ desire to break from routine, engage with nature, and explore collective, place-based learning beyond the traditional classroom. Reflections highlight how the island’s structure, self-governance, and shared labor fostered presence and connection, while course ideas and texts surfaced organically through discussions, work, and personal experiences, enriching both academic and emotional understanding.
