Crosscurrents is an interdisciplinary, summer day program for rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and community through storytelling. In this two-week program, participants will immerse themselves into the stories of maritime Maine as a creative catalyst to develop and tell a meaningful story of their own through the design and production of their own podcast.

Students will take inspiration from the programs three main themes: untold stories, environmental justice, and maritime art and craftsmanship. Together we will listen, experience, reflect, and be inspired by stories of our shared human connection to Maine’s waterways. Program experiences include kayaking to Malaga Island to witness the power of unchecked prejudice, exploring the indigenous origins of kayaks at Bowdoin College Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, lending a hand in Bowdoin College’s Ocean Sciences laboratories, deciphering local geology and our human impact at Popham Beach, trying our hand in woodworking and blacksmithing with traditional boatbuilders to understand how these skills are preserved in the maritime industry today.

Participants will learn the art of storytelling from professional podcasters and spoken-word performers and have an opportunity to use real recording equipment. This experience is perfect for students interested in documentary or fictional storytelling and who are inspired by finding and telling meaningful stories to a broad audience.

Along the way, students will have the opportunity to expand their network of professionals from institutions such as Bowdoin College, Maine’s First Ship, Bristol Marine, and Gulf of Maine EcoArts.

The program runs Monday-Friday, July 11-22, 9am-3pm.