Bowdoin freshmen experience County way of life

By Karen Donato
Special to the Pioneer Times
    Nine incoming Bowdoin freshmen accompanied by their adviser Allen Delong and two upper-classmen participated in their pre-orientation program at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton. This is the seventh year that Delong has accompanied a group to the area and this year brought an additional group who spent their time at the Presque Isle High School farm. Both groups toured the museum upon their arrival last Wednesday. They also received a welcoming gift of local information provided by the Houlton Chamber of Commerce.
Photo by Karen Donato
TAKING A BREAK — These Bowdoin College students participated in a pre-orientation program at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum last week. Standing from left are: Zachary Ward, Grace Butler, Katie Micklus, Courtney Chuang, Ben Woo Ching, Chris Li and David Sperber. On the tractors are, Megan O’Connor, Katherine Foley, Jing Trerayapiwat and David Vargas. The Massey-Harris tractors are owned by Bob and Jane Bartlett of Littleton. The group was accompanied by Bowdoin faculty member, Allan Delong, a former Monticello resident. The students stayed at Conroy Lake in Monticello.
    The students came from Massachusetts, Colorado, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Iowa and South Korea. While at the museum they painted picnic tables, steps, a ramp, platform and other items. They also did a variety of cleaning projects and set the tables for the museum’s public supper.
    After their work in the mornings, the group traveled to Mars Hill to tour the windmills on Thursday and Friday afternoon they watched a basket-making demonstration.
    Grace Butler, from Atlanta said, “I enjoyed the museum’s unique objects, connection to the local community and passionate staff. I thought it was very cool how the personal stories behind the objects were told to us because it made the objects come to life.”
    Born and raised in New York City, David Vargas said, “Coming to the museum has piqued my curiosity and reminded me how different other peoples’ lives are and have been from mine. I loved the schoolhouse and just imagined how kids used to be taught before.”
Photo by Karen Donato
HELPING OUT — Katie Micklus of Wellesley, Mass. and Grace Butler of Atlanta, incoming Bowdoin freshmen helped clean up the yard at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum as part of their pre-orientation program.
    Courtney Chuang, one of the group leaders said, “Volunteering at the museum has been a wonderful experience. I really enjoyed hearing about the history of potato farming. The rich history of Aroostook has impressed us all and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to contribute to all the museum does. I had never been to northern Maine and bringing this group of freshmen here was a perfect introduction.”
    Several of the students wished they could stay for the public supper and car show slated for the weekend.
    Museum President Jay Clark, Paul Porter and Gary Bossie assisted the students with the projects.