Daily Life

One of the most enchanting spots along the East Coast, Martha's Vineyard is a large, historic island just a few miles off Cape Cod, MA. Although it is now a resort noted for its splendid scenery and resident celebrities, the Vineyard retains much of the charm of the flourishing whaling port it once was. It is an ideal site for challenging workshops, an academic retreat, and serious reflection. The Institute itself is held on the campus of The Nathan Mayhew Seminars, a small liberal arts institution in Vineyard Haven.

Academic Life:   The seminar begins with an evening meeting, and then meets daily including Saturdays and Sundays. Classes run about four hours each, with additional work assigned each day. Ample time is left for writing, reading, discussion and reflection. There are also reading days scheduled during the seminar.

Leisure: The extraordinary resources of Martha's Vineyard make the experience of a summer workshop complete. A sunset clambake is held on a picturesque beach of Edgartown. There are various other social activities -- planned and unplanned -- to help people become acquainted. In addition, the Institute is surrounded by numerous beaches, wildlife refuges, bookstores, theaters, and galleries. Tennis, golf, biking, and sailing are readily available as well. So, too, is another island - Nantucket! And recently, tall ships and whale watches have been featured on the Vineyard.

Participants: While studying at the Institute, participants interact with people from all levels of education and from all over the United States as well as several foreign countries. Participants also range from those just getting started in the profession to those closer to retirement. Most find it stimulating to work with such a variety of teachers, benefiting from each other's insights and experience. Nearly all report that their workshops met or exceeded their expectations.