Supporting a rare opportunity for the Colby community to engage deeply with the Maine landscape and each other
Since 2022, Colby has served as the steward of two historic islands off the coast of Maine, a landscape where renowned American artist Andrew Wyeth painted some of his greatest works. Inspiring Wyeth through their environments and through architecture curated by his wife, Betsy, these islands have been transformed into unique sanctuaries and living laboratories for a diverse community of students, faculty, alumni, and partners.
In 2025, the Island Campus hosted more than 700 visitors, who ranged from day-trippers to scholars engaged in a full week of dedicated, place-based research. It is common for multiple groups to occupy The Island Campus simultaneously, fostering a shared experience that connects the Colby community across disciplines and generations.
At the heart of the summer season is a dedicated group of Colby Island Campus Fellows. These students live on the islands, serving as the essential backbone of the campus operations while pursuing their own academic growth. Their roles include:
- Logistical Support: Serving as capable dockhands and island guides to ensure safe and meaningful visits for all guests.
- Mentored Research: Conducting independent, island-based research projects under the guidance of faculty mentors.
- Community Building: Facilitating the unique “shared space” environment where conversations and collaboration thrive.
By bringing students, faculty, and alumni together in this remote, focused environment, Colby provides a rare opportunity for interdisciplinary discovery. Whether through art, science, or communal meals, The Island Campus allows the Colby community to engage with the Maine landscape—and each other—in a profound way.
Your support ensures the continued stewardship of this historic Maine treasure. When you give to The Island Campus, you are sustaining the logistics, the fellowships, and the research that make this sanctuary possible. To learn more about The Island Campus, visit web.colby.edu/islandcampus/.
