STRONG – At the MSAD 58 board of directors meeting on Sept. 19, art teacher Adam Masterman presented a special field trip proposal in which he plans to take five to ten art students and two chaperones to New York City for four days and five nights in 2025.

The trip would include visits to art museums and art schools, as well as attending live performances such as Broadway or opera shows. Students will also have opportunities to create art inspired by scenic outdoor locations and visit working artists’ studios.

Students would meet in Portland and take a train or bus to New York. Students would each have their own private room in a New York City hostel, which Masterman said was a necessity for the safety of the students.

The projected cost is subject to change depending on the number of students attending and day to day price changes, but Masterman said that the maximum cost of the trip would be $12,800.

Masterman said that the trip is contingent upon receiving the Carrabassett Valley Innovative Education Grant which he has already applied for. He said the grant would cover all costs associated with the trip including meals, lodging, and transportation, though if awarded, students would participate in fundraising to minimize the amount needed from Carrabassett Valley.

Students who are interested in the field trip would fill out an application. Masterman said that he would work to create a committee of staff members to select the students who seem best fit for the opportunity. Initially, he said, he was going to only open the applications for upper classman, but he decided to provide equal access to all Mt. Abram students as it could create an opportunity for younger students to become ambassadors for the trip if it continues to run in the future.

Masterman said that the school has the opportunity for a trip to Costa Rica every other year and that he hopes the New York City trip can occur on the off years in between.

Board member Brian Donovan asked Masterman why he chose New York City, why not Portland or Boston, which would be more cost effective and less travel time.

Masterman replied saying that he has taken kids to Portland in the past, but that he wants to broaden their horizons. He said that New York City is the best place for this trip and it is near enough to travel to.

He mentioned the effectiveness of immersion learning, saying that it is “demonstrated to be an extraordinarily meaningful and powerful way to engage with content.” If you want to learn French, he said, go to a French speaking country. He implied the same for the language of art.

Masterman said that on this trip he expects students to make lifelong memories associated with art and to discover career paths. He also believes that students will return to Mt. Abram ready to foster an engaged arts culture within their classrooms.

The majority of the board of directors voted to approve the field trip pending the grant approval in mid to late October. Donovan abstained.