In a yellow circa 1850 farmhouse on the coast of Maine, the country’s only residential semester science school for girls is bucking a national trend, in a remarkable way.

In 2006, a National Science Foundation analysis showed that while women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, they make up only 26 percent of science and engineering workers. Researchers trying to explain this gender gap have found many young girls in the U.S. underestimate their ability to succeed in math and science.

Apparently, as the research and theory goes, a child’s early self-concept affects choices in later life, including career choices. Thus, when it comes to science, believing they can’t succeed, many young girls don’t. 

The Coastal Studies for Girls (CSG) school in Freeport aims to counter this trend. The school’s primary focuses are environmental research and leadership, wrapped into a semester-long program for sophomore-aged girls. GSC is ideally situated on Wolfe’s Neck Farm’s 626 acre preserve, nestled between the Haraseeket River and Casco Bay. For the school’s experiential approach to marine science education, one couldn’t ask for a better, or more beautiful, location.

Campus life and courses are designed to empower young women and also give them a “rigorous, hands-on, field-based” science learning experience. The school also teaches all the other requisites of a sophomore high school program.

On April 19, CSG held an open house for interested families. As prospective students toured the farmhouse, adjacent yurt, and grounds, resident students gathered in the dining hall, dorms and classrooms to meet and greet. The girls’ laughter and animated conversations resonated throughout the building.

In the kitchen, Gail Worthen, “CSG’s founding chef and kitchen goddess,” was preparing the day’s meals. Worthen uses locally sourced foods. With each meal she serves, she educates students about food sources and nutrition.

Each semester the school opens its doors to 15 students, who make the small farmhouse and acres of surrounding farmland, woods and seacoast their home and laboratory. Business and Outreach Manager Jen Mathews said the influx of new students and four new resident assistants (all young women, usually new college graduates) makes each semester a unique experience.

The resident students seemed delighted to talk about their experiences at CSG and perhaps, the school can be well judged by what the girls have to say.

Rosy, from St. Paul, Minnesota, had a hard time deciding what she liked best at CSG, but no problem describing how it differed from her home school.

“Here I’ve learned how to live in community. Things don’t always go how you want them to, but you learn how to advocate for yourself and what you need,” Rosy said. Rosy said she particularly enjoyed each morning’s solitary period, when the girls head out to a nearby field for silent reflection and journal writing.

“It’s a toss up between the food and the people,” said Tayler, a tiny girl from Queens, New York, wearing a flowing red cape, when asked her favorite part of life at CSG.

“My favorite part is all the opportunities that get placed in your lap,” Andrea of Kenosha, Wisconsin said. Andrea described expressing a desire to do something, like leading a dinner discussion, and “all of a sudden you are leading a dinner discussion.”

Lincoln County residents Molly Thibault, of Southport, and Emma Goltz, of Damariscotta, were attracted to different aspects of CSG’s program, but both found more than they expected.

Thibault said she was particularly drawn to CSG’s leadership program, but has found herself enjoying science much more. “Leadership is what really drew me here, science was never a big interest,” Thibault said. “But now it’s starting to click.”

A  lobsterwoman during summer vacation, Molly said she now better understands the importance of marine research for coastal fishing communities.

For Goltz, science was the big draw. “I’ve always been a real science-y kid. I’ve always been a hands-on science person, doing experiments with my dad when I was a little kid,” she said. Goltz said she enjoys the leadership classes as much as the science at CSG.

Both Thibault and Goltz said they are thoroughly enjoying their time at CSG. For any student who might be interested in CSG, Thibault offered the following: “It’s one of those experiences, where you’re like, this is awesome. You will be so glad you committed to it. It’s a life-changing experience.”

This semester’s students will present their marine research results at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 1 at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland. To watch their presentations live, go to www.coastalstudiesforgirls.org/upcoming-events.