Famous as a place where mountains meet the sea, Little Cranberry Island and nearby Acadia National Park are at the heart of one of the most beautiful natural areas on the east coast of the USA.

Little Cranberry Island, named for the red berry common to this part of the world, is a small (1.5 km by 2.5 km) island with rocky shores, spruce trees, wild roses, quiet country lanes, and a lively fishing harbor.

The island’s population of about 75, which triples in the summertime, forms a close-knit community of year-round residents and regular summer visitors. Many residents can trace their ancestry back to the island’s first settlers in the eighteenth century.

A ferryboat (only passengers, no cars) makes the 30-minute trip from the mainland to Little Cranberry Island six times daily in summer.

Nearby Mt. Desert Island is the home of Acadia National Park, the only national park in the northeastern USA. Originally populated by the ancestors of Maine’s Wabanaki people, Mt. Desert Island (from the French l’Ile des Monts Déserts) was named by the French explorer Samuel de Champlain, who sailed here in 1604.

Bar Harbor, a busy summer resort town with many stores, restaurants, and cafés, as well as cinemas, music festivals, and museums, is a 15-minute drive from Northeast Harbor and the boat to Little Cranberry Island.

Staying on the island is one of the best aspects of this course. For someone who comes from a busy city like Rome, it was something very special. I really had a great time, the best I could have had from a school. Maurizio M., Italy

I have never seen such beautiful scenery and sky with so many stars. Tomoko O., Japan

I very much enjoyed meeting the people of the island - they are so friendly. I love this place! Annie D., France

For this school, the island is the best surrounding you can imagine. All the people on the island (not just the students) talk to you - in English - and you can’t escape to your own culture and language. Maarten H., Netherlands

On this island everyone you meet is so friendly. I like that we can talk a lot, always practicing our English. Tatjana P., Slovenia

The island is beautiful - the perfect place to study English! Marco G., Ecuador