The Champlain Society of College of the Atlantic was created in 1988 to give appropriate recognition to those special friends who contribute $1,500 or more to the Annual Fund.

Named for the 17th Century explorer Samuel de Champlain, adventurer in uncharted waters and discoverer of L’Isle des Monts-desert, The Champlain Society embraces an innovative academic program of significance and values COA as an anchor institution in the Mount Desert Island community.

The Champlain Society members are eligible to participate in a variety of events designed to stimulate intellectual curiosity, enhance opportunities for cultural engagement and complement Mount Desert Island’s celebrated social environment. 

Members also enjoy the satisfaction of supporting programs that improve life in Maine and advance the college’s mission of developing and demonstrating a model of higher education that positively influences our world and the lives of people around us.