Life in the Pines: Season 1

Produced for the University of Maine’s Enrollment Management team in collaboration with the Division of Marketing and Communications, Life in the Pines is a seasonal documentary series built around the authentic voices of students and their lived experiences in Orono, Maine.

From the outset, the University sought a meaningful way to introduce prospective students to campus life. Rather than create a traditional campus tour, Story Stroll proposed something more powerful: real stories, told in students’ own words. No scripts. No staged narratives. Just honest, unscripted reflections on the moments, challenges, and milestones that shape their time at the University of Maine.

The result was a serialized, seasonal documentary format that showcases not only the campus itself, but the lived experiences that define it. Season One resonated deeply with both students and higher education audiences, leading to continued collaboration and the production of Seasons Two through Five beginning in 2025.

Season One follows nine students across disciplines ranging from forestry and outdoor recreation to engineering and biology. Filming took us across the state of Maine, capturing the places and experiences that shape their academic and personal journeys, alongside life on the University of Maine campus.