Jed Wartman, as the dean of students and director of campus life at Colby College in Waterville, knows a thing or two about developing a community.

“In South Bristol it seems fond memories are facilitated by community rather than the place,” Wartman said.

Wartman’s family history with the island of South Bristol is similar to many other residents. Over 75 years ago, his grandparents were living outside of Chicago when friends invited them to spend some time out with them out in Maine.

According to Wartman, “that was all it took.”

They soon bought a house in South Bristol and three years later moved across the street so they had a view of the ocean. That house has been in the Wartman family ever since.

The Wartmans, like many on the island, have made visits to the house into something of a family tradition.

“They were really thoughtful about setting it up so that we could keep it,” Wartman said.

Jed Wartman grew up outside of Boston and would spend a few weeks every summer coming up to the island. He would end up studying as an undergraduate at Bowdoin and now works at Colby.

As a director of campus life at Colby, Wartman is placed in the position to help the 1,800 students develop a community.

“It’s small enough to suggest there should be a strong community, but large enough to make that task a difficult one,” he said.

It’s a task that he enjoys, and noted that at its core, the job is about helping students enjoy where they are.

“I’ve always enjoyed wrestling with the bigger questions, like ‘what is community’,” Wartman said.

The community in South Bristol impressed Wartman because it’s the kind of place where people go to get together with others, rather than stay in their houses.

Wartman now visits the town with his wife and two kids, and it’s a chance for the extended family to get together.

“We’ve started to call it cousin camp,” he said. His son, Micah, is especially fond of the gnome walk, a path on the island featuring a variety of garden gnomes. “He talks about it constantly,” Wartman said.