Anybody care to share any info on colleges that have great outdoors type clubs, hiking, rafting, kayaking, camping etc… for kids to get involved in?
I understand location will play a part and that some of this stuff has been covered before on here (as have most topics) but nothing ever stays the same and maybe some colleges have expanded their offerings.
Thank you.
University of Vermont in Burlington has entire living/learning communities dedicated to “outdoors” starting in Freshman year. Plus there are plenty of hiking, skiing, etc clubs. Being on Lake Champlain there are plenty of boating/kayaking opportunities as well.
Good luck finding your fit!
Whitman has some big programs, including Semester in the West
https://www.whitman.edu/academics/signature-programs
Also look at Earlham – http://earlham.edu/outdoor-education/
And Sewanee with it’s 13,000-acre campus
http://www.sewanee.edu/offices/oess/domain/
And Quest University – not only is its location in what amounts to The Great Outdoors, they have a block system (one class at a time) and that allows the students to go with the professors out into the field for extended periods.
Colorado College, and the Maine LACs — Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin.
University of Colorado - Boulder.
Williams College (we had an impression there’s literally nothing else to do outside campus besides outdoorsy stuff).
U of Maine at Orono offers a lot of outdoors activities and it’s got a flagship tuition-matching program. It’s like UVM but cheaper. And in a state with a gorgeous coastline.
In the PNW, University of Victoria on Vancouver Island, as well as Western Washington U.
Thank you. Does anybody have any first hand experience, any past or present students involved care to comment, that would be great.
Next two kids are starting high school junior year this year, they are strong academically. I think for at least one of them this will be, possibly not a deal breaker, but a consideration.
I’d give a little thought to what kind of outdoor activities are of interest. Skiing? Hiking? Rock/ice climbing? Wind-surfing?
I would also think about the general culture of the school. Some are definitely more mainstream while others are more alternative (for lack of better groupings!)
Most of the rural schools in northern new England and upstate New York have interesting options, and at some, this is so much of the appeal of the school that it’s also part of the dominant culture. (When people describe the typical Colby or St. Lawrence student, for example, “outdoorsy” is often one of the adjectives used.) Of course, at either of those two, it also means cheerfully enduring brutal winters!
There are enough good options that it CAN be a deal-breaker without being much of a limitation.
St Lawrence University, upstate NY, with an Adirondacks semester. My kid visited twice as a possible athletic recruit, loved the community and facilities, and we know a current student who is very happy there, particularly given the winter sports opportunities.
Berry College in northern Georgia is on 27,000 acres with tons of outdoor activities. This was also a consideration for my son in his search. We didn’t visit, though, because in the end he wanted to stay closer to home.
UNH, Dartmouth, UVM, Middlebury and anything in Maine.
Davidson owns its own lake campus with equipment for kayaking, sailing, etc. on NC’s largest lake – all just five minutes from main campus. Also very large outdoors club with camping/hiking trips to the mountains of NC every month and tons of running trails around campus.
Students from a range of colleges interested in an immersive wilderness experience can apply for Hamilton’s Adirondack semester: https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/offcampusstudy/adk.
Do you think your children are looking for 1) water, mountains, deserts, or forests; 2) warm or cold (during the school year) climate? Which activities? Free or not free?
Fort Lewis College in Colorado, small school and the predominant culture is outdoor enthusiasts.
My son is only looking for “outdoorsy “ schools, we live in philadelphia area, he’s applying to UNH, URI, boulder, Colorado state, and virginia tech
Don’t ignore the University of Utah. Best skiing in the country and great hiking, rafting, etc. And the cost of attendance is very appealing: in state tuition is available after the first year and there are excellent merit scholarships with 30 full rides per year. Optional no credit courses include canyoneering, and there’s an amazing new climbing wall in the student activities center.