Outdoor Adventure

The Outdoor Adventure Program at Wellesley College is designed to teach leadership, self-reliance and communication skills through wilderness exposure and technical outdoor activities. We particularly strive to introduce wilderness to Wellesley students who have not previously spent much time outdoors.

Outdoor education has a long and successful track record of teaching confidence, self-reliance and communication skills, among a host of other qualities that define good leaders. It is no accident that some of the world's highest-pressure organizations turn to outdoor education to teach their leaders and cement their teams. Likewise, many of Wellesley's peer institutions have storied and thriving outdoor programs for the same reasons. The explanation is simple: the outdoors provides a classroom with real consequences and immediate feedback, and all learning is by nature experiential. The effects are often powerful and long-lasting.

UPCOMING ADVENTURES

Orienteering (Saturday, March 28)

Learn to navigate and find your way using a map and compass while exploring over 20 miles of trails, spread throughout 1200 acres of forests, ponds, and meadows. There will be time to explore the property on your own after completing the orienteering course. All equipment, transportation, as well as breakfast & snacks will be provided.

WHERE: HALE Education, 80 Carby Street, Westwood, MA
WHEN: Saturday 3/28/2026 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

HOW TO REGISTER: Click here to fill out the registration form. Spots are limited - 14 students maximum, at least 8 students must attend or the trip will not run. Registration is open until Thursday, March 12th. A fee of $10 per student is due 48-hrs upon receiving a confirmation email from the Recreation coordinator. There will be no refunds for this trip unless it does not run as scheduled.

For more information please email the Recreation Coordinator at aw151@wellesley.edu.

PAST ADVENTURES
Intermediate Ski/Snowboard Trip to Crotched Mountain (Saturday, February 28, 2026)

Join us for a fun evening at Crotched Mountain Ski Resort in Bennington, New Hampshire on Saturday, February 28th from 2:00pm-midnight for their "College Night Ski & Ride" Event. This resort offers 100 acres of impeccably groomed terrain, tree glades, and challenging steeps catering to a variety of experience levels. Please note that no lessons will be offered on this trip so previous skiing or snowboarding experience is strongly recommended.

Personal ski/snowboard equipment is not required. Rentals are available through the resort at participants' expense. Please be aware that equipment space in the van is limited and is reserved on a 1st come, 1st serve basis. Once equipment space is full, participants may still come on this trip but will have to rent ski or snowboarding equipment through the resort.

Hike Mount Wachusett (Sunday, November 2, 2025)

Come hike Mount Wachusett with us! This intermediate hike in Princeton, MA takes approximately 2-4 hours to the summit and back, depending on the group. Along the way, you'll hike through old growth forest and maybe even see views of Boston at the top!

Camping 101 - Fall Break Overnight Trip (Friday, October 11 to Saturday, October 12, 2025)
Join us for an overnight camping trip! Students will learn valuable skills like pitching a tent, lighting a campfire, and cooking outdoors while having the opportunity to sleep under the stars and commune with nature in an entirely different way than what they may be used to. We will head to Shawme-Crowell State Forest, located at the beginning of Cape Cod, which has more than 15 miles of roads and hiking trails through pitch pine and scrub oak forests. The milder climate makes the campground an ideal location for new campers who are exploring the great outdoors for the first time in the middle of fall in New England. Space is limited! A maximum of 14 students can attend.

Hike The Famous Purgatory Chasm (Saturday, September 27, 2025)
All are welcome on this introductory hiking trip to Purgatory Chasm State Reservation in Sutton, MA. The Chasm Loop, created by melting glaciers, covers 1.5 miles of rocky terrain and geological formations. Try your hand at spelunking as you traverse through features such as Fat Man's Misery and the Devil's Coffin. This short but fun hike is ideal to get people interested in hiking, regardless of their experience! A maximum of 14 students can attend.

For questions or more information about any of our trips, please contact the Recreation Coordinator at aw151@wellesley.edu or 781-283-1911

The Outdoor Adventure program has partnered with Wellesley Students' Aid Society for the 2025 - 2026 academic year. We hope that there are no barriers for any students to participate in trips or experiences in the Outdoor Adventure program. If you need financial assistance, please email mverity@wellesley.edu.