Hebron Academy

Each term, Upper School students can choose to participate in the outdoor education program as a co-curricular activity, meeting every afternoon after classes. The program provides an alternative to competitive athletics, but is by no means an alternative to being physically active. One of the primary goals of the program is to provide students with the skills and knowledge essential for safe and comfortable backcountry travel. Students learn orienteering, low-impact camping, wet day fire-making, trip planning, wilderness first aid and emergency procedures, flat and whitewater paddling, snowshoeing, rock climbing, backpacking, mountaineering and leadership skills.

Every year seniors take part in a white-water rafting trip to the upper Kennebec River as a graduation-week ritual, and student routinely plan overnights to places such as Mount Washington and the Maine coast. Closer to home, the Academy's 1,500 acres afford students limitless opportunities for outdoor recreation and learning. Facilities include:

On Campus
The newly-renovated Chadbourne Center--in which the Environmental Studies class, Middle School Outdoor Skills classes, and the Outdoor Education activity meet--has its own library and audio-visual equipment, as well as a conference table for group discussions and map reading. Adjacent to the classroom is a separate dry gear storage area that is fully stocked. A canoe storage area downstairs houses our fleet of 15 canoes, plus several kayaks.

Also on campus are several miles of wooded trails that lead to Marshall Pond, the practice ground for paddle strokes and canoe rescues. There is an outdoor classroom, including several elements of a low ropes course, on they way to Marshall Pond.

Off Campus
Mt. Marie, just two miles from the Chadbourne Center, is home to a terrific rock climbing pitch and great views of the White Mountains, as well as the Hebron campus. It is also a great place to practice map and compass skills or to learn techniques of trail maintenance.

The trails around Halls Pond and Singepole Mountain provide two additional rock climbing pitches, as well as more incredible views of the surrounding area. Snowshoeing up Singepole is a great afternoon workout in the winter. Halls Pond is also the site of a popular campsite for the group to practice camping skills close to home.

Hebron lies halfway between Mt. Washington and the Maine coast, so National Forest, state parks, the Atlantic Ocean, and miles of rivers are just a short drive away.