Some inspired students spend Wednesday afternoons rappelling down the sides of the Quincy quarries, paddling kayaks in the Neponset River, or hiking on local trails. On weekends, any and all students can choose to sea kayak, whitewater raft, backcountry ski, snowshoe, and ice climb on instructor-guided day and overnight trips. They travel to the coasts, rivers and mountains of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. All skill levels are welcome—from novices to experts.
“Some students may be intimidated by an activity like whitewater kayaking,” says Spencer Gray ’13. “But even if you’re a rookie, by the end of the day, you will know the lingo and the basics, while also having a great time. I did four or five of these trips and it’s amazing how each time you improve and get better.”
The H. Adams Carter ’32 Outdoor Program was founded to honor the Milton graduate, teacher and world-renowned mountaineer, who, in 1947, founded the precursor to the Outdoor Program, the Ski and Mountaineering Club. In his years of teaching at Milton, Ad Carter introduced many students to the joys of skiing and climbing, and through those sports he taught them enduring life skills. One of his former students, Gil Butler ’55, is the main benefactor of today’s program, contributing his time and resources to continue the tradition of involving students in outdoor experiences.
“My fondest memories are of Adams Carter and the Ski and Mountaineering Club,” wrote Gil in his 50th Reunion update. “I continue to work with the School to build up activities that expose students to the joys and disciplines of nature participation sports. It is my hope that the students at Milton find these activities promote controlled risk taking, enjoyment of nature and caring for the environment.”
The Outdoor Program includes an after-school activity program and a trip program. The after-school program offers season-long instructional courses, which earn one season of physical education (PE) credit. Students may use an after-school Outdoor Program weekly commitment in place of a team sport or a PE class. Rock climbing, backpacking and sea-kayak touring courses are offered in both the fall and the spring. Rock climbing indoors at Milton’s climbing wall is a feature during the winter season. The program provides all technical equipment, food, transportation and basic instruction. All day and weekend trips are free and open to all Upper School students.
Kendall Chun, math faculty member, directs the program. The planning for various activities and trips goes on from his office, just outside the Student Center in the lower level of Wigg Hall. He has lots of help from the student board members, who are very active in brainstorming ideas, setting up the trips, and getting the gear organized and packed into the vans.
“We try to get the word out that students don’t need to be ‘outdoorsy’ to participate,” says Kendall. “And we really encourage Classes IV and III to give it a try, because many of our students in Class II and Class I say that they wish they had started participating sooner. In addition to learning about responsibility, meeting challenges, taking intelligent risks, and trusting each other, we have loads of fun.”
Izzy Lacata (II) says participating in the Outdoor Program is a great way for underclassmen to get to know upperclassmen and to forge bonds that last through their Milton time and beyond. “My favorite trips are the rock-climbing ones. I love the achievement of getting to the top, and just hanging in the air is always fun,” she says.
Spencer, who was co-head of the board in 2012–2013, says some students worry about balancing their homework load while taking a weekend trip. He says time management is key, such as starting some of the homework on Friday and not leaving it all for Sunday night.
“Even though it is a time commitment on the weekend, I come home from these trips feeling so relaxed,” says Spencer. “I play tennis in the spring, so I am familiar with the rigors of playing on a team, but with the Outdoor Program there is no pressure to perform at a certain level. Whatever your level, you still feel you accomplished something.”
The Outdoor Program also offers adventurous multi-day trips during school breaks and after the school year. Some recent trips have included sea kayaking in the Bahamas; hiking in Moab and Arches National Park; climbing and hiking in Joshua Tree National Park and Red Rock Canyon; and winter camping in the White Mountains.
What makes the program unique is that participation is flexible. For some students, one trip a year is perfect. For others, like Serena Lan (II), the program is a way for a New York City girl to experience the outdoors, and she takes every chance she can to go on trips. For others, like Spencer, it forged his future path. He spent his junior fall at the Chewonki School on the coast of Maine and is now an environmental studies major at the College of the Atlantic.
–Liz Matson