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Helena Grant ‘03 traveled 10 miles in sub zero temperatures during her first backcountry ski expedition. Her travels have been broadcast nationally by NPR and NCPR.

While incoming first-year students may have to wait until August for Orientation, the excitement has already begun for some of Hamilton’s current students. Every year, new and returning leaders for each of Hamilton’s three orientation programs stay on campus for May training. Largely student driven, past leaders mentor the next generation of student leaders during the week after final exams. Although they may not know who their incoming first-year participants may be, next fall's leaders use this week to hone their leadership skills and get a taste for their respective programs.

While the Class of 2015 spent Senior Week celebrating their achievements and impending graduation, a dedicated group of students spent their time training in preparation to lead for Hamilton’s three new-student orientation programs: Adirondack Adventure, Outreach Adventure, and Exploration Adventure.

Visiting Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing Janelle Schwartz ’97 and Director of Outdoor Leadership Andrew Jillings were invited to attend Adirondack Day on April 27 at the New York State Legislative Office Building in Albany, N.Y.

Adirondack Adventure, Outreach Adventure and eXploration Adventure Hamilton’s pre-orientation programs for new students, welcomed 283 members of the Class of 2018 on Friday, Aug. 15.

The first lecture of Professor Brent Rodriguez-Plate’s new course, Religion in the Wild, took place far from its home base in Root Hall.

Students in Writing 111, Adventure Writing, got to experience snow a little early when they climbed Blue Mountain in the Adirondacks on Oct. 26.

Adirondack Adventure (AA) and Outreach Adventure (OA), Hamilton’s pre-orientation programs for new students, welcomed  308 members of the Class of 2017 on Friday, Aug. 16. This year marks the largest AA/OA participation ever, with 64 percent of first-year students participating in OA and AA.

More than 20 Hamilton students and staff members attended the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) annual Northeast Regional Conference in Becket, Mass., from April 5-7. Hamilton students attended a wide variety of workshops covering all aspects of experiential and wilderness education. The Hamilton Outdoor Leadership Center has been sending students to the conference for many years.

Members of the class of ’16 are settling in to life on the Hill, classes have begun and the new semester is off and running. One of the members of Hamilton’s newest group of students, Cassidy Dennison ’16, took time to reflect on the value of pre-orientation program Adirondack Adventure in helping students make the adjustment to college life. We started off college with a dangling participle. This may seem regressive to our high school and college education, but it actually furthered our knowledge of ourselves and our group. Our dangling participle was not a grammatical error; it consisted of a rope, two harnesses, two people and total trust. Though slightly intimidating, rock climbing at Chapel Pond in the Keene Valley was one of the best ways to begin college. Adirondack Adventure helps people make friends, try new things, and break free of the initial fears associated with college.