A century ago, Proctor’s 2,500 acres were clear cut sheep pasture supporting farmers as they made a living off the rocky soil. Life at that time was only possible through collaboration, teamwork, and a deep belief that your neighbor’s well-being was an essential safety net to your own survival.
Fast forward to today, as a much-needed rain fell on campus, and our 9th grade class gathered together and hiked past the old stone walls that marked the former sheep pastures to the Proctor Cabin. This annual tradition (while sophomores and juniors take the PSATs and seniors work on college applications), brings together our youngest students for a shared experience in the woodlands during which we hope they not only gain an appreciation for the land we have the privilege of stewarding, but how as a class they have the opportunity to support each other just as those early farming families did.
Proctor’s commitment to actively stewarding its surrounding land dates back to its earliest years. The first student “Improvement Squads” were formed by faculty member Roland Burbank out of necessity during the Great Depression. Students not only ran an active vegetable garden on campus, but mowed lawns, cut, split, and stacked cord wood for heating, and helped offset the maintenance costs of running the school by shoveling snow during the winter months. An early Improvement Squad project was to build a cabin in the woodlot to the north of campus proper. A Cabin Club was formed (see photo below) and the Proctor Cabin became an integral part of many students’ experiences. The current cabin was rebuilt in the same location as the original cabin in the early 1990s.
As the Class of 2029 gathered on the steps to the Proctor Cabin and learned about the woodlands from Science Faculty Lynne Bartlett, Class Dean Ben Bartoldus ‘10 and Dean of Students Drew Donaldson ‘92 shared their observations of the class throughout their first five weeks at Proctor. While certainly not a flawless few weeks, Ben and Drew highlighted the Class of 2029’s full embrace of all that is Proctor: the relationships with each other, the opportunities it presents to each of us, and a shared understanding that culture is something each and every one of us must seek ownership of, regardless of age, time at the school, or perceived social standing. For us, as educators, our 9th graders play just as important a role in shaping our school's culture as the most veteran of faculty members. We all have a responsibility to steward this chapter of Proctor and today provided a powerful opportunity for our 9th graders to come together, have some fun, and grow stronger as a group.
We are excited about the enthusiasm of the Class of 2029, and cannot wait to see how they will impact Proctor over the next four years!
Learn more about the Proctor Woodlands here!
- Community and Relationships
- Environmental Stewardship
- Woodlands