For over fifty years, Mountain Classroom has taken students from Proctor's campus in Andover, New Hampshire, into landscapes where learning happens through direct experience. This winter's group of ten students and two educators is spending these December weeks skiing, backpacking, and forming their Mountain community across northern New England before heading west after the holiday break to explore the American Southwest.
As Lilah ’26 reflects in this first student blog of the term, that shift in perspective happens quickly. Within days, the group moved from orientation at a cabin in Vermont to their first cross country ski outings and now prepares for their initial expedition in the White Mountains. Her journal entries from the past week capture both the physical beauty surrounding them and the internal shift that happens when students step outside of traditional learning structures. Read more from Lilah below!
We are all simply students, no more, and no less. The world is our teacher. Usually, we learn about the world from a box, but now we have escaped. We are all learners outside of the box.
~ Lilah '26
Lilah '26
Chapter 1
There’s so much to learn; we are currently no more than amateur artists who are ready to see the colors of the world for ourselves rather than on the pages of those who have seen the real thing. The natural beauty, even on our second day alone, was an astounding sight, a beautiful, cozy cabin with views of mountaintops christened by the early morning light. The place where the light had not yet touched carried deep blue shadows, with trees that looked like brushstrokes. Inside our comfy cabin, our wood stove casts a warm glow that seems to cover everything in a relaxing blanket. We spent three lovely days there, which included a hike through the woods surrounded by dark green pines and flurries of the most perfectly formed snowflakes I have ever seen. And I, for one, have loved Mountain orientation and a glimpse out of the box and a preview of what is to come.
Chapter 2
I am back from my second day ever on cross country skis as the daily designated silly goose. Oh. My. Goodness. Best two days of my life! I got to experience crashing and falling while surrounded by a beautiful forest with light flurries surrounding us. I had the absolute best time of my life every time I got ahead or behind the group, it was like I was being surrounded by peace among the big conifers draped in glittering white.
Chapter 3
HEY! I’m back! As Leader of the Day! Crazy, I know, but it’s true! We are currently at Shaw’s for our weekly grocery shop! This morning, our amazing chefs, Sedona and Nina, made delicious avocado toast for an ecstatic group of hungry students! Then we packed up and headed out towards our first backpacking trip in… wait for it… the White Mountains! Orientation is now officially over, and the whole team is ready for the new challenges ahead.
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