Morning broke quietly over the Connecticut River. Mist curled above the water, softening the edges of the world, while birdsong and the steady rush of the current stirred the Outdoor Adventure crew awake.

“The mystical clouds rising above the river created this effect that seemed straight out of a movie,” said Charlotte Reis ’26.

Charlotte stretched into the crisp autumn air, her arms and back aching from the miles they had paddled the day before. Around her, classmates shook off sleep, exchanging quiet stories and smiles as the morning haze slowly lifted.

They had covered twenty miles of river, winding their canoes between Vermont and New Hampshire. For some, every stroke was new; for others, it was a chance to offer tips, encouragement, and steady hands as boats were launched and pulled ashore. “I had never been canoeing before this fall, but picked it up relatively quickly with the help of my canoeing partners over these three weeks,” Charlotte said.

Part of Pomfret’s Afternoon Program, Outdoor Adventure gives students a chance to explore the outdoors and challenge themselves. On this trip, the river offered more than lessons in paddling. A black bear appeared on the shore — safely distant but close enough to make hearts race. At night, the crew gathered around the campfire, cooking simple meals beneath a star-washed sky. The Milky Way stretched overhead — more vivid than most of them had ever seen, untouched by the glare of artificial light. 

This is the rhythm of Outdoor Adventure: days shaped by water and woods, nights spent under wide-open skies. Each season, the group ventures beyond campus to climb cliffs, follow trails, and sleep beneath the trees. Some seek challenge, others quiet, but all leave with stories of discovery, growth, and shared wonder.

With the canoes now hauled ashore and stored away, the crew laces up their boots for the next journey. The mountains of New England await — another stretch of wild to call their classroom.
 

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