Local solutions to
local problems.
We believe changing the world begins with taking care of the people and places around us. In our case, this means the stewardship of our beautiful campus and our partnership with our neighbors in Northeastern Connecticut.
By integrating service as an essential part of a Pomfret education, the school seeks to instill the values and strength of character students will need to lead lives of civic engagement and social responsibility.
Service
Through the Community Initiative, we care for the people and communities that make the Quiet Corner a special place to live, learn, and work. Students who participate in this initiative can expect to develop a toolbox of social service skills that they can take back home to their own cities and towns.
Stewardship
Through the Conservation Initiative, we care for the plants, animals, habitats, and ecosystems that sustain and nourish us. Students who participate in this initiative can expect to cultivate these stewardship skills on our 500-acre campus and then apply them to off-campus projects in the surrounding area.
Programs
Service and stewardship opportunities are woven into the fabric of school life here at Pomfret, expressed in a variety of contexts, including days of service, fundraising drives, classes, independent studies, travel programs, and projects. Here are just a few of the many ways service and stewardship opportunities show up.
Partners
A defining characteristic of this program is the strong partnerships we have forged with local social service agencies and environmental organizations. These include The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp founded by actor Paul Newman and the Yale-Myers Forest managed by the Yale School of the Environment. Our partners benefit from the energy, ideas, and labor of our students. In turn, our students build transferable skills and gain valuable work experience while serving others.
“Service learning and stewardship not only allow opportunities for Pomfret students to give back to their community and cultivate greater compassion, they also provide our students with experiences to see beyond themselves and put their empathy into action. These are chances for our students to intensify their capacity to care more deeply about others and become even more engaged in the world.”
— Erin Fisher, Service Coordinator and Director of Wellbeing