Student Life

Sample Classes & Outings

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• Backcountry Basics

  Learn the essentials of traveling safely in the backcountry in good style. This class focuses on navigation with a topographic map and compass, backcountry cooking, essential knots and other backcountry basics that will help you go on your own backpacking trips safely and confidently. No experience needed.

• Backpack Overnight

  This fun introduction to backpacking includes an evening class to prepare for your outing and a local overnight backpack trip. You will learn the basics of backpacking and camp craft in a beautiful local environment. No previous experience needed.

• Backcountry Ski Tour

  Journey to the Adirondack High Peaks to explore the park on skis. This class will focus on uphill skinning technique on telemark skis*, downhill travel on famous Adirondack ski trails and slides. Students will get introduction to avalanche awareness and skills such as group travel, evaluating terrain, and using beacons and probes. This course will begin on Colgate's Ski Hill, include a shakedown to outfit everyone with proper gear and will culminate in a full weekend in the park with heated lodging.
  Prerequisite: participants must be able to ski steep blue terrain in control on telemark or alpine skis.
  *Snowboarders welcome, but must carry his/her board while traveling uphill on snowshoes.  

• Bouldering (Indoor & Outdoor)

  Indoor Bouldering
  When it’s too cold to climb outside, it’s time to get better at climbing inside. This class will focus on technique and strength training to make you a better climber. You’ll be surprised what a training plan can do for your climbing, whatever your current level is!

  Outdoor Bouldering
  Head to the Adirondack Mountains for two days of climbing sans ropes. Simplicity is the theme--shoes, chalk and pad are all you need to climb some really sick lines. Bouldering being a social outing, you'll learn to coach, spot and protect your climbing mates. No matter what your climbing ability, there will be boulders you send, boulders you struggle with and boulders for next time.

• Whitewater Canoe

  Come feel the magic of the cross-bow draw! learn the nuances of tandem open canoeing with Outdoor Education. Your first class will focus on basic strokes and maneuvers on Lake Moraine and the second will introduce paddling in current. Finally, a Saturday outing will allow us to test our skills on a local river.
  

• Caving (Intro & Vertical)

  Intro to Caving
  Never have I seen absolute darkness.  Is this true for you?  If it is come join us on an adventure into a place where it’s 52 degrees year round and the only light is a narrow beam attached to your head.  You will learn about the creatures that actually live in the caves and how we as guests can navigate their home.  With a cozy over-night in a cabin,  you will have the opportunity to explore one of New York’s finest caves!

  Vertical Caving
  Visit Gage Cavern that starts with a 50’ rope-assisted vertical lower! Learn more about cave navigation, rope systems, cave safety and explore even deeper into the underground world! Prerequisite: Basic Caving course with OE or comparable experience approved by the Outdoor Ed Director.

• Outdoor Cooking

  Ever wonder why everything tastes better in the outdoors? Join us for a dinnertime outing and a longer day trip at the Yurt, and learn how to please your belly with artfully crafted food in the wilderness.
  

• Fly Fishing

  Yes, there are fish in Payne Creek! Learn the basics of fly fishing--casting, river ecology, angler ethics and more. Think like a  fish as you explore local hotspots putting catch and release practices into play. No experience needed.
  

• Geocaching

  Use technology to go on an adventure!  Geocaching is a new sport developed by GPS users to show each other interesting and hard to find places around the world. Besides learning the ins and outs of geocaching, you will also learn how to navigate with a GPS and a compass. What do you find in the cache? Treasure! However, the point of geocaching is not the cache, but the journey. This journey will take you to some of the lesser-known areas in and around Hamilton.

• Peak Hike

  Here is a great opportunity to get away for the day and explore the best of CNY! After a prep day on campus, you will spend a day exploring nature and enjoying fabulous views.
  

• Ice Climbing

  Clad in crampons, plastic boots, ice tools and a helmet, you will learn how to move vertically on frozen water. Learn basic rope work and tool craft at Colgate and then head outdoors for either a local or an Adirondack outing. Current belay certification recommended.

• Kayaking

  Local Sea Kayaking Excursion
  This is an introductory course for those interested in learning the basics of kayaking while touring local lakes for afternoons and a weekend day trip. Kayaking is a great lifelong sport that can allow you to discover wonderful areas all over the world. Consider this course a way to jump start a lifetime of adventure! Skills covered include: Kayak safety equipment, navigation, strokes, considerations for overnight trips, rescues and travel skills. Good food and great fun on the water are also guaranteed!

  Intro to Whitewater Kayaking
  Get your feet wet and enjoy the thrill of whitewater kayaking-the hottest sport around! You will progress from flat water to moving water to white water and will learn the basic strokes, river reading and safety, eddy turns, peel outs, ferries and can try your hand at the Eskimo roll. Guaranteed fun!

• Mountain Biking

  Looking to burn off a little steam? Grab a bike and ride dirt roads and local double and single track trails. Explore the woods in lo or high gear while crankin’ up hills, crusin’ down hills and pausing at scenic overlooks. Through the course you will learn essential skills such as: riding techniques, bike maintenance, leave no trace practices, map reading and dressing for the outdoors. Note: Participants must provide their own mountain bike (inquire about rentals) and helmet. No experience necessary.

• Mountaineering

  Head up to the Adirondacks for a weekend introduction to mountaineering. Two day long excursions will cover travel on technical mountain terrain, rope techniques and basic avalanche awareness. This course will begin on Colgate's Ski Hill, include a shakedown to outfit everyone with proper gear and will culminate in a full weekend in the park with heated lodging. Dry out by the fireplace in the evenings while dreaming about freedom in the hills. Prerequisite: Ability to pass a belay test.

• Pool Paddling

  Learn basic self-rescues, strokes, and other skills to set you up for success on open water- lake, rivers or the ocean environment.  We will also work on mastering brace strokes and the Eskimo roll to help with on-water stability.  Participants must be able to swim to and should feel comfortable holding your breath underwater.

• Rock Climbing

  Outdoor Climbing
  Mother Nature is a great route-setter! Get ready to climb on real rock in Central NY.  You'll climb a variety of routes--cracks, faces, corners, oh my. You'll also have the opportunity to learn more about climbing equipment, anchors and rope techniques. Current belay certification from the Angert Family Climbing Wall is required.
  
  Advanced Outdoor Climbing
  Are you a problem solving nerd who loves to climb? Want to start building climbing anchors and make sure you’re following safe practices? For climbers with some experience setting anchors, this course will teach natural and artificial (gear) anchor building and mock leading. Learn new knots and new ways to use them. Instruction will be outside as much as weather allows.

  Intro to Rock Climbing
  This introduction to rock climbing will get you well on your way to becoming the local super hero on the cliff. Develop a skill set of knots, rope handling and movement on vertical terrain. Learn the basics of safe climbing and hone your technique as you finesse your way up the wall!
  

  Women Rock Climbing
  The rock doesn’t care about gender, yet it is no secret that rock climbing has always been a male-dominated sport. Sister, the times are changing and this is your chance to solve problems, take risks, and rely on yourself. Use your balance, flexibility and strength to learn the fundamentals of Climbing Smart. Women only!
  

• 1000 Islands Sea Kayaking

  This is an introductory course for those interested in adventure and the art of sea kayaking. This course begins on Lake Moraine and culminates in a weekend of car camping and day paddling among the splendor of the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Thousand islands offer many granite cliffs, abundant wildlife, great folklore and various nooks and crannies to explore. Skills covered include: Kayak safety equipment, navigation, strokes, considerations for overnight trips, camping, rescues and travel skills. Participants must have passports or US birth certificates to cross the border into Canada.

• X-C Skiing

  Classic X-C Skiing
  

  The days of suffering on the treadmill are over!  Come learn the essentials of the classic kick and glide and enjoy our local winter wonderland while getting a great workout. The final make-up class is held only in case one of the other classes needs to be canceled due to snow conditions.

  Skate Skiing
  A new style with a definite workout and zoom factor has emerged from that popular winter sport that has drawn thousands to the frozen white countryside, cross-country skiing -- you know, the one you always perceived as a quiet, mellow, contemplative activity. Skating on skis on snow might become your new favorite winter activity. The final make-up class is held only in case one of the other classes needs to be canceled due to snow conditions.

  Skiing Tour
  Interested in learning the basics of cross country skiing while winter camping in our local winter wonderland?  Then this is your course!  Come learn the secrets of good glide, rich hot cocoa, winter navigation, and how to stay warm in your sleeping bag on a starry winters eve. 
  

• Telemark Skiing

  Intro to Telemark Skiing
  Free your heel and the rest will follow! Practice the oldest form of skiing – make a tele turn with gracefully bent knees and you’ll be hooked. Learn the basics and practice linking turns during one class on the bunny hill here at Base Camp and subsequent trips to Toggenburg.
  

  Intermediate Telemark Skiing
  You’ve got the basic tele turn – now it’s time to learn the finer aspects of free heeling. Try your feet at jump turns, parallel turns, and the bumps at Labrador and Snow Ridge Mountains. Prerequisite: ability to link tele turns.
  

• Snowshoeing

  Get away from the monotony and discover the real face of winter. Experience a mode of travel used since 4000 BC! We’ll make local excursions to learn the basics of snowshoeing, cold weather essentials and winter ecology.

• Survival

  What would you do if you had to survive a cold Hamilton night without the comforts of 4 walls and a bed? Learn the basics of survival including the how-to’s of fire, shelter, edible plants and water, then put your new skills to practice during an overnight trip sleeping in your own hand-made shelter. No experience needed!

• Tree Climbing

  Whether an adrenaline junkie, nature lover or kid at heart, tree climbing is the place for you!  You will learn how to use a ten foot tall sling shot to rig trees, use ascenders to get into the canopy and other techniques to move within the tree. There will also be plenty of time to pause and check out the view!  You’ll finally get to climb as high up as you have always wanted!
  

  
  Fall Break Trip
  By the end of this course, you will have all the basics tree climbing skills and then some dialed.  All climbing will take place in the Hamilton area. Accommodations will be provided in the Colgate Yurt at the Beattie reserve (staying in your personal dorm/house is not an option). All meals will be provided. 

• Winter Camping

  This course is a great low-commitment introduction to winter camping.  Learn the basics of snowshoeing, camping in the winter and staying warm.  Put it to practice during an overnight trip to Stoney Pond or Brookfield State Forests.  A whole new way to experience winter-- guaranteed.  No experience needed.