Nature’s
Classroom in Colebrook CT
houses some of our largest
groups. We have over 500 acres of fields, streams, woodlands and even a
small farm area, complete with chickens, rabbits, sheep, guinea hens and
goats.
Chester
and Eli, the llamas, are
great favorites. Sometimes they even accompany us on hikes up
Sunrise
Mountain.
The
hike on
Sunrise
Mountain, about 270 feet above the
level of the camp, is a wonderful experience, with many interesting and
unusual aspects to the climb. Ropes course elements along the trail add
to the fun and the excitement with trust-building and problem-solving
challenges.
Many
groups enjoy a walk on the Giving Tree Trail, where pages of the Shel
Silverstein book are posted along the way. Nearby is the old Hitchcock
family cemetery, an excellent place to talk about
New England
history, communities and relationships between people and the
land they live on.
Another hike, down the hill,
passes Chapel
Island. This is a favorite spot for
field groups to spot wildlife. The trail leads to Triangle Lake, and past the full size
gymnasium on the site. A little further is a little beach and a covered
bridge. From this point, classes with the time and inclination often take
a beautiful three mile hike around the lake, watching for beavers,
amphibians, reptiles and other wildlife.
As the night rolls around, dinner
is served in the dining hall, which is large enough to serve three different
school groups.
After dinner and an
evening program, the students go back to their cabins in the woods, each
cabin with up to 24 students. Every cabin includes a living room with a
fireplace. Some students might stay in Seniors Lodge, which can house up
to 60 students and chaperones, also with a large living room with
fireplace. Seniors Lodge has a small basketball court outside and is next
to an outdoor amphitheater. Another cabin, the Boathouse, is on the
lake.
