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Colby Outdoor Education & Leadership (OEL): Year in Review!

Samantha Andrews - Wednesday, May 13
 Events 

 

Hi everyone,

This year, Colby's Office of Outdoor Education and Leadership set out with a clear mission: to get our community outside. Since stepping into this role, my focus has been on restoring consistency to our outdoor programming, investing in the sustainability of our gear, and building an inclusive environment where every student feels welcome. Moving forward, I am excited to continue expanding our reach through local collaborations and by leading trips myself. As Colby’s Maine Guide, I’m dedicated to showing you the hidden gems of this state and making sure your time here is one to remember!

Join us to celebrate a year of impact, our current programs, and the big things ahead!

Current Programming

Coastal Maine Botanical Garden Tickets: Through a partnership with the Office of Wellness, Colby community members can request up to six free tickets per day to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. The gardens are open May 1 through October 19. Detailed instructions for requests are available via Mulelife.

Year in Review: Program Highlights

Winter Wellness: Snowshoe and Sauna Series: In partnership with the Office of Student Wellness and Quarry Road Trails, we hosted a series of snowshoe walks. Participants used free snowshoes provided by Quarry Road and concluded the evenings at the Sulaa mobile sauna. The excursions were led by Sam Andrews and Collyn Baeder.

 

Acadia National Park Nordic Skiing: Taking advantage of a rare coastal snowfall, we organized a spontaneous trip to Acadia National Park to ski the Aunt Betty Pond Loop. Students spent the afternoon on the carriage roads and finished the ski at the local pizza joint.

White Mountain National Forest Spring Break: Students remaining on campus for Spring Break joined a three-day winter trip to Crawford Notch. The group focused on learning Nordic skiing and winter hiking with fun exploration throughout the White Mountains, like taking the cog railway up Mount Washington.

Mt. Blue State Park: Nordic Skiing: We spent an afternoon at Mt. Blue State Park, where students explored the park’s network of groomed forest trails on Nordic skis.

Lost Valley: Free Ski Night: A long-standing Colby tradition continued this year as the college rented out Lost Valley. The event provided an accessible opportunity for the student body to spend a night on the slopes.

 

Burnt Island: Coastal Cleanup: Collaborating with the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) and Outward Bound, we traveled by boat from Wheeler Bay to Burnt Island. The day was dedicated to trail maintenance, brush removal, and shoreline debris cleanup.

Maine GearShare: Repair Pop-Up: Our partnership with Maine GearShare resulted in the repair of 73 individual items, including 36 jackets and 10 backpacks. This initiative diverted an estimated 130 pounds of textiles from the waste stream. This event will return in the fall.

Future Projects:

Colby Perkins Arboretum: We are building NEW trail signage, kiosks, and a detailed map ahead of August 2026. Trail names will follow a bird theme (based on your suggestions!). Work also includes developing a certified accessible trail. The goal of this project is to increase campus-wide access to our trail network!

Learn to Ski at Saddleback: Next winter, we will launch a new ski program at Saddleback Mountain specifically for students with no prior skiing experience. This program is designed to provide formal instruction and is distinct from the annual Lost Valley Free Ski Night.

And of course… There will be more fun ways to get outside next Fall, so make sure to check your email! 

Thank you, Izzy Kanefsky: I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Izzy for her significant contributions to our programming throughout the spring semester. Her positive attitude and quiet commitment were instrumental in creating and maintaining accessible outdoor opportunities for the Colby community. I am so grateful for her hard work!

Student Employment Opportunities: The Office of Outdoor Education and Leadership will be hiring for a student position to begin in mid-September. If you are interested in supporting our office’s operations and programming for the upcoming academic year, please email me directly for more information.

Thank You! To everyone who snowshoed, skis, repaired gear, cleared trails, or simply showed up, thank you! We cannot wait to see what fun events happen next, and we hope you all attend!

Be well!
Sam Andrews