Wilderness Adventure Quest

If you are interested in exploring these questions you may be interested in the Wilderness Adventure Quest, a partnership between the Counseling Center and Outdoor Leadership. This wilderness trip (no experience preferred!) uses the power of the natural world to provide a space to explore the deeper questions of your heart. 

What happens on the trip?

The last several trips have used canoes to travel to two different islands in the Saranac Lake area of the Adirondack Park. We camp for three days and two nights in the wilderness, with plenty of time for personal reflection and group sharing. On the second day, participants engage in an afternoon solo to allow for deeper contemplation. In short, there's a lot of thinking, feeling, talking, and hanging out. It’s a relaxing and deep way to take some time away from the usual back and forth of our days at Hamilton.

Do I need to have experience in the woods?

Absolutely not, and we prefer it that way! The trip is led by a psychologist and an experienced wilderness guide, so no prior experience in either of those realms is needed. We will also take care of all of the trip planning (food, supplies, etc.) so that you can focus on having your own experience.

How do I schedule a trip?

We typically run one trip in October (peak leaf season!) and one in April (spring growth!). Emails will go out to the student body a couple of weeks before, and all you need to do is complete a short application.