Into The Wild

Anna Laprise ’20 heard a mysterious rustling of leaves, and then, in an explosive burst, an alarmed rabbit came charging from the woods and darted across the hiking path. An instant later, it became obvious what the rabbit was running from. 

“A huge Fisher Cat darted out just behind the rabbit and then they both disappeared again into the woods,” Laprise recalled, pointing out that the elusive Fisher—a member of the notoriously ill-tempered weasel family—offered a stark reminder of the relationship between predator and prey in the natural world. 

That encounter was one of many memorable experiences Laprise and her fellow students have shared as part of Conn’s Outdoor Adventures program, which offers a variety of opportunities to explore the New England wilderness. 

The program, which initially began in the spring of 2018 as a club organization, is now a formal program in the Office of Student Life that provides a number of ever-expanding trips and outings that range from week-long camping excursions to local kayaking activities. The multiple kayaking trips have been so popular that the program forged a partnership with New England Science and Sailing, a non-profit that has collaborated on several trips near campus. 

For a passionate environmentalist and Maine native like Laprise, the program was a perfect way to continue enjoying her love of the outdoors in college and to connect with students who shared her interests. 

“I’ve spent my entire life backpacking, camping, hiking, skiing, biking, kayaking and surfing, and what I love about this program is that it really promotes a sense of community among Conn students and teaches a real respect for the environment,” Laprise said. 

After Geoff Norbert, assistant dean of student engagement and new student programs, launched Outdoor Adventures as a pilot program, he realized he had underestimated the extraordinary level of student interest.  

“From the start, the response to the offerings has been overwhelming,” Norbert said. “The day we released the schedule, many of the trips filled up within a few hours, and one backpacking trip had enough people on the waitlist to plan an entire separate trip.”