Hot chocolate, s’mores, and winter activities are on the menu for the first in a series of Winter Fun Days for the Dartmouth community, from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Dartmouth Outing Club House on Occom Pond.
Each Saturday of winter term will feature an outdoor activity such as sledding, snowshoeing, or skating, and equipment will be provided.
The Saturday series is sponsored by the Outdoor Programs Office and the Outdoor Engagement Committee. Several other offices, including Dartmouth Student Government, the Office of Pluralism and Leadership, and the Native American Program, will co-sponsor and help shape various Saturday programs.
“We are excited to host Winter Fun Days at the Dartmouth Outing Club House for students to try a variety of winter activities, if the weather cooperates,” says Katie Colleran, director of the Outdoor Programs Office. “Even if the cold is not your favorite, we’ve got fire pits to ward off the chill and would love for you to join us even for a little while.”
The activities are part of a broad-based effort to promote health and wellness throughout the Dartmouth community that also includes access to winter activities and equipment.
Dartmouth ID holders can borrow gear, including skates, snowshoes, and warm clothing, at no cost from Dartmouth Outdoor Rentals, open weekdays, and skates from the Dartmouth Outing Club House on Saturdays, if the pond is safe for skating. Dartmouth community members and the general public can borrow skates from Campion Arena for free.
That could be especially handy since, like last year, the ice rink on the Green will open next week to the Dartmouth community and the general public.
The rink, a collaboration between Dartmouth and the Town of Hanover, is expected to be ready by midday on Monday, Jan. 13. It will initially be open for skating from 9 a.m. to sunset, and then from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., after lights are installed, says Jim Alberghini, director of logistics for Dartmouth’s Conferences and Events department.
The ice on Occom Pond is not yet considered safe to walk or skate on.
Bruce Sacerdote ’90, an economics professor and chair of the Outdoor Engagement Committee, says the Saturday gatherings are a great place to socialize and spend time outside, both of which can provide an important mental health boost.
“With these shorter days, it’s so good to have something that gets you out during the day and lets you enjoy the sunlight and human interaction,” Sacerdote says. “You never know what winter sport you’re going to love until you try it.”
Abida Ahmadi ’26, an economics major and member of the Outdoor Engagement Committee, says she’s excited about the Saturday events and is encouraging her friends and classmates to join in.
It’s important for students to take time out from their studies, jobs, and internships to relax, Ahmadi says. With so many fun activities to explore, the winter series “is going to be a great opportunity.”
