Camp Dartmouth
We’ve all heard it before: the College is an Ivy League school, but it’s also basically summer camp. You only get to experience Camp Dartmouth once, and we’re halfway through, so it’s time to set aside your books and get out there. There are places to explore, bucket lists to complete and marshmallows to roast. As a self-identified camp person – last year was the first that I didn’t go back – I’ve taken it upon myself to share some of the College’s best camp activities.
Swimming
The river, with its tanning and facetime potential, is a natural choice when the thermostat reaches 90 degrees. Yet to get the real Camp Dartmouth experience, you need to add an element of adventure and a bit of the great outdoors. For those without a car, Mink Brook is just a short walk through town. Check out this old Mirror article for information on other local watering holes.
Arts & Crafts
When it came time to sign up for activities at camp, my athletic and far more coordinated friends would pick the sports options. I, however, spent a few years spinning dream catchers and building Popsicle sculptures.
While I haven’t done much crafting here in Hanover, there are some good options around us. Dartmouth’s very own ceramics studio is just across the river and has no term fee for the next three weeks, so you only pay for clay—instruction comes free. There’s always the jewelry or woodworking studio too, or White River Junction’s Tip Top Pottery for the more adventurous. And with a half-priced ladies’ night every Thursday, who’s to turn it down?
Sports and Color Wars
You don’t need cheer-downs and face paint to introduce competition into your term. Intramural teams may already be in action, but you can always play a pick-up game of something-or-other with your friends. The Collis info desk has Frisbees, soccer balls and more.
Then there’s the good old sport of pong, a Camp Dartmouth exclusive. If the rules of the game weren’t enough to mystify visitors and incoming freshmen alike, they’d certainly be baffled by the overwhelming amount of dedication that goes into it this summer as people practice for a certain upcoming tournament. Games, booze and a bit of friendly competition — if that’s not the college equivalent of color wars, I’m not sure what is.
Hoopla
My camp was always more about spirit and enthusiasm than competition, and every day after lunch we had a little something called hoopla. Each age group tried to be louder than the next, jumping up and down and shouting cheers across the dining hall. Colleges don’t exactly have daily cheering sessions, but my point is this: find the things that make you most enthusiastic and revel in them.
Whether it’s jamming out to new summer music or spending time with new friends, make time for it. There’s no one way to experience Camp Dartmouth, but if you’re doing it right, you should feel like jumping up and down with joy every now and then.