Every September, the entire Lawrence Academy community takes a break from the classroom and travels to New Hampshire to hike Mount Monadnock. Some take their time to reach the top; others run to climb it twice, even three times! (a record still held by Jonny Mangini '14). One of LA’s oldest traditions, Mountain Day features a cookout, gorgeous views, and an all-school photo at the summit — the perfect way to kick off the school year.

Another new year means another group of new students stepping on busses and heading up to Windsor, N.H., for two days. Just like LA’s other longtime tradition, Mountain Day, which gives the whole school a chance to spend time together in a natural setting, the New Student Orientation at Windsor Mountain Summer Camp allows LA’s new batch of Spartans to get to know each other and bond with peer counselors, faculty, and staff members. Whether by overcoming their fear of heights on the ropes course or making s’mores at the evening bonfire, students always leave Windsor Mountain closer and ready for their first year on the elm tree-shaded hillside.

Winterim — a word everyone on the LA campus knows extremely well — is the annual centerpiece to Lawrence Academy’s commitment to immersive education and experiential learning. A hands-on experience, Winterim is the perfect complement to how students learn in the classroom every day at LA. In 2018, for the first time, a group of students (joined by two faculty members) traveled to Morocco, where they photographed the beautiful landscapes, learned about Moroccan culture, took in local art, and cooked and ate regional foods — experiences they will remember forever.