Skip To Main Content

Toggle Close Container

Mobile Search

Mobile Main Nav

Mobile Utility

Header Holder

Header Right Column

Open Search Overlay

Header Utility Nav

Toggle Menu Container

Search Canvas

Close Canvas Menu

Desktop Search

Sticky Header

Open Search Overlay - Sticky

Toggle Menu Container - Sticky

Apply BTN

Horizontal Nav

Outdoor Program

A person in the foreground with a camera photographs a wooded path in the background.

The H. Adams Carter ’32 Outdoor Program.

Explore New England. Build Confidence. Challenge Yourself.

Milton Academy’s Outdoor Program invites Upper School students to step beyond the classroom and into some of the most beautiful landscapes in New England. From climbing cliffs and paddling along coastlines to hiking peaks and backpacking through forests, students challenge themselves, support one another, and build confidence, connection, and joy in the outdoors. 

Three climbers in helmets and jackets prepare to rappel down a rocky cliff face, with a valley and wind turbines visible in the distant, autumn-colored background.

test

Two smiling hikers in the foreground take a selfie with a group of friends on a rocky, wooded overlook with a cloudy sky and distant mountains in the background.

Learning and Exploring
in the Outdoors

Founded in the spirit of legendary mountaineer and Milton educator H. Adams Carter, Class of 1932, the program emphasizes experiential learning through challenge and excitement, supporting students as they develop resilience and form lasting connections with friends and faculty.

Whether you are new to outdoor recreation or an experienced adventurer, Milton’s Outdoor Program offers something for everyone. 

Guided by trained Milton faculty and professional outdoor instructors, students gain practical skills as they explore rivers, mountains, forests, and coastlines throughout New England, all while learning how to navigate challenges safely and thoughtfully.

Three Ways Milton Students Get Outside

A person climbs a rock wall with colorful holds while another person belays them in the foreground, with a bright, industrial-looking ceiling in the background.

After-School
outdoor courses

Milton’s after-school Outdoor Program features season-long instructional courses that immerse students in specific activities while earning physical education credit. Students may choose an Outdoor Program course in place of a team sport or traditional PE class.

Courses include:

  • Rock climbing
  • Hiking
  • Kayaking

Fall and spring offerings take students outdoors across the region, while winter climbing sessions use the nearby Central Rock Gym in Randolph or Milton’s indoor climbing wall to build technique and confidence.

All registered students receive required permission forms before each course begins.

Weekend Trips in New England

One of the highlights of Milton’s Outdoor Program is its free weekend trip program, open to all Upper School students. Throughout the year, instructor-led day and overnight adventures head to the mountains, cliffs, and coastlines of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Activities may include:

  • Rock climbing and ice climbing
  • Day hikes and multi-day backpacking
  • Cross-country and backcountry skiing
  • Winter hiking and snowshoeing
  • Sea kayaking and overnight paddling trips
  • Mountain biking
  • Introductory mountaineering

Milton provides all technical equipment, food, transportation, and instruction, making it easy for students to get outside and try something new.

With 20–30 trips and events each year, these weekends become unforgettable highlights of many students’ Milton experiences. Participants simply need a signed permission form on file.

A bright red kayak in the foreground glides across a calm lake towards a tree-lined horizon under a clear blue sky with scattered clouds.
A hiker with outstretched arms stands on a rocky summit in the foreground, overlooking a vast lake and distant hills under a cloudy sky in the background.

Special Multi-Day Expeditions

During school breaks and after the academic year ends, the Outdoor Program offers extended adventures that introduce students to new environments and deeper exploration.

Recent destinations have included:

  • Sea kayaking in the Bahamas
  • Hiking in Moab and Arches National Park
  • Climbing in Joshua Tree National Park and Red Rock Canyon
  • Winter camping and backpacking in New Hampshire’s White Mountains

These trips challenge students physically and mentally while building independence, teamwork, and a lifelong love of the outdoors.

Why Outdoor Adventure Matters

The Outdoor Program provides much more than recreation. Students learn to:

  • Take responsibility and manage risk
  • Work collaboratively in dynamic environments
  • Persevere through physical and mental challenges
  • Appreciate the natural world
  • Discover confidence and leadership

Above all, the Outdoor Program is about joy—laughing around a camp stove, reaching a summit together, and returning to campus with stories that last long after the trip is over.