Athletics
Fitness & Wellness

Wilderness Program

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Immersive Outdoor Education

Imagine hiking through the rugged peaks of New England’s White Mountains or cutting through the waves of the Atlantic on a sea kayak during your mod break. Under the guidance of professionally trained leaders, students can experience the thrill and challenge of such adventures through our longstanding Wilderness Program.

Registration for all wilderness trips open the first week of mods 1, 3, 5. We provide further registration updates through emails, our weekly newsletters, and announcements during assembly.

    • Wilderness Collage

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    • Wilderness Collage

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Sign Up for the Spring Wilderness Trip!


Thursday, April 30 to Sunday, May 3.

The spring wilderness trip will take place over the coming mod break from Thursday, April 30th to Sunday, May 3rd. The trip is a three-day, two-night sea kayaking and camping trip on the coast of Maine. Groups will be paddling between islands in Casco Bay and camping on different islands for the two nights of the trip.

No experience with sea kayaking or camping is required and we can provide all of the necessary clothing and equipment to participate. Space is limited to sixteen students (eight students per group), pending review from the Dean’s Office and Health Team. Students who signed up for the Winter Trip and have not yet participated in a Wilderness Trip this year are given priority registration, and remaining spots are first-come first-served. Groups will be assigned after registration is complete, and are not dependent on signup order. Participants also receive 1/2 an athletic credit upon successful completion of the trip.

These trips are a fantastic way to experience the beauty of the coastal ocean and island environment and to connect with other students! They're a fun, physically engaging, community building way to spend your mod break.
The cost of the trip will be $250, and will be billed to families on completion of the trip. Financial Aid is available for students receiving aid through the school. Please reach out to Lisa Palmero (lpalmero@csw.org) with any questions about financial aid for wilderness trips.

Mod Break Trips

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  • Fall Season

    Backpacking through the beautiful fall foliage of New Hampshire's White Mountains. Fall trip takes place between mods 1 and 2

  • Winter Season

    Cross country skiing, snow shoeing or ice climbing through New Hampshire's White Mountains. Winter trip takes place between mods 3 and 4.

  • Spring Season

    Sea Kayaking in coastal Maine. Spring trip takes place between mods 5 and 6. 

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  • I have made connections that helped form me into an open-minded and adventurous person

    Over my four years at the Cambridge School of Weston, I attended every wilderness trip that was available to me and I have made connections that helped form me into an open-minded and adventurous person. I felt connected and valued by the program from our first hike up Mount Madison to my last tearful kayaking trip

    — Camila '23

Program Details

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  • Athletic Credit

    Mod break trips earn participants 1/2 an athletic credit. 

    Completion of 2 day trips in a single school year earns the student 1/2 athletic credit.

  • Costs and Fees

    There is a cost associated with mod break trips. The cost varies depending on the trip. An estimated cost will be announced when trip registration begins. Financial aid is available for students receiving aid through the school.

    Day trips are free for all participants.

  • Equipment & Gear

    CSW should be able to provide all equipment and clothing necessary for participation in any of our trips (possible exception being bikes).

  • Health and Safety

    CSW is dedicated to the health and safety of trip participants and leaders. Pre-trip communications will include information about health and safety precautions and backup plans in place to protect trip participants. 
45 Georgian Road, Weston, MA 02493
Phone: (781) 642-8600
CSW—a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12—is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.