Into the Great Outdoors
Sixth graders partake in an overnight campout in the Hackley Forest.
By Glenn Hasslinger, Physical Education/Health/Outdoor Education teacher
As a kid growing up in Rockland County, I loved the outdoors. That is to say, I loved to play sports outside. I knew nothing, however, about “the great outdoors.” I had never been exposed to it. I have a very large extended family and, to this day, none of my relatives have ever gone camping. My own introduction to the great outdoors occurred during my junior year of college when I was reminded that all Physical Education majors were required to complete a two-week Outdoor Education course in the Adirondacks in order to graduate. This course made SUNY Cortland’s Physical Education program unique compared to other colleges, and it was something the university was very proud of. I was nervous, to say the least. In hindsight though, that course changed my life, and I have treasured its memory ever since.
It all started with my buddies and I driving a few hours north to Raquette Lake, located in the heart of the Adirondacks. Our home base for most of the next two weeks was only accessible by boat. Arriving on the island, we were immediately told by the instructors to change into our bathing suits for our swim test, which was to be followed by canoe and water rescue training. It was early May, and there was still snow glistening on the mountain summits of the High Peaks region off in the distance. One by one, we did as we were told and jumped into the crystal-clear blue lake. As each of us re-emerged, we gasped from the sensation of the frigid water. “Welcome to the great outdoors,” I thought.
The rest of the course continued to challenge me in ways I had never experienced. I went canoeing for the first time, learned to portage, carried a heavy backpack for days on end, slept in a lean-to at Marcy Dam, and even summited Mt. Marcy, the highest mountain in New York. Throughout those two weeks, I sweat, I froze, I slipped, I fell; I was exhausted, hungry, and thirsty. In the High Peaks region, it rained a lot, and our 10-hour round-trip hike to the summit of Mt. Marcy was rewarded with no view. My rain jacket was not particularly effective against the elements, nor were my “hiking” boots. And yet, these experiences changed me forever.
Once I became exposed to the great outdoors, I immediately fell in love with nature. I often wonder what other experiences I might have missed out on had I never taken that outdoor education course. For instance, I may have never learned the skills to camp in the summer, much less the winter, my favorite season. I probably would not have gained the confidence to attempt to climb glaciated peaks, such as Mt. Rainier, or think it was possible to ride a mountain bike, unsupported, from Canada to Mexico. Before I took that course, I could not understand why people would choose to sleep outdoors. I never would have thought to watch the sun rise from the summit of Mt. Marcy on a frozen, wind-bitten January morning. After all, to do so means starting your hike in the pitch black at 2 or 3 a.m., and that takes some getting used to. Yet, I am now a certified Leave No Trace – Master Educator, and I recertified as a Wilderness First Responder this past summer. Both certifications were earned through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), a renowned leader in outdoor education.
As we all know, some of the most beautiful places on Earth are also some of the most fragile. Aside from loving the experiences that the outdoors can give us, it is also critical for us to have as little impact as possible. At the start of every outdoor education course at Hackley, the seven Leave No Trace Principles are the very first lessons taught to our students. The principles range from planning ahead and preparing, to being considerate of other visitors. In addition, traveling and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly, leaving what you find, minimizing campfire impacts, and respecting wildlife are all equally important. The Leave No Trace principles are non-negotiables, and our students learn that on day one.
Environmental stewardship is a core value of the outdoor experience at Hackley. Our incredible campus is made up of 285 acres, and about 150 of those acres is undeveloped land. Several years ago, the Hackley Earth Action League (HEAL) was created to raise awareness about environmental issues on the Hilltop, and to take action to help alleviate these issues as much as possible. HEAL strives to make Hackley a more eco-friendly place by educating students about the importance of conservation and sustainability, and gradually implementing strategies for environmental conservation into campus life. HEAL is a K-12 endeavor led by Ms. Adams, Mr. Ogden, and Mrs. DiStefano. In addition to HEAL, the Hackley Outdoor Club, led by Mr. Wright, focuses on environmentalism and outdoor adventure for Upper School students.
Since my first experience in the outdoors, nearly 20 years ago now, I have been very fortunate to have hiked, camped, swam, mountain biked, and climbed all over the United States and around the world. I am even more fortunate that Hackley fully supports my outdoor pursuits and provides opportunities for myself and others to teach our love for the outdoors. Though the school has never had a formal Outdoor Education program, there have been many outdoor enthusiasts who have taken students into the great outdoors, here on the Hilltop and beyond. Over the years, former and current colleagues have offered a wide range of outdoor and environmental experiences to their students. This includes Lower and Middle School campouts with Mr. and Mrs. Retzloff, winter ski trips to Vermont with Mr. Pickert, and exhausting fitness challenges and girls’ soccer mud runs with coaching legend Mr. Allison, who always went first! For decades, Mrs. Harmon has taken Lower School children into the woods for fresh air. She has also offered summer courses where students create kindness rocks and hide them in the Hackley Forest for anyone to find and brighten their day. In the Upper School, Mr. Gillard and Mr. Stanek have led countless Casten trips to Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Dominica, Bolivia, and Peru, all offering such outdoor pursuits as scuba diving, snorkeling, white water rafting, kayaking, and horseback riding.
Fortunately, the modern Hackley outdoor experience continues to thrive and is led by a number of talented educators. Ms. Johnson has literally built the orchard from the ground up over the past few years, and it has become one of the most beautiful outdoor spaces on campus. In the last decade and a half, Mr. Eleck has led countless rock-climbing trips on and off the Hilltop. Mr. Ogden is a passionate fisherman and has brought Hackley students to the waters of Connecticut, the Long Island Sound, and the Adirondacks.
Mrs. Tranchida’s geocaching course each summer has proven to be a huge hit with Hackley students. Mrs. DiStefano recently received the Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award by the Garden Club of America for her outstanding contributions to the environmental education of youth, specifically for her work with the Hackley Lower School Garden. Personally, I am in debt to both Ms. Maddox and Ms. Budde, who have joined me on countless camping trips over the years—trips that included white water rafting, canoeing, zip lining, and exhausting full-day hikes up some of the tallest peaks in the Adirondacks and even to Scotland.
All of these outdoor experiences have been optional opportunities for Hackley students. Some experiences are offered during the school year and others through Hackley Summer Programs. There is a strong contingent of students who love the outdoors, and we often see the same kids signing up for trip after trip. Despite a long, grueling hike this past summer, Twyla D-H. ’28 said, “I am very proud that I faced all the physical challenges because it was really worth it!” Another seventh grader, Katie Y., said, “If I didn’t go on the trip last year, I would have never discovered that I love hiking. That made me want to go on the trip again this year for the third time. It’s so nice to have no phone service and to be outside with your friends.”
Though I often wonder why many other students choose not to participate in the outdoors, I also recognize it is probably for the same reason why I initially shied away—they have never been exposed to it. If there was ever a time to experience the beauty and wonder of the outdoors, that time is now. Our students have never lived in a world without the internet or cell phones. They have always had 24-hour access to news, online shopping, and, of course, social media. Want to know who a celebrity is dating? Just Google it! I was one of the last people to upgrade from the f lip phone to the smartphone, and, I must admit, there are great advantages to modern technology. However, there are also drawbacks.
Over-reliance on and over-indulgence of screens and indoor spaces is not healthy. As humans, we tend to gravitate toward warm and cozy places with screens. I wonder though, if we seek comfort too often.
In the outdoors, comfort is hard to come by. There certainly are a lot of unknowns, as well as things we cannot control. You may wonder, what is it going to be like? Will it rain? Will it be cold? How exhausting will it be? Will I be uncomfortable? As I learned on that two-week Adirondack adventure in college, experiencing the answers to these questions will create memories that will last a lifetime. Venturing into the great outdoors can build your confidence, and it can make you physically and mentally stronger. I always felt that if I can survive a night in the woods, I can survive much of anything else life throws at me.
As someone who loves the outdoors, I am grateful that Hackley has fully supported its faculty in offering outdoor experiences for our students. As highlighted in the School’s strategic plan Redefining Excellence: Learning Beyond Boundaries, the School is committed to utilizing the Hackley Forest and surrounding natural ecosystems to their fullest educational capacities and to fostering environmental stewardship. In our modern world, having access to our beautiful forest, literally just steps away, is a game changer. We have multiple outdoor classrooms in the woods, an orchard, an organic deer-proof teaching garden, a field biology research area, a wetlands facility, and 6.5 miles of hiking, running, and snowshoeing trails. The teachers leading our students into the great outdoors come from all walks of life. We teach math, English, performing arts, science, physical education, and more.
So, what does the future hold for Hackley and outdoor education? My hope is that we can continue to build on our current momentum and offer fun and exciting outdoor opportunities for our K-12 students. Perhaps we build a few more camping platforms or even some lean-tos in the Hackley Forest. Maybe we add some low or high challenge elements. The Big Experience learning pathway certainly comes to mind, as does traveling to magnificent places throughout America and the world. Outdoor pursuits and environmental ethics seem like something our students would embrace. Implementing more experiences in our very own forest seems obvious.
On a larger scale, my sense is that our students could be interested in outdoor experiences far beyond the Hilltop. Perhaps seeing firsthand the beauty and isolation of the Arctic, while also studying climate change and its effects on wildlife and the inhabitants who live there. Perhaps some students would like to learn the history of America’s National Parks while visiting Yellowstone, Arches, or Glacier National Park. These are just a few of the countless ideas that a robust outdoor education program could bring to life as it continues to flourish at Hackley. The lifelong memories our students and faculty can make from outdoor experiences are as endless as the night’s sky—and hopefully this is just the beginning.
Glenn Hasslinger has been a Physical Education and Health teacher at Hackley since 2007 and also coaches soccer, squash, and golf. For several years, he was the Global Education Coordinator in the Middle School. He is now following his passion for Outdoor Education at Hackley.
This story first appeared in the Hackley Review Winter 2022-2023 edition. To see the full digital issue, click here.