New Hampshire Day: Four Adventures, One Community

New Hampshire Day: Four Adventures, One Community

From mountain trails and waterfalls to coastal streets and a mountain coaster, Brewster students and faculty spread out across the Granite State for New Hampshire Day, a chance to explore, connect, and celebrate a strong start to the school year.

The day brought the entire community beyond campus for four distinctly New Hampshire experiences: hiking Bald Knob in Moultonborough, taking in the views and riding the mountain coaster at Gunstock, exploring historic Portsmouth, and hiking among the waterfalls and rock formations of the Flume Gorge in Lincoln.

But New Hampshire Day was about more than seeing some of the state’s most iconic places. It was also an opportunity to spend time together outside the rhythms of a typical school day and to explore this year’s community word, Center.

“Finding our center can mean taking time to connect with the people around us, but it can also mean slowing down long enough to notice what’s around us,” Head of School Kristy Kerin said. “New Hampshire Day gave us a chance to do both, to enjoy this beautiful place we call home while building relationships across grades, teams, and different parts of our community.”

For one group, the day meant heading just down the road to Moultonborough to hike Bald Knob. The trail climbs through the woods before opening to sweeping views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the surrounding mountains, a familiar landscape seen from an entirely different perspective.

For Charlie Martin ’27, the opportunity to step away from academics and enjoy the outdoors with friends was a highlight.

“I got to go with four or five of my friends, so we had a great time,” Martin said. “Not many schools get to do this, take the day off just to spend time in nature, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and be with your friends hiking. When you're busy with school, doing homework and studying all the time, it's nice to get out and enjoy the state that you live in and get to go to school in.”

At Gunstock Mountain Resort, Bobcats experienced a different kind of mountain adventure. A familiar destination for Brewster's ski and snowboard programs during the winter months, Gunstock offered a whole new perspective without the snow. Students and faculty rode the scenic chairlift to take in panoramic views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the surrounding mountains, then traded ski runs for twists and turns on the mountain coaster. For those accustomed to carving their way down Gunstock's slopes in winter, it was a chance to appreciate their home mountain in a whole new season.

Farther north, students and faculty explored one of New Hampshire’s best-known natural landmarks, the Flume Gorge in Franconia Notch State Park. Wooden walkways and trails carried the group through the narrow granite gorge, past waterfalls and towering rock walls, offering plenty of opportunities to experience the beauty and wonder Brewster hoped the day would inspire.

Another group traded mountains for the Seacoast with a trip to Portsmouth, where students had time to explore the historic downtown, walk along the waterfront, grab lunch, and experience one of New Hampshire’s oldest communities.

“My favorite part of NH Day was going to Portsmouth, where I got to shop, try some good coffee, and enjoy all the beautiful fall scenery and oceanfront views with my friends,” said Aislin Sprauge ’27. “It was nice to get off campus and spend time with friends while appreciating everything New Hampshire offers in the fall!”

While the four groups experienced very different corners of the state, they shared a common purpose: stepping outside the usual routine, strengthening connections, and making time to notice the places and people around them.

As a boarding school in New Hampshire, Brewster brings together students from across the country and around the world, many of whom are discovering the state's mountains, lakes, forests, and communities for the first time. New Hampshire Day offered a chance to experience some of what makes this corner of New England so special, while building connections with one another and finding our Center along the way.

See all the photos from New Hampshire Day in this Flickr album.