North Country Weekend (NCW) has been a Dartmouth Community Services program for upwards of 10 years. Each Fall and Spring, Students from Charlestown High School in Boston Massachusetts are hosted by Dartmouth students. They enjoy a weekend of leadership-building outdoor activities while meeting college students from a wide variety of campus groups. Besides exposing the youth to the outdoors, NCW seeks to build self-esteem and expose participants to a college environment. With help from numerous volunteers and organizations, NCW is a nonstop weekend of activities, encouraging everyone to work together and gain insight from one another. The ropes course teaches cooperation and interactive skills, while a hike to Nunnamacher Cabin sparks the imaginations of a group of kids who may never have previously gone camping. Early mornings, long days, and deep sleep (interrupted only by one raid at Nunnamacher cabin) characterize the weekend, as Dartmouth students work together to bring as many different activities into the three days as can be managed. At the weekend’s closing, we hope to send everybody home with a broadened outlook on life’s opportunities and how much one can accomplish.
Volunteers interact with the teenagers through a variety of venues: at the organic farm, on the low ropes course, and on an overnight hike at the Dartmouth Skiway, just to name a few. Volunteer guest speakers share motivating stories and encourage the group to seek out answers to questions about school and the future.
NCW takes place twice per year, Fall and Spring terms. Mentors are expected to participate the entire weekend as well as attend a few planning and reflection meetings.
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In order to provide for transportation around Hanover for the weekend’s activities, volunteers are urged to become college driver approved if possible. See Greg Pence (6-0417), for details.
