College Outing Clubs

On December 14, 1909, in the South Fayer-weather room of Fred Harris '11, the nation's first collegiate outing club was born and outdoor life was changed forever. By 1917 membership had swelled to 715 and the club had already assisted in the formation of outing clubs at six other schools including Yale, Tufts, Colgate, and the University of Vermont. In the 19305, Dartmouth created the Intercollegiate Outing-Club Association to encourage other schools to create clubs. Today, according to Outdoor Programs Director Earl Jette, the DOC still receives eight to ten inquiries a year from schools wishing to create or expand a club. Few schools have the DOC's resources, however: a downhill ski area, a ski-touring center, 4,800-foot Mt. Moosilauke, the Ravine Lodge, the 27,000-acre Second College Grant, 11 cabins, and nine shelters.