Hanna Aggen
There have been many strides made to bring back certain programs that involve student activities, as well as the Mount community. One of these efforts includes bringing back the Mount St. Mary’s Adventures. The MSM Adventures program is a program with the goals to specifically get students outdoors.
So far this semester, there have been many different expeditions.
The Adventure program has a group of student leaders, who lead hikes and other expeditions around the Catoctin Mountains. Carter Kinnear (C’26) is a student leader for the Adventure program. Kinnear said that he first became interested in the adventure program during his first year at the University. He came to the Mount a week before normal move-in his freshman year, for a special move-in program involving outdoor adventures. He then realized that the adventure program didn’t exist anymore. “I basically begged and begged for them to bring it back,” he stated.
The Dean of Students, Dr. Adrienne White, has made many strides toward building the Mount community, including bringing back programs like this. Kinnear believes that they brought the program back to “build a community and get students outdoors.” Nina Devins (C’27) SGA class of 2027 Treasurer stated, “I think it’s really great that they’re trying to get students involved and getting outside more.”
MSM Adventures has plans to get the Mount’s zipline back up and running. This has been one of the more popular plans the program has put out. “I think the zipline will be people’s favorite” Kinnear stated. Aside from our beautiful campus, the nature around the Mount has a lot of pull when it comes to interest in the school.
Many students and faculty have the surrounding nature in mind when choosing this campus. The adventure program strives to get involvement from students in the outdoors. The program gives students the opportunity to meet other students in a free environment. “I look forward to trying some hikes around campus,” said junior, Christina Lazari. “We have gotten a lot of interest. I know the students are excited,” Kinnear stated.
The program has planned out the rest of the first semester. The student leaders are excited to be working with admissions to create the best experience they can.