Beyond Garden Hill: Summer 2017

Beyond Garden Hill
Summer 2017

Changing Times

Although the Mountain School is a place where so much stays the same, big changes do come along. This summer Marilyn Covey retired after 33 years as head chef and reunion organizer (but she will stay on in a limited capacity to oversee the alumni newsletter, Pearls & Seaweed), Pamela Mainville retired after 17 years as cook, and Madeline Podnar Stewart s98 moved on after seven years as Director of Alumni Giving. The contributions of these three women were significant to the Mountain School, to say the least, and all will be missed. 

Marilyn's and Madeline's positions have been combined into the role of our new Director of Alumni Relations, Annie Janeway. Annie comes to the Mountain School after working at independent schools and colleges in both fundraising and alumni relations. Annie is eager to get to know our graduates, expand offerings for alumni, and strengthen our network.

​The Alumni Committee's fall meeting will take place in Vershire in late October. We'll be reviewing the fall semester round of the Garden Hill Fund, strengthening the work of the Recent Alumni Mission (RAM) program, and assessing our programs, as well as discussing new ideas. If you have suggestions for the Alumni Committee or would like to apply to serve on the Committee, please contact us; we would love to hear from you. 

Warmly,
The Alumni Committee​

In this issue:

Apply For a Garden Hill Fund grant 

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Summer Reunions: why you should go

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Big Idea Day Preview

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Anna f01

Faisal s07

Nate s03 & Gideon s03

Jackson s09

Danielle s10

Jenny f84

Megan s05

Dinah s94 & Jess s88

Uriel f07

September 15:
​Garden Hill Fund application deadline

Grants from the Garden Hill Fund support the good work of Mountain School graduates (such as those at left) whose endeavors focus on the common good in their own communities and/or the larger world. What's more, the Garden Hill Fund program engages current Mountain School students, who, along with the Alumni Committee, carefully select grant recipients. 

Read more & apply online

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Summer Reunions: why you should go

Each summer, the Mountain School hosts reunions on three weekends: 5/10/15 years in mid-June, 20 years in early August (only two semesters attend this), and 25 years and up in mid-August. Although each reunion is a bit different, all of them help alumni reconnect with each other and the School itself. If you haven't yet been to a summer reunion, here's what it's all about, and what you're missing.

Younger alumni (5, 10, and 15 years out) represent the largest group of attendees for the three age-group summer reunions. As alumni age, returning graduates begin to share the Mountain School with their partners and families. Those who bring their children get to enjoy a special grown-up experience with other alumni while the kids have their own adventure (more on this in a bit). 

At all reunions, graduates report how much they enjoy reconnecting with their classmates and faculty, meeting alumni from other semesters, working on Garden Hill, hiking in the woods, and just relaxing by a fire. The food is delicious, of course, and sometimes there's even live music by fellow alumni. The Sunday morning meeting typically entails a discussion that many folks have said is refreshing and not found in their everyday lives. But most of all, a meaningful bond is reestablished with the physical place that is The Mountain School, the values it promotes, and the people that make it all come alive. 

Summer reunion stats, 2012-2017

Average number of alumni, guests (usually partners or spouses), and children of alumni who attended summer reunions from 2012 through 2017:
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• 5/10/15 year reunion: 
  100 alumni
  8 guests
  1 child
• 20 year reunion: 
  25 alumni
  14 guests
  22 children
• 25+ year reunion:
  25 alumni
  15 guests
  31 children

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At 20-plus years out, some alumni say it's difficult make the trip back to Vershire for various reasons: traveling with young children, job constraints, distance from Vermont, etc. That said, there is no doubt it's worth it to make the effort to attend reunion, especially thanks to one particular aspect of the weekend: the childcare. Once you're on campus, it's like family camp—except the kids are whisked away to their own activities by the most wonderful group of childcare providers (many of whom are young alumni). The adults are left to do...whatever they want. Babysitters will even hang out in the dorm in the afternoon while little ones nap or after kids have gone to sleep in the evening so that parents can take part in all that reunion offers alumni. And the kids have so much fun! After a scavenger hunt, hayride, dancing, face painting, making and breaking a piñata, and visiting the animals, they don't want to leave.

In all, summer reunions are special and unlike any reunion you'll attend anywhere else. The overall feedback from alumni is that they are glad they attended, and that they'll come back for their semester's next gathering. Hopefully you'll agree. 

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Big Idea Day 2017: October 13-15

Alumni hosts needed!

What: Big Idea Day is an event that offers graduates the opportunity to meet and engage in a discussion on a topic that affects our lives and which may be related to a current event or issue on campus at the Mountain School. Each year's topic is generated by the Alumni Committee in collaboration with the Mountain School. 
This year's topic delves into how we consume news in a  hyper-partisan world where bias influences everything.
When: Weekend of October 13-15, 2017
Where: Living rooms, back yards, parks, cafes or wherever alumni want to host a group 
​Who: All alumni are invited to participate, but first we need hosts! Please click below to sign up to organize an event in your home or area. Thanks!

Sign up to host a Big Idea Day event

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About Us
The Mission of the Mountain School Alumni Committee is to support a dynamic community of Mountain School graduates by connecting them to each other and helping them to carry forward the intellectual curiosity, celebration of place and commitment to service we associate with the Mountain School.  

Got feedback? Contact us.