Hartwick Pine Lake Campus Grows as a Community Destination
From outdoor education and archaeology to family celebrations and recreational activities, Pine Lake continues to welcome a growing number of community members to experience its unique natural setting.
Recent months have brought a wide range of educational programs, workshops and events to the property, while expanding opportunities for the public to enjoy its trails, waterfront and overnight accommodations.
Throughout May and June, Pine Lake hosted four homeschool groups from Otsego and Delaware counties, and welcomed Omar Nelson’s ’22 fifth-grade class from Laurens Central School for Challenge Education and outdoor learning activities and twice hosted the Creating Rural Opportunities Partnership (CROP) program. The site also hosted graduation celebrations, birthday parties and group picnics and welcomed the Oneonta Boys & Girls Club for weekday summer activities.
Matthew Sanford, executive director of Pine Lake and the Baking Innovation Lab, said the growing level of community engagement reflects the property’s mission.
“Pine Lake cannot exist without community involvement because our community is the very lifeblood of this site,” Sanford said. “This vital bond has driven incredible growth, skyrocketing from two programs a year to nearly 100 unique rentals, recreational workshops, challenge education experiences, guided hikes, open public recreation opportunities like sledding, hiking and catch-and-release fishing.”
One of the most recent examples was Dig Dirt Day, where children participating in Oneonta World of Learning (OWL) partnered with Hartwick College’s Archaeological Field School to experience archaeology firsthand through hands-on excavation activities.
Catherine Weigel ’12, co-chair of the education committee for OWL, said Pine Lake offers community members hands-on experiences in nature that extend beyond traditional classrooms.
“Pine Lake is a great resource in the area as it provides great experiences with nature and provides an experiential learning opportunity for community members,” Weigel said.
