Students carrying a kayak with a person in it.

Middlebury Outdoor Programs supports 10 student organizations that contribute to the well-being and outdoor pursuits of Middlebury Students.

Explore the organizations below for an introduction and contact information.

A full listing of all of our student organizations, as well as many other available engagement opportunities can be found on MiddPresence, Middlebury’s Student Engagement Platform.

Crossfit Middlebury

Crossfit Middlebury hosts 1 hour workouts open to all students. Crossfit is “constantly varied, high-intensity functional movement” — a mix of gymnastics, weightlifing, and cardio. 

Come to 8 classes for a PE credit. Beginners welcome! All classes meet in Nelson Half Dome.

Email crossfitmiddlebury@middlebury.edu to join the email list and sign up for classes!

FIRE: Fostering Inclusive Recreational Experiences

FIRE’s mission is to create a safe, supportive community of and for Black, Indigenous, and people of color outdoor recreators. FIRE’s goals are to engage people who have been historically and presently excluded from dominant outdoor and environmental culture, increase representation on Middlebury’s campus of BIPOC recreating, and foster connections between people and the natural world.

Past activities include sunrise hikes, backpacking trips, kayaking, climbing wall hours, cross-country and downhill skiing, ice fishing, and much more! 

We’re excited to get outside with you! Join the newsletter to hear about what we’re up to! Check out some pictures from past trips!

Contactfire@middlebury.edu

Freeheelers

The Free Heelers are stoked to increase access to the mountains and valleys of Vermont and the surrounding states by making an often prohibitively expensive sport – skiing (of the free heeled variety) –  free for members of the Middlebury College community. 

We maintain a fleet of telemark skis and boots, as well as climbing skins, poles, and tuning equipment to loan out to Middlebury College community members for free. 

Throughout the winter, we have open gear hours twice a week to chat about freeing our heels and our minds, loan out equipment, tune equipment, and answer questions. We organize periodic group lessons or skiing nights and coordinate adventures.

Our winter hours are Sundays from 5 – 6:30 p.m. and Thursdays 7 – 8:30 p.m. in the Bike Shop.

MiddFly Fly Fishing Club

As Middlebury College’s official fly fishing club, we are dedicated to encouraging students to fly fish Vermont’s waters, regardless of their level of experience. 

Our club strives to teach and share all aspects of fly fishing, including casting, tying flies, and being a steward of the waters we fish. 

We are a Trout Unlimited Costa 5 Rivers Club, which gives us the ability to connect with a national network of other 5 Rivers college clubs, as well as many unique opportunities through TU and Costa.

Middlebury Climbing Club

MiddPresence Page

We are a community of people who love climbing things, especially rocks! Our goal is to create a thriving climbing community by hosting climbing movie nights, helping facilitate transport and covering costs of off-campus climbing events, and hosting clinics and other events in association with the Middlebury Climbing Wall

Middlebury Mountain Club

MiddPresence Page

The Middlebury Mountain Club (MMC) is Middlebury’s largest and oldest student organization. Founded in 1931 as a rebirth of the Outing Club established in 1916, the club remains entirely organized and operated by students. The MMC sponsors and encourages Middlebury students to experience and enjoy the out-of-doors responsibly, offering year-round activities throughout Vermont, the Adirondacks, and beyond.

The Mountain Club leads hiking, boating, climbing, and winter trips free of cost for Middlebury students. Additionally, we reimburse or host classes and workshops, host screenings and presentations, do trail maintenance, fund student trips, host social events at the outdoor house, and run the first-year outdoor orientation programs.

We encourage people both join us in wild ventures and explore the great outdoors on their own or with friends. If you are interested in joining our email list, send us an email at mmc@middlebury.edu

Middlebury Ski & Ride Club

Middlebury Ski and Ride Club will function as an outdoor recreation organization, with the purpose of increasing accessibility to the world of winter sports for the Middlebury community.

Considering Middlebury’s ideal situation in the Champlain Valley between the Adirondack and Green Mountains, Middlebury Ski and Ride hopes to encourage more members of the student body to interact with the outdoors through winter sports and cultivate a stronger ski and ride culture within our community.

Middlebury Ski and Ride Club’s mission is to fulfill the stated desire for more organized recreation and socialization in the outdoors through a shared love of winter sports. Skiers and snowboarders of any level are welcome and encouraged to participate in Middlebury Ski and Ride events.

Uplift

Uplift is a student organization at Middlebury College with the purpose of creating an inclusive, comprehensive movement platform on campus. 

Our organization encourages and unifies a diverse group of students with the aspirations to discover the benefits of metabolic movement. Uplift addresses issues of systemic marginalization, intimidation and exclusivity within fitness culture at Middlebury. 

We plan to enact this by cultivating a supportive, inclusive workout setting where students will learn foundational fitness concepts while innovating new ways to move together. Uplift also strives to take advantage of Middlebury’s unique outdoor environment. 

Yoga Club

Yoga Club offers free classes open to all students of all levels. Classes are student-taught, and, in the case that the student instructor is certified as a yoga instructor, students can receive P.E. credit if they attend 8 classes with a certified instructor over the course of one semester. 

Check out our Instagram, or the Documents section of our Presence page to view this semester’s schedule! 

YouPower

YouPower is Middlebury’s student-led spin studio offering free 45-minute cycling classes throughout the week. Our classes provide an energetic, welcoming environment for students of all fitness levels to get a great workout. The schedule changes each semester based on instructor availability, with classes offered at various times to accommodate as many students as possible. 

Beyond just exercise, YouPower aims to inspire, transform, and celebrate student health and wellness. We foster a space of body positivity, inclusivity, and community-building. Our instructors create fun, dynamic classes that will let you walk in strong, and walk out stronger.

Students can earn PE credit by completing 8 classes with a certified YouPower instructor. Check go/youpower for the current class schedule and to learn more about joining our team of instructors. Whether you’re a spin enthusiast or new to cycling, YouPower has a class for you!