As with all schools in New York State, Emma Willard requires all students to participate in movement as a vital part of their education. On Mount Ida, students are offered a unique slate of options that make fulfilling their movement requirement as much fun as it is hard work. Whether joining a competitive athletic team, taking dance classes, participating in an athletic Practicum experience, or joining a movement experience through After School Physical Education (ASPE), our students are on the move! 

ASPE, and movement in general, contributes to students’ overall development by helping them to lead full, active, and healthy lives. Beyond ensuring that students get appropriate physical activity, movement opportunities provide a sense of community, allow students to discover what their body is capable of doing, and support the mental acuity needed to thrive in a rigorous educational environment. 

“We are teaching students how to establish the foundation of good, healthy, life-long pursuits,” says Dean of Students Shelley Maher. “Yes, there are many health benefits of movement or physical activity, but we know that value extends far deeper—we know students’ mental health is also better as a result.” 

ASPE supports students in pursuing that lifestyle of good mental and physical health by providing options that are both exciting and enjoyable—from skiing and snowboarding to Zumba and tennis, from yoga to swimming, fitness walking, and outdoor education, the opportunities are as fun as they are invigorating!

The most popular group this year is skiing and snowboarding, with an amazing 70 students headed to Jiminy Peak in Hancock, MA, every Wednesday evening. Newcomers are required to join the lesson program, but the other students mainly partake in free skiing. Registrar Casey Summer, who chaperones ASPE skiing and snowboarding, shares, “I quickly realized how unique this program is because it allows students and adults to enjoy an evening on the slopes together for a few hours each week. You get to know the students in a different light.” 

While instructors on the peak lead the bulk of the ski lessons, chaperones are also available to assist students and give pointers. There is a learning curve when it comes to winter sports, so our students are fortunate to have dedicated adults to assist outside of their lessons. New England and Upstate New York are wonderful destinations for skiers and snowboarders. Chaperone and Academic Technology Integrator Raimie Utterback says, “It is a great opportunity for students to take advantage of our area and enjoy the wintertime activities that many students might not otherwise have a chance to try!”

Another popular group is fitness walking, which meets three times a week for an hour and a half. Generally, the group aims for two miles per session while conversing, listening to music, and enjoying campus and the surrounding Troy area. “I allow the kids to move at their own speed. This often means that some finish before others, but I am okay with that,” ASPE Instructor and Director of Library Resources and Research Caroline Buinicky shares. “The larger goal is building the habit of moving your body and meeting kids where they are.” Caroline also enjoys keeping the group fresh and interesting by planning scavenger hunts, foraging in the Back 40, and even involving sprinklers in the spring heat!

A signature facet of life on Mount Ida is the greenspace on campus, known as the Back 40. The fall outdoor education group maintains the trails and features in the Back 40. The goal is to run the program in the three academic seasons—fall, winter, and spring—with a naturalist program being planned for this spring. ASPE and French Instructor Manon Sabatier organized a luminary walk last winter, which encompassed over 300 luminaries that led students through the Back 40 to a surprise: s’mores roasting! This group teaches our students the importance of gaining an appreciation for the natural world around them.

ASPE offers a wide array of choices for students to enjoy the physical and mental benefits of movement while providing a sense of belonging and wellbeing that is vital to the Emma experience. Whether they choose interscholastic athletics, a dance class, a Practicum experience, or an ASPE group (or any combination of these!), students are learning how to appreciate movement and incorporate it into their everyday lives.