Cardigan Mountain School A boarding and day school for boys in grades 6 through 9

Student Activities

Cardigan students load three canoes with fishing gear and set out on the lake

Cardigan boys never lack for activities to fill their time! Read about our afternoon clubs, our inter-dorm competitions, our on and off-campus weekend activities, and the fun to be had at the Haven, our student center.

The Haven

Cardigan's student center, “The Haven,” is located in the lower level of Cardigan Commons. With high-top tables, couches, and overstuffed chairs, The Haven is a place for students to unwind and relax with their friends. For gaming enthusiasts, the latest editions of multiplayer games may be played on three televisions with an X-Box, Playstation, and Nintendo Switch—or take your talents to the arcade console, which allows a player to choose from 135 different games. Air hockey, ping pong, and foosball table fill the center of the room. Another large screen television is available for ball games, movies, or favorite television shows. The walls are lined with iconic photographic moments and scenery from Cardigan, some of which were taken by members of the Cardigan community. Students may also purchase tasty treats from candy bars to soda, most for $1.00, from the snack bar, which is open on weekends.

Weekend Activities

Cardigan has a Student Life Coordinator dedicated to coordinating weekend activities for the boys, including a diverse program of on-campus activities and off-campus trips. 

Saturday night activities usually include Cardigan Café: a movie on the big screen in Humann Theatre, sports game on a 75-inch tv in the Commons, pizza delivery, and access to TV, video games, ping-pong, foosball, and other games in The Haven. Students may also use the gym and the Wakely Center (for indoor tennis or pickup hockey, depending on the season). Students who prefer a quieter scene may opt to relax in their common rooms or dorm rooms during this time, playing on the computer, reading, or watching a movie.

Occasionally, we will organize Saturday night off-campus trips to local theater performances, movie theaters, concerts, or college hockey and basketball games. We have also been known to rent an indoor soccer space. Favorite Sunday activities include off-campus trips to the amusement park, mini-golf course, driving range, shopping mall, local ski and snowboard area, or playing laser tag.

Thursday Clubs

On Thursday afternoons, instead of team athletics, students participate in club activities. Each season, boys can choose their faculty-supervised club from a list of more than 30 options. Some of the clubs are community service activities such as cleaning up local roads or volunteering at a thrift store. Some are school-related activities like the Yearbook Club. Still others provide an opportunity for students to try a new sport or hobby like ice skating, bocce, or fly fishing. There are also movie and game clubs. Some clubs may have an additional cost or fee associated with them. Club offerings change three times a year.

Recent Club Offerings:

  • Art Club
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Chess Club
  • Clancy Hill (sledding, skiing, snowboarding)
  • Community Service
  • Debate Club
  • Dog Walking
  • Lacrosse
  • Fishing
  • Hockey
  • Hockey for Non-Hockey Players
  • Magic Club
  • Modeling Club
  • Model UN
  • Pickleball
  • Ping Pong
  • Photography
  • Poker Club
  • Vex Robots
  • Spikeball
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Theater Set Design
  • Quiz Bowl
  • Web Design
  • Young Politicians

Dorm "Olympics"

The Dorm Olympics provides dormitory floors and houses the opportunity to bond over friendly school-wide competitions. These competitions begin with the “sneaker game” on the first day the whole school is together and culminate with the tennyball playoffs the week before commencement. Similar to the Cardigan experience, the Dorm Olympics encompasses multiple facets of school life. Events are not always physical in nature and often require teamwork and thought. Residential life components such as dorm cleanliness and service initiatives, as well as academic components such as honor roll achievements, are also tabulated for points. During the final Recognition Assembly, the dorm that has the most points is awarded the Dorm Olympics Trophy. The trophy is housed on that floor for the following year.

Plan of the Week

Cardigan students accomplish many things every day. By the the time they go to bed, they've had classes, advisory, athletics, study halls, and more. Our Plan of the Week details the daily schedule and is a vital resource to the students and faculty alike.

See the plan of the week

Can we help you?


Nicholas Nowak
Dean of Students
nnowak@cardigan.org

Hal Gartner
Assistant Dean of Student Life
hgartner@cardigan.org

Meredith Frost P’25
Assistant Dean of Student Life
mfrost@cardigan.org

Doug Clark
Student Activities Director
dclark@cardigan.org

Erzi Willems
Travel Coordinator
ewillems@cardigan.org