Northwood Outing Club – NOC
Boys’ Hockey | Girls’ Hockey | Skiing | Soccer | Adventure Sports Program | NOC | Crew
The Northwood Outing Club (NOC) program is designed for all Northwood students.
Several outdoor recreation activities within the disciplines of climbing, paddling, backcountry, and back country skiing, backpacking, wilderness navigation, and outdoor living skills are available under the NOC co-curricular. NOC will be available to all students across different co-curricular activities to participate.
Experienced Leadership
The Northwood Outing Club (NOC) Director is Robert “Bobby” Michael O’Connor II, overseeing the education and adventure program and the restoration of the identity and historical roots of the Northwood Outing Club. Mr. O’Connor is an avid outdoor professional with expedition and teaching experience in paddling, rock climbing, ice climbing, backcountry skiing, and mountaineering. He is a NYS licensed guide, wilderness first responder, certified whitewater, kayaking/canoeing, and climbing wall instructor. He has received advanced training in NYS wildland search skills, challenge course technology, and avalanche response. O’Connor received a B.S. (2013) and M.S. (2017) in Expeditionary Studies from SUNY Plattsburgh. Before Northwood, Mr. O’Connor was a recreation professor at Paul Smith’s College and the Outdoor/Adventure Education Coordinator overseeing the infrastructure necessary for running the outdoor programs.
Outdoor Recreational Options
Several outdoor recreation activities within the disciplines of climbing, paddling, backcountry and front country skiing, backpacking, wilderness navigation, and outdoor living skills are available under the NOC co-curricular. NOC is available as a one, two, or continual three season program to allow any student to participate.
Academic Course Offerings
The courses offered under NOC align with the guiding principle of Northwood’s experimental learning program, Learn, Engage, Apply, Perform (LEAP) and Peak Pathways program. Classes include Intro to Climbing, Intro to Paddle Sports, and Expedition Planning / Avalanche Awareness (full-year course) as electives during the academic year.
A School at Home in the Adirondacks
Northwood School’s location in the High Peaks Region of the Adirondack Park and walking distance to Mirror Lake and Lake Placid, puts the school and its community members at the heart of one of the most popular outdoor recreation destinations in the country.
Historical Roots
Northwood School has a rich tradition of athletics and outdoor recreation dating back to its founding in 1905. Northwood students have been experiencing a wide range of outdoor activities ever since.
Bobby’s energy and experience in education and the outdoor industry is an ideal match to rekindle NOC, fill the big footsteps of retired teacher Don Mellor ‘71, and accelerate our outdoor programming,” states Michael J. Maher, Head of School. “Northwood NOC alumni fondly remember the campfires and the wilderness skills they learned from NOC experiences to this day.
