We have long recognized that students learn some of the most important and durable lessons in the afternoons. The relationships that students form with each other and with trusted adult mentors in the afternoons are the bedrock of our school’s culture. At its best, our afternoon program meets fundamental adolescent needs by encouraging our students to take healthy risks, confront novel challenges, and experience the interdependence of teamwork.

 

The Horse and Outdoor Programs have been the defining hallmarks of a Thacher education throughout our long history. Proudly anachronistic and idiosyncratic, they have endured here against the odds. These are the elements of 21st-century Thacher education that would be immediately familiar and recognizable to our founder and that unite alumni from every generation.

 

The interruption of interscholastic athletic competition in 2021 forced the School to innovate and diversify its afternoon offerings. While the Horse and Outdoor Programs have become increasingly popular among students, there is some variability in the student experience in athletics. All students must have opportunities to participate in athletic programs characterized by excellent coaching, meaningful competition, and first-rate facilities. The quality of a student’s athletic experience should not vary according to the activity chosen. As we commit to the model of multisport athletes and resist the professionalization and commercialization of youth sports, we must also provide students with exceptional team experiences that pursue excellence on both the first and second scoreboards. Further detail about our athletic philosophy can be found here.