Life at Crotched Mountain is filled with things to do, places to see, and people to connect with.
Whether it’s a taking a hike on our extensive mountain trail system or knocking down a few pins in our fully-accessible bowling alley, there is no shortage of fun and unique adventures to be had!
We’ve got:
Accessible Recreation
Students can get out and enjoy the outdoors in a big way at Crotched Mountain. We’re home to the largest mountain-based, accessible trails system in the country as well as a private beach and waterfront at nearby Sunset Lake. We’re big on Special Olympics around here, and under the supervision and coaching of our Recreation Therapists, many students participate, whether it’s skiing, snowshoeing, basketball, or track and field. Crotched Mountain is well-represented at the area and state games! For additional recreation opportunities, students can enroll in Crotched Mountain Accessible Recreation and Sports (CMARS), which offers adaptive skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking, and cycling. Learn more about CMARS here.
RIDGE After School Program
At Crotched Mountain School, we strive for a meaningful 12 hour day where learning and fun go hand in hand.
The RIDGE After School Program, managed by our Recreation Therapists, brings Recreation, Independence, Discovery, Growth and Enrichment through over 20 different after school activities. Programs run for 8-week sessions and students participate in a different program each day of the week, based on both IEP goals and student interests. Weekly activities include indoor and outdoor sports, Farm Club, yoga, cooking and nutrition, arts and crafts, drumming, rock climbing, adaptive dance, fiber arts, music and more!
Media Center
Our library offers a huge variety of print and electronic materials (and one of the best views on campus). Students can check out books and magazines, peruse magazines, and surf the web on our secure network. And if it feels like a movie night, the adjoining theater offers a big-screen, surround-sound experience (popcorn included). To browse our online catalog click here.
Jazz, Jamborees, and Juggling?!
Carter Hall Auditorium, just a brief walk from the school and residences, is home to a variety of shows and events. We’ve welcomed artists, theatre groups, musicians of every stripe, and even the circus! Events are frequent and free and always open to families!
Bowling Alley
Not many other schools have their own bowling alley! The Mary and William Kiernan Lanes is a favorite destination for students—and it’s accessible. All of our students can participate in some high-stakes, two-lane candlepin bowling.
Swimming
Crotched Mountain School features two heated indoor swimming pools: the full-length lap pool and the therapy pool. The lap pool is available during and after school (and on the weekends) for students and their staff to work on their strokes or simply go for a swim. And for those with more involved medical challenges, the therapy pool offers a unique, accessible way to get in the water. Complete with a hydraulic floor that raises and lowers for easy access and transitions, this pool is one of the few of its kind anywhere on the East Coast! Come summer, Crotched Mountain’s private, waterfront access on Sunset Lake, just down the road, offers swimming, kayaking, fishing, cook-outs, and a floating trampoline.
ADMISSIONS
We accept students from all over the country, as far as California and Illinois, as close as New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
LEARNING
From the first class to afterschool to residential life, core academic work is supplemented by life skills education to ensure learning never ends.
CAMPUS LIFE
Life at Crotched Mountain is filled with things to do, places to see, and people to connect with. There is no shortage of fun and unique adventures to be had!
TECHNOLOGY
Whether it’s a speech-generating device or customized grips for a pencil or a literacy mobile app, at Crotched Mountain School innovation breeds independence.
ARTS AND MUSIC
It’s about creative expression! Making a clay mask or composing a song or drawing a comic – whatever captures their imaginations, our students have access to it in our arts and music program.