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Residential Life

Living, Learning, and Growing in Community

At the Mountain School, residential life is at the heart of the semester experience. Students and faculty build a shared life based on trust, inclusion, and curiosity — creating a vibrant academic and working community where every voice matters.

From living with a roommate and sharing meals, to planning weekend activities and navigating new social experiences, students learn essential life skills that extend far beyond the classroom. This immersive residential model supports personal growth, community accountability, and holistic well-being — preparing students to thrive wherever they go next.

Alumni consistently name their residential life experience as one of the most meaningful aspects of their time at TMS.

Dorm Life

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Students live in one of five welcoming dorms — Conard, Derby, Miles, Tobold, and Underwood — each housing 5–14 students. Most rooms accommodate two or three students, though single and quad rooms are available. Shared spaces like common rooms and laundry areas quickly become hubs for laughter, music, study sessions, and late-night conversations.

Every dorm is supported by two dorm faculty, including at least one who lives in the building. These adults foster community, guide dorm life, and provide both structure and support. The dorm environment encourages independence, friendship, and meaningful connections between students and teachers — an essential part of the TMS experience.

Learn more about how dorm life complements the Commons Work Program and daily routines at TMS.

Packing List

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Living in Community

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Residential life at the Mountain School is collaborative by design. Students and faculty work together to establish community norms, clean and maintain dorm spaces, plan social events, and navigate shared living with empathy and respect.

Each night ends with Check-In, a short dorm meeting where students gather with faculty to reflect on the day, share stories, and unwind. From 9:00 pm to 6:00 am, students are in dorms, creating space for connection, rest, and reflection.

This intentional rhythm of life, balancing work, study, and rest, is part of what makes the Mountain School one of the most transformative semester schools in the U.S.

Philosophy on Technology

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The constant presence of technology in modern life provides opportunities for unprecedented levels of connection and information gathering but also poses serious challenges to communication, attention and focus, as well as the experience of being present and aware of one another and of our surroundings. We acknowledge that technology is a powerful tool but strive to treat it as just that: a tool, rather than a medium through which we experience life.

To that end, the Mountain School places certain limits on technology in order to encourage thoughtful usage and to prioritize the shared work of our community:

Students turn in their phones for the semester while at the Mountain School. (But each dorm has a landline!)

Students bring their own laptops, or borrow one from the school, on which to complete homework and communicate with home. Laptop use is limited to free periods and study hall - meals, dorms, and Program Blocks are screen-free.

Student WiFi is limited to the academic building and central campus; there is no WiFi access in student dorms. WiFi is turned off 9pm-6am Sunday-Thursday and from 10pm-6am on Friday and Saturday.

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A boy sitting on the floor reading a book next to a bed with another person lying on their stomach reading a book.

Farm-to-Table Dining

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Shared meals are the heart of life at the Mountain School. Three times a day, students and faculty gather to eat, connect, and reflect. Each meal represents more than nourishment — it’s a lesson in collaboration, sustainability, and gratitude.

Students harvest ingredients, prepare food, and clean up afterward, gaining a full understanding of the systems that sustain us. This hands-on approach builds confidence and cultivates appreciation for local food systems and the labor behind every meal.

Menus feature seasonal, hearty, place-based dishes crafted by our talented chefs and supported by students in the Commons Work Program. Student-led cooking opportunities, including our Culinary Studies Course, invite deeper exploration of food traditions, cooking techniques, and the cultural role of food in community life.

The Mountain School accommodates a wide range of dietary needs — including nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options — ensuring every student can thrive.

Experience how shared work and dining connect to our Outdoor Program and our place-based approach to education.

School Meetings & Gatherings

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Morning Meetings

Five days a week begin with a short Morning Meeting, where the entire school gathers for announcements, music, and moments of reflection. These daily touch-points set the tone for a connected and intentional community.

School Meetings

Each Wednesday, School Meeting provides a space for open dialogue on topics that matter to the community. Both students and faculty can propose agenda items, promoting shared leadership and collective decision-making.

Community Seminar

Each Monday, the whole school comes together to hear guest speakers, themed lectures, and take part in interdisciplinary activities that explore the academic and experiential themes of the semester.

Advisory

Each Wednesday, students meet with their advisors in small groups to socialize, play games, learn about health and wellness, and prepare for standardized testing.

Friday “Pause”

Every Friday evening, the community gathers for Pause — a reflective time for journaling, discussion, and mindfulness. Following Pause, activities might include a guest speaker, collaborative games, or themed community events led by students or faculty.

Group of people gathered around tables in a cozy indoor space, planting and tending to trays of herbs, with some sitting and others standing, in a workshop or class setting.

Weekends at the Mountain School

A group of people, mainly children and teenagers, are dancing and clapping in a wooden-floored room at The Mountain School. The room has a loft area with railings, decorated with large bow-shaped ornaments. The background includes a whiteboard and bookshelves.

Fridays

Fridays begin with academic classes and conclude with Pause, followed by low-key social events, faculty-led activities, or guest speakers and performers. It’s a time to reflect, recharge, and reconnect after a full week.

Saturdays

Saturday mornings often feature Program Blocks that extend learning beyond the classroom — think farm work, environmental projects, or outdoor adventures. After lunch, students participate in campus chores, followed by optional faculty-led excursions: hiking in the White Mountains, visiting museums, community service, or attending local fairs. Saturday nights bring student-organized activities like bonfires, dances, game nights, and talent shows.

Sundays

Sundays are slower — a chance to rest, sleep in, and cook brunch with faculty. Students enjoy freedom to explore campus, pursue hobbies, or take spontaneous adventures with friends.

See how weekend experiences connect with the Outdoor Program and hands-on Program Blocks.

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Visiting & Going Home on Weekends

Students are welcome to host visitors on weekend days or spend weekends away, once the first two to three weekends of the semester have passed. This helps the community settle into rhythm before opening up to outside visits.

Most students choose to stay on campus because of the vibrant weekend activities and strong friendships formed here. Visiting family or friends must be approved in advance by the Assistant Director.

Mountain School students are not able to host visitors on-campus overnight.