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Dorr

In 1965, Horace Mann established the John Dorr Nature Laboratory in Washington, Connecticut with a gift of 83 acres of undeveloped land. The Laboratory now encompasses 320 acres of fields, streams, and ponds in which students can explore nature and engage in outdoor pursuits. Dorr’s resident faculty instruct students in environmental science, conservation, and outdoor living. Student visits begin in the second grade, with overnight programs beginning in the third grade. A 2009 $8 million capital project resulted in the Dorr we know today, which included creation of the main lodge and a multi-purpose barn/classroom.  To learn more about our LEED-certified campus, click here. This Dorr setting becomes a medium for students' self-discovery through which they can examine their relationships with others, themselves while they study the natural environment in new and growth-enhancing ways. As a result, the programs emphasize the cooperative aspects of living and learning in community.

The John Dorr Nature Laboratory operates with the premise that for a successful and fulfilled life, it is vital to increase awareness, understanding, and appreciation of our impact and influence on the world around us. The Dorr educational philosophy also incorporates the idea that self-esteem is a critical determinant of an individual’s growth. Our ultimate goal is to provide an environment where students can be honest about their feelings, careful in their thinking, and responsible for their actions within the natural world and with each other. The Dorr experience demonstrates that community cannot be imposed but must grow out of experience; that it is a result of working together and relying on one another.

a group of students wearing winter gear holding a circular rope in the snow with trees
two students leaning over a log with a clipboard in the woods
a group of students with helmets in a tree top obstacle course
a group of student in the CAT obstable course hanging from ropes

The activities embedded in the Dorr curriculum facilitate growth and understanding in the students. The programs are designed to encourage development into capable, self-determining individuals. Experience-based teaching enhances the learning environment, creating a holistic approach to learning. In order to attain these goals and to help students accept the experience as relevant and meaningful, we create a safe, caring, supportive atmosphere, one that allows for differences and encourages acceptance. 

For more than 60 years, Dorr faculty members have collaborated with classroom teachers to carefully design and tailor each grade’s Dorr experience with their classroom curricula. The result is a rich experience that connects students to their curriculum in a different manner, and complements the lessons learned in the classroom.

In addition, the students are presented with opportunities to experiment and take calculated risks in order to learn, grow and help build character. At Dorr, students work together to look after our shared space. This includes cleaning the lodge, doing dishes and other tasks that allow every student to enjoy the space. In doing so, students build ownership over the space and come together to form a caring and respectful community Below is a summary of the activities for each grade level:

  • Pre-K students welcome Dorr staff to the Bronx where we utilize the imagination and power of play to learn about a variety of fun outdoor experiences. The program culminates with a “camping trip” in the Head of School’s backyard, complete with a campfire.
  • Kindergarten classes welcome Dorr staff in the classroom as they lead activities at AppleFest and take the students on a journey through the stars in our mobile planetarium. 
  • First grade classes explore the local park right outside the Bronx campus where Dorr teachers run a half day of fun in the open space.
  • Second grade students visit Dorr for an extended day where they play and explore the swamp and surrounding habitats.
  • Third grade students sleep overnight at Dorr where they explore the concept of home and put their classroom knowledge to the test. 
  • Fourth grade students spend 3-days/2-nights studying stream ecology and macroinvertebrates.
  • Fifth grade students spend 3-days/2-nights in the fall focusing on community and what it means to be the oldest in the division. They get to play on the rock-climbing wall and use telescopes to study the night sky.
  • Sixth grade students attend an August orientation where they come to Dorr in their Advisories. 6th-grade orientation is all about forming connections, building strong bonds and learning about the Middle Division.
  • Seventh grade students attend Dorr for 2-days/1-night for a field studies component and to build foundational skills for 8th grade. 
  • Eighth grade students spend 4 nights/5 days at Dorr, where they participate in a range of activities that focus on the concept of one's impact, leadership, community, and ownership. A highlight of this week and a Dorr tradition is climbing the Cooperative Adventure Tower (CAT).
  • Ninth-Twelfth Grades: new students and student mentors come to Dorr over Labor Day weekend for a 3-days/2-nights orientation.  The goal of the Orientation program is all about community, and building connections. Through a variety of activities, talks, and social time, students start to form a sense of belonging and connection to HM.
  • Ninth-Twelfth Grades: Individual teachers, club advisors and athletic coaches sometimes choose to bring their students to Dorr to accomplish a particular goal. 
  • Fourth grade students spend 3-days/2-nights studying stream ecology.
  • Fifth grade students spend 3-days/2-nights in the fall focusing on how they are ending their journey at the Lower Division and preparing for their journey into the Middle Division. They take rock-climbing lessons and use telescopes to study the night sky.
  • Sixth grade students attend by homeroom in August for 3-days/2-nights of orientation. They learn about the Middle Division through presentations by Middle Division administrators and Upper Division student mentors. The activities focus on team building.
  • Seventh grade students attend by science class for 2-days/1-night for field studies on streams and geology. They must accumulate data and write lab reports.
  • Eighth grade students spend 8-days/7-nights for a mini-Outward Bound type program. They participate in team-building and self-exploration activities, including a Night Compass Initiative and a backpacking trip. A highlight of this week is climbing the Cooperative Adventure Tower (CAT).
  • Ninth-Twelfth Grades new students and student mentors come over Labor Day weekend for a 3-days/2-nights orientation. Mentors and school administrators give presentations to help these newest members of the community learn about the social and academic life at Horace Mann. The activities are designed to be fun and cooperative -- one of the highlights is traversing the High Ropes Course in small groups.
  • Ninth-Twelfth Grades: Individual teachers, club advisors and athletic coaches sometimes choose to bring their own students to Dorr to accomplish a particular goal. Examples include writing poetry, drawing or studying nature as well as team-building activities.