Housing and Dining
Housing
NMH Summer students stay in age- and grade-based dorms, with separate housing for 7th and 8th graders and students in grades 9-12. Dorms are separated by gender and most students share a double room with one roommate. Each dorm is led by a resident dorm head and teaching fellows who are there to provide guidance and answer questions. Each advisor connects closely with a group of students, creating a supportive community and helping them feel at home throughout the summer.
Dining
Alumni Dining Hall
Summer is a time of natural bounty in the Connecticut River Valley, and NMH Summer students are the beneficiaries, enjoying plenty of local produce — including from NMH’s own campus farm — in their daily meals. Our dining room, Alumni Hall, is the setting for most meals, with the NMH Dining staff preparing hot food at all meals. The options cater to many tastes and dietary restrictions. (Families should note any allergies on their student’s medical forms to ensure proper accommodations.)
Particularly popular are the extensive salad, cereal, and deli bars, where students can make up their own meal, and our soft-serve ice cream. A weekly treat is our Sundaes on Sunday.
A community norm in Alumni Hall is no-tech mealtime: Everyone puts away their electronics and talks with one another as they eat.
Red Truck Cafe
Evenings at NMH Summer feature many pop-up Red Truck Cafe events, with items such as ice cream floats, cheeseburgers, the regional favorite Fenway franks (hot dogs), pizza, and our famous doughnuts.
Occasionally we turn over our kitchens to the students, who prepare a little taste of home for their peers and advisors. Our annual Festival of Nations is a particular opportunity to showcase dishes that our community finds meaningful.
NMH Campus Store
The campus store is open weekdays for grab and go snacks or treats. It also offers some toiletries, school supplies and plenty of NMH gear!
Location and Weather
Northfield Mount Hermon is located in western Massachusetts, about two hours west of Boston. Our beautiful campus lies between the small towns of Gill and Northfield, adjacent to the Connecticut River.
We are neighbors with Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst (collectively known as “the Five Colleges”). And Dartmouth College and Williams College are each an easy drive away.
Our corner of New England is filled with activities for NMH Summer students, once classes are done for the day, including:
Hiking in the surrounding mountains that leads to panoramic views of three states
Rafting and kayaking on nearby rivers
Visiting nearby farms that always have fresh produce available for picking and enjoying
Going to the craft shows that happen nearly every weekend through the Valley
Getting to and from NMH is straightforward: We are close to Interstate 91 and near several major airports (Bradley International in Hartford, Logan Airport in Boston, and New York’s LaGuardia and Kennedy).
Summer is the most beautiful time to be in the Connecticut River Valley, with warm but mild weather conditions most days. Our daytime temperatures typically keep to the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit (24 to 28 degrees Celsius), making shorts and T-shirts the standard NMH Summer outfit. Pack a bathing suit for use in the campus pool or for excursions that feature swimming opportunities.
