This Saturday, Oct. 1, members of Hamilton College will take part in the annual Off the Hill Challenge and Fall Fest.
When first visiting colleges and deciding where one wants to apply, a major factor for students is location. Many seek the appeal of a small college that offers not only a tight-knit community within the campus, but also a school with support beyond the doors of its academic buildings and a strong relationship with its home town.
With events like the Off the Hill Challenge and Fall Fest, it is clear that both Hamilton College and the town of Clinton have embraced such a relationship. On Saturday, Hamilton students will have the chance to get off the Hill and explore the surrounding neighborhood, heading to Clinton’s downtown to meet local business owners, enjoy good food, and connect with the community.
For First-Years especially, who do not have cars and may find it more difficult to leave campus and experience what Clinton has to offer, the Off the Hill Challenge provides the chance to get to know our home beyond the Hill.
In previous years, the event has been sponsored by The Clinton Chamber of Commerce, The Village of Clinton Merchants, and Hamilton College.
Director of Student Activities Noelle Niznik calls the Off the Hill Challenge “a great event to get our students exposed to what shops and restaurants are just down the hill from them. They participate in a scavenger hunt through the various stores and get lots of freebies.
“They also earn a free commemorative ‘Off the Hill Challenge’ t-shirt if they complete the scavenger hunt,” she added.
Niznik also hails the effort that goes behind making the Off the Hill Challenge and Fall Fest “a tradition for many years; Social Traditions Committee works to get student organizations to volunteer their time to play games and make arts & crafts with the local children.”
In previous years, students had the opportunity to try smoothies, buy plants and flowers, and attend a concert featuring Hamilton a cappella groups Tumbling After, The Buffers, and Duelly Noted. And appealing to what college students will go to any event for, Niznik describes “good food free to the Hamilton and local community including cider mill donuts, cider, hot chocolate, other sweet treats, chili, chowder, and more.”
To participate in a day of good food, music, and company, and to continue to strengthen the bond between Clinton and Hamilton College, the Jitney will run from Sadove from 12–4 P.M. on Saturday, October 1.
