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A Week in the Woods... Adventure, Leadership, and Lasting Bonds

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By: Kate Mccoy '25

There is something to be said for summiting a peak or hiking 10 miles a day for seven days straight. There is something peaceful about the disconnectedness of it all. There is something relaxing about the way it is so easy to lose track of time, and there is something special about the way that Cate Outings Week brings people together. While college looms over most of the senior class, there were a few who decided to dive headfirst into a week as a leader instead of participating in college trips. When asked what on earth drove him to spend a week in the woods, Lucas Huiner ‘25, recalled that he, “had a great experience sophomore and junior year, so going back as a leader sounded like fun.” 

Cate fosters a deep and tightly-knit sense of community and values seniors as leaders. Lucas spoke to this when he recognized his senior leaders on his previous Outings Weeks as “great and welcoming leaders,” and he spoke to a part of his reasoning for wanting to go on Outings Week being that he wanted to, “reciprocate what his seniors had done for him,” and how he “wanted to be a role model for the juniors—someone to look up to.”

Reflecting on last year’s Outings Week, Quincy Thorne ‘26, highlighted how well-organized the trip was, how supportive the group felt, and how it gave him a deeper connection to the Cate community. He shared, “It’s a great week to get closer to people at Cate,” adding that it offered him a unique opportunity to bond with students in his grade. Quincy recalled a particularly special moment of hiking to the rocks, watching the sunset from the top, and being struck by the beauty of the view. When asked if he would choose to go back, Quincy enthusiastically replied, “I would definitely go back as a senior!” He is eager to help create more of these unforgettable experiences for himself and his peers.

Backpacking has always held a special place in the heart of Cate’s Head of School, Alex Lockett, who recalls, “Backpacking has been a big part of my life since I was in 3rd grade, so leading a Kern pod was a double win of being in the backcountry with the added bonus of doing so with Cate students.” Her passion for the outdoors and her deep connection with the students shone through during the trip.

Ms. Lockett reflected on the unique opportunity the trip provided to bond with students outside the traditional school setting. She remarked, “I absolutely loved getting to know students better and felt fortunate to be hiking with two other pods (and senior leaders) as I feel much more connected to the Class of 2026 now!” she shared, expressing how much the experience strengthened her relationship with the younger students.

The outdoor adventures are also a family affair for Ms. Lockett and her husband, Dr. Paul Hauser, as their shared love for the wilderness began long before their time at Cate. “Paul and I met on a Wilderness First Responder training course in 2003 where we discovered our shared love of the outdoors. We've enjoyed taking our boys, Henry and Walker, on backpacking trips to introduce them to the wonders of the wilderness,” she recounted. While these family trips have been meaningful, she noted the difference between hiking with children and leading a group of enthusiastic, motivated students: “While backpacking with little kids is wonderful, it has its challenges, so it was a real treat to be with such a positive and motivated pod of Cate students.”

For Ms. Lockett, the impact of Outings Week goes beyond just the immediate experience. “Just this week I met Cate alumni in New York and Washington DC, and they were all so happy to hear that I went on the Kern trip because it is a tradition that connects generations of Cate grads.” The Kern trip, like so many Outings Week adventures, not only provides an opportunity to embrace nature but also strengthens the bond within the Cate community, weaving together the experiences of students past and present.

Patrick McCoy ‘89, is another perfect example of a Cate grad who holds his Outings Week as a memorable experience. He spoke to this by saying, “My favorite Outings Week was the Kern River trip. A band of us hiked up some tributary for quite a ways, found the coolest swimming hole, jumped off the cliff, then went back and got some people to do it with us.” Stories like these, from both the past and present, highlight the enduring tradition of Outings Week—a week that brings the Cate community together through adventure, leadership and shared memories that last a lifetime.

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