Ada & Archibald MacLeish Field Station

MacLeish is a liberal arts field station—a place to enhance the learning of all fields of study and integrate the arts and sciences. Located in the Connecticut River Valley within the ancestral homelands of the Nipmuc peoples, the forested hills are interspersed with small streams, bedrock outcrops and vernal pool wetlands. Activities in experiential learning, the arts, and conservation flourish at MacLeish. MacLeish is a field destination for classes in biology, environmental science & policy, geology, spatial analysis (drone flying), theater, art, first year seminars, landscape design, horticulture, astronomy, philosophy, and literature. There are nine active scientific investigations from multiple institutions in the area of forest ecology and biogeochemistry as well as individual student projects during the semester. MacLeish also nurtures the work of several artists in residence as well as visiting artists and poets, all coordinated by the Arts Afield Program which promotes the arts at MacLeish.

The Bechtel Environmental Classroom building (built in 2012) is the hub of the station providing meeting space and a small laboratory for MacLeish users. The building was designed following the Living Building Challenge, the highest sustainable architectural design standard. In 2014 the building was the 5^th building in the world to achieve the Living Building Challenge certification.

From its inception, students have been integral in the design, programming, and maintenance of the station. Students contributed to the design of the classroom building, planned and constructed the 8 miles of hiking trails, built the woodshed, camping shelter, and archery targets. They are often ambassadors for MacLeish and do much of the general grounds maintenance at the field station.