The Outdoor Academy (OA) was dreamed up by Helen Waite (then Executive Director) in the 1960s. “At that time, it was so obvious that the world needed place based education for young people,” says Helen, “to be outdoors and be truly experiential.” OA was the third semester school to be created, and it was all centered around a place; the southern Appalachians, and this school and its students had a home; the Sun Lodge.

Over the years the Sun Lodge has been home to over 1300 students of The Outdoor Academy. Every one of these alumni (and faculty and staff) have core memories of their semester that center around the Sun Lodge. What is so special about this cabin on the hill?

“The Sun Lodge is cozy, it feels like home up here. I loved sleeping in the Sun Lodge when I was 15 and it feels nostalgic to be working here (in the Kitchen) every day. The new deck is my favorite place to spend time, it’s new but still feels so central to OA, this is the heartbeat and holds a connection to the roots of OA.” – Isa Satake, ENF Kitchen Manager and OA Semester 38

“As I was thinking about our Sun Lodge, I realized I’ve always given it a personality – kind of a children’s book identity as a mother figure of The Outdoor Academy. Simply put, the Sun Lodge is OA’s home. I doubt that J.B. Hannum had any idea how loved his lodge would become as he headed up its construction in the 1970s. We gather here to prepare meals and wash dishes and pots, to break bread together, and to share conversations over a cup of tea about big, fierce animals and why they are rare. Every time we circle up for a meal, the Sun Lodge encourages us to pause to breathe in its atmosphere of tradition and memories – and give thanks for all the many faces and voices that have shared that space. I’m sure you know exactly what I mean – it’s a big group hug of a building.” Ted Wesemann, OA Founding Director and faculty.

From Semester 59 on the Sun Lodge: Warm. Centerpoint. Laughter. Smells like cookies and woodsmoke. Communal. Feels like home. Anchor. Humming of the dishwasher. Rain on the roof. The sun shining through the pines in the morning. Guitar and singing. Comforting. Happy. Want to wrap yourself in the warm embrace of the Sun Lodge and enjoy a cup of tea on the new deck?  Join us in April for the OA 30th reunion! Details can be found on our website and registration opens January 15th: https://www.enf.org/oa-30th-reunion/