Mountain Day is a celebrated tradition at the oldest women’s college in the country, right down the street from the farm!
On Mountain Day, classes and other obligations are cancelled. In a nod to Mary Lyon, students are invited to balance their intellectual pursuits with outdoor activities.
The date of Mountain Day is kept secret until it is announced by the early-morning bells of Mary Lyon Hall on campus. Traditionally, the bright young women of Mount Holyoke College ascend Mount Holyoke to the Summit House via wooded trail or paved road and are met with ice cream. The tradition has been in place since a year after the colleges founding in 1837!
This year, Mountain Day will be celebrated virtually. Check out Mount Holyoke’s guide for how to celebrate, here.
Mount Holyoke College and Barstow’s Longview Farm share a history as neighbors. We’ve employed students at Barstow’s Dairy Store and Bakery, in the milking parlor, and a century ago, in the asparagus fields.