Juniors Fete Freshmen on the Connecticut River

Last weekend, members of the TAC New England Class of 2025 invited their freshman confreres to the Riverview Pavilion on the Connecticut River for an exciting afternoon of kayaking and games.

The students arrived with eager grins, ready to brave the water. Many donned their lifejackets, grabbed paddles, and climbed into single and double kayaks. Most got the hang of paddling and steering fairly quickly, maneuvering up and down the river to explore the rocky shoreline. While some boaters were content to paddle leisurely and chat, many others splashed each other, bumped boats, and tried to steal and hoard each others’ paddles.

The fun did not end when the boaters docked their kayaks and returned to land. A group of juniors started a volleyball game, while others played frisbee or cornhole. Groups sat beside the pavilion and looked out at the beautiful Massachusetts scenery beyond the river, talking about the first few weeks of classes and getting to know each other better. When stomachs started rumbling, some South American juniors started cooking up a traditional Brazilian barbeque, sharing their culture — and culinary skills — with the group.

Even after dinner, the students were up for more. Pushing aside the tables in the pavilion, they enjoyed some impromptu swing dancing in the ruddy light of the sunset, a fitting end to a beautiful day beside the river. “The whole day was wonderful,” said freshman Catherine Schultz. “Kayaking was fun, and I loved the barbeque! It was really nice to get to know some of the juniors better in a fun environment.”