K–12 Immersive and Boarding Experiences

From early grade-level retreats to Upper School Spring Intensives, the Pottersville Campus serves as a dynamic setting where students have opportunities to engage in authentic, transformative experiences and build lasting memories. Located in close proximity to our campuses in Basking Ridge and Short Hills, Pottersville is a haven where students across each division visit for retreats, summits, curricular tie-ins, and optional deep dives. The Pottersville Campus offers a unique environment where students can prioritize well-being, build stronger relationships, and enjoy hands-on, immersive experiences that are experiential by design—whether for a day or an overnight stay.

Because Pingry is a day school, overnight experiences provide our students an opportunity to build community, develop relational skills, experience a sense of belonging, and explore new dimensions of learning. Grade-level retreats, language immersion programs, club deep dives, student leadership overnights, Sustainability programs, Climate and Leadership Summits, Global Programs exchanges, Community Engagement offerings, and athletics pre-seasons all take place at the Pottersville Campus.

At Pingry, our academic program looks ahead, anticipating the future needs of our students and staying attuned to emerging educational trends. Thoughtfully, intentionally, the Pottersville Campus allows us to apply new practices inside and outside of the traditional classroom, develop novel programs, explore new opportunities, and respond to the evolving needs of students and the world around us.

While we continually create new and engaging experiences, below is a brief overview of the recurring programs we offer at the Pottersville Campus:

Lower School

At a weekend Orienteering Course, Lower School families embark on an adventure to navigate the Pottersville Campus, solving puzzles with compasses and maps to master route-planning and direction-finding skills through hands-on learning and a bit of fun.

Second-grade students take part in an interdisciplinary poetry adventure as they immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, and scents of the Pottersville Campus. After listening to select place-based poetry, students craft their own poems inspired by their observations and perform their poem to an audience of their peers.

Fifth-grade students roll up their sleeves for a hands-on Sustainability and Community Engagement day at the Pottersville Campus. Together, students plant flowers and seeds while exploring the local stream with community partners while making a positive impact on the environment.

Middle School

Sixth-grade students enjoy a three-day overnight retreat to kick off the school year and bond together as a class. As the newest members of the Basking Ridge Campus, students participate in activities together to foster community, strengthen friendships, and create memories together.

Additionally in the Middle School, Language and Cultural Immersion Programs are a format for celebrating Pingry’s DEIB initiatives while engaging faculty passions and student identity.

Students step into the sandals of ancient Romans for a Day in the Life of an Ancient Roman as they embark on an immersive journey through history, food, and culture of this ancient civilization.
The joy of Francophone culture is experienced in French overnight. Students cook French cuisine, sing along to French songs, play pétanque, and screen a French film.
The Spanish language and culture and the vibrant traditions of Día de los Muertos are explored as students delve into a cultural festival. Sugar skulls , traditional dishes, and the significance behind the festivities that honor and remember loved ones are explored.
Students celebrate the Lunar New Year with an immersive experience that brings Chinese traditions to life. Students craft lanterns and intricate paper cuttings, enjoy jianzi and mahjong, and savor Chinese cuisine, all while embracing the rich cultural heritage of this festival.

Upper School

Ninth-grade students go to Pottersville for a Community Engagement Day, an interactive experience when students dive into the core values of our community through hands-on workshops focused on the Honor Code, CAST, DEIB, and Service Learning so that students feel empowered to contribute meaningfully to the school and their wider community.

Ninth-grade students also participate in a Shakespeare Workshop as part of their English course, stepping into the world of the Bard, experiencing a live performance that captures the magic of his timeless tales and engaging in an interactive workshop with the NJ Shakespeare Company.

The Peer Leadership retreat takes place over two days. The first day, the Senior Peer Leaders engage with leadership, mentorship, and social responsibility all while becoming a group that trusts and supports each other. The second day, the incoming class of ninth-grade students works with the Peer Leaders to bond, create connections, set expectations, and get a warm welcome to the Pingry community.

At the Climate Summit, students engage in hands-on workshops designed to empower them with practical skills to combat climate change both locally and globally, alongside partner organizations, guest speakers, and Pingry faculty.

At the Student Leadership Summit, students participate in hands-on, skill-specific workshops to build leadership skills.

Select Upper School Spring Intensives courses visit the Pottersville Campus to benefit from all the resources and immerse in their topic.

The DEIB Student Leadership Retreat is an enriching annual experience when Pingry students collaborate with students from peer schools to dive deep into discussions around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and to create a network committed to positive change.

The Honor Board Overnight is an annual retreat for the students and faculty of the Honor Board to discuss important topics, meet with various groups, and to enjoy a fun evening together.

During our Global Programs exchanges, Pingry students and peer students from distant places improve language skills, discuss global issues, build community, and form lasting friendships during overnight experiences in our Pottersville dormitories.

Peer2Peer students bond through collaborative activities and community-based projects, and build lasting connections with students at local partner schools.

Taiko Drummers participate in an overnight design sprint to compose and perform an original piece in just 24 hours, culminating in a performance open to the community in the Pottersville Theater.

Athletics teams, including Football and Volleyball, go to Pottersville for pre-season practice and overnight programs to bond and prepare for their seasons ahead.

All Community

On the MLK Day of Service, the entire Pingry community (K–12 students, families, and teachers) gathers to honor Dr. King's legacy through meaningful hands-on projects. On this day, the Pingry community engages in a variety of activities, from assembling hygiene kits for those in need to crafting toys for animals in shelters, all while making a lasting impact in our local community.

In This Section...

Lower School

Middle School

Upper School

All Community

Short Hills Campus

Basking Ridge Campus

Pottersville Campus