Experience

At the heart of Buxton’s values is the Work Program. Students connect with nature and community spaces twice a week, taking on responsibilities and learning new skills together, and developing a sense of the value and importance of hands-on hard work.

Each crew adapts to the season’s needs: in the fall, students rake and harvest; in winter, they chop wood to keep our buildings cozy; and in spring, they plant. Over the course of their four years, every student participates in various crews—from deep cleaning to harvesting for meals.

Faculty select a few seniors as “Work Program Head,” responsible for delegating tasks to Crew Heads, who guide and learn with their teammates to enhance our campus’ needs, all while fostering the emphasis on communal responsibility and skill building.

Each crew adapts to the season’s needs: in the fall, students rake and harvest; in winter, they chop wood to keep our buildings cozy; and in, they plant. Over the course of their four years, every student participates in various crews—from deep cleaning to harvesting for meals.

Faculty select a few seniors as “Work Program Head,” responsible for delegating tasks to Crew Heads, who guide and learn alongside their classmates and faculty to meet the seasonal needs of our campus, all while emphasizing communal responsibility and skill building.

We believe students learn by doing — and by trying.

Each season brings new ways to get involved, from team sports like soccer and ultimate frisbee to creative and outdoor activities such as hiking, foraging, or yoga. In the winter, students head to the slopes for skiing and snowboarding, while year-round afternoon activities offer space to explore new interests, build skills, and just have fun together.

Faculty advisors—and the faculty as a whole—play a profoundly important role at Buxton. Every student is paired with a dedicated faculty advisor who serves not only as an academic guide but as a steady, trusted presence throughout their time here. This advising relationship is one of the most distinctive and meaningful parts of the Buxton experience.

Advisors meet individually with students every week, often taking walks through the woods or around campus, sharing a quiet moment in the art room, heading to the Clark for inspiration or a quiet moment off campus, or simply sitting together to talk through whatever a student might need. These conversations can range from academic support to college preparation to personal challenges, or sometimes just the comfort of being heard without judgment. Advisors offer a neutral, reliable perspective, helping students navigate both the practical and emotional parts of their Buxton journey.

Again and again, alumni share how deeply their advisors shaped their experience, so much so that many maintain these relationships long after graduation. For many students, their faculty advisor becomes one of the most grounding, supportive, and meaningful supports during a pivotal moment in their lives.

At Buxton, our highly individualized approach to college advising provides a level of thoughtfulness and hands-on support that is rare and incredibly valuable for students and families alike. During junior year, each student selects a faculty advisor to guide them through the college application process. Whether a student has been at Buxton since freshman year, joined as an upperclassman, or is a post-graduate student, every college advisor works closely with each student to build a strong, personalized application that reflects their goals and aspirations.

Throughout this process, students and families can expect comprehensive support, including in-depth editing of college essays, gathering supplemental materials to create a robust portfolio, and receiving detailed letters of recommendation that are both highly personalized and known to stand out in the college admissions process. Because advisors know students holistically, these letters reflect not only academic capabilities, but also personal growth, character, and individual strengths, helping students present a truly distinctive and authentic profile to colleges.

Students and their college advisors meet frequently to discuss preferences, possibilities, and plan ahead. Working closely with the faculty as a whole, each advisor helps students create a thoughtful list of colleges and guides them through every step of the application process. Families can maintain regular communication with their student’s college advisor and choose the level of involvement that works best for them, whether that means active participation or a more hands-off approach. Throughout the process, Buxton fosters a productive partnership between students, their parents, and the school, with alumni serving as mentors to share insight on both the process and the schools they selected for themselves.

Colleges and universities know Buxton and understand our rigorous academics, emphasis on creativity, and the caliber of our students. Many of our students choose to continue their education at institutions that share some of our core attributes: small, academically rigorous environments that value individualized learning, experiential education, and community.