Hampshire College

Hampshire College

Amherst, Massachusetts 01002

Hampshire College Official Website
Hampshire College map

Tips for Birding

When submitting eBird observations at Hampshire College, it is most helpful to start a new checklist for each hotspot. Use the general hotspot when you have a checklist that includes multiple locations or if no other hotspot or personal location is appropriate for your sightings.

About this Location

The Hampshire College campus covers 800 acres of rural land and features a mix of modern and traditional architecture. The campus has several natural areas where students can enjoy the scenery and wildlife. 

About Hampshire College

See all hotspots at Hampshire College

Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst. It was founded in 1970 as an experiment in alternative education, and it continues to emphasize interdisciplinary, individualized, and self-directed learning. Hampshire College is known for its innovative curriculum, student-designed majors, narrative evaluations, and portfolio-based assessment. Hampshire College is also part of the Five College Consortium, which allows its students to take courses at four other nearby institutions: Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The idea for Hampshire College originated in 1958 when the presidents of Amherst, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, appointed a committee to examine the assumptions and practices of liberal arts education. Their report, "The New College Plan”, advocated many of the features that have since been realized in the Hampshire curriculum: inviting students to self-design their program of studies; training students to be able to educate themselves through their lifetimes; emphasis on each student's curiosity and motivation; learning among and across multiple disciplines; and close mentoring relationships with teachers.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Roadside viewing

  • Entrance fee

Last updated November 28, 2023