Shaw Outdoor Center

Located at the base of Paine Mountain, just 500 steps from the Wise Campus Center.

Shaw Outdoor Center - Students at Bonfire

At Norwich you'll learn to embrace all six seasons Vermont has to offer through our Shaw Outdoor Center and one-of-a-kind Paine Mountain. 

Whether it's Spring, Mud, Summer, Autumn, Sticks, or the snowy Winter season, we celebrate all that Vermont's natural wonders have to offer. If you can't wait to snowshoe, sled, cross-country ski, ice fish, mountain bike, hike up a mountain, or train in wilderness conditions, then you'll love Norwich and all that the Shaw Outdoor Center offers and it doesn't matter your level of experience.

We offer a wide selection of outdoor equipment for rent (free with Norwich ID), have an indoor climbing wall and outdoor paintball course, and run numerous outdoor trips and clinics throughout the year.

Equipment Rentals

Outdoor Trips

Available Equipment 

(Free for Students, Faculty and Staff with ID)

  • Mountain Bikes (hardtails and full suspension)
  • Fat Tire Bikes 
  • Snowshoes 
  • Sleds
  • Cross Country Skis
  • Crampons and Traction Devices
  • Goggles
  • Ski and Bike Helmets
  • Winter clothing: jackets, pants, gloves, gaiters
  • Disc Golf discs
  • Camping Equipment: stoves, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, headlamps, trekking poles, tents, etc.

Types of trips and clinics we offer:

  • Mountain Biking; group rides, skills clinics, maintenance clinics. 
  • Hikes
  • Fishing and Fly Fishing 
  • Snowshoeing
  • Sledding
  • Bonfires
  • Outdoor Rock Climbing
  • Ice Climbing
  • Cross Country Skiing

Shaw Events

Come join the Norwich University Shaw Outdoor Center on an outdoor adventure.  All of our trips do not require experience and much of the equipment is included.  Past trips include: Ice Climbing, Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking, Paintball, Fishing, Ice Fishing, Disc Golf, Kayaking, Snowshoeing, Fat biking, Cross Country Skiing and more For current Shaw Outdoor Center events and to sign up please check out our SOC Engage page.    

We also offer training opportunities if you are looking to expand your outdoor knowledge. Previous programing includes American Red Cross CPR and First Aid, American Mountain Guide Association Climbing Wall Instructor Certification, Wilderness First Aid, American Canoe Association Sea Kayaking training, and more.  To see what training we are offering check out our SOC Engage page. If you have a group interested in a specific please reach out to us by email.