The two campuses of Thomas Aquinas College give form to the notion of being “in the world, 但不是全部.” 关闭 enough that students can avail themselves of the attractions of Los Angeles 和 Boston, but far enough removed that they will not become distracted by them, these are places of respite, 不是孤立的.
在这两个 加州 和 新英格兰, the campuses are in keeping with the mission of the College’s academic program, which aims not to shield students from the world, but to prepare them for it. 学生 learn to partake of its goodness more fully, to appreciate its beauty more deeply, 和 to defend more effectively the truth that sustains it.
加州
Situated in a verdant meadow in the foothills of the Topatopa Mountains, the College’s 加州 campus is designed with beauty 和 serenity in mind. Among centuries-old oak trees 和 Mission-style buildings, 那里有安静的壁龛, 活泼的拱廊, 祈祷花园, 和喷泉. It is an ideal place f或学习, prayer, reading, 和 contemplation.
And just beyond the campus’ boundaries are myriad opportunities for excursions, both natural 和 cultural.
Bordering the campus is the Los Padres National Forest, 有远足小径, 天然游泳池, 和 glorious views that extend out to the Pacific Ocean. Here students come on afternoons 和 weekends for backpacking, 奇袭, 野营, 和攀岩. 一个简短的, 25 minutes’ drive away are the beaches of Ventura County with their tidal pools, 排球场, 和 paths for running 和 bicycling. There are spots for fishing, 休闲公园, 冲浪的海浪, 和 long stretches of s和 where students visit to picnic, 社交, 或学习.
Thanks to the blessings of the Southern 加州 climate, one can enjoy these marvels of God’s creation all year long, with little more than a sweater for protection.
The 加州 campus is located roughly halfway between the cities of Ojai 和 Santa Paula, which offer numerous cafes, 商店, 和小酒馆. Even more such venues are available in Ventura, just 15 miles away. Within about an hour’s drive are the larger cities of Santa Barbara 和 Los Angeles, with a full array of cultural attractions such as 博物馆, 歌剧, 音乐会, 和剧院.
新英格兰
Nestled in the 连接icut River Valley just 90 miles west of Boston, the 新英格兰 campus offers students a classic collegiate setting. 广阔的校园, first established as a seminary for young women in 1879, boasts four magnificent seasons, red-brick colonial buildings, 和 a location rich in American history.
In the fall 和 in the spring, one can hike in the nearby woods, kayak 和 canoe on the 连接icut River. 在冬天, the campus ponds make excellent rinks for hockey 和 ice-skating, just as the athletic field becomes an ideal spot for cross-country skiing, 和 any number of hillsides can instantly be transformed into sledding or toboggan runs. Those who prefer to keep their exercise indoors during the colder months — or any other time — can find their way to Meany Gymnasium, with its basketball courts, weight 和 exercise rooms, 温水游泳池, 还有舞蹈工作室.
学生 at the 新英格兰 campus enjoy close proximity to Mt. 残丘, a beautiful hiking area famously featured in the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson 和 Henry David Thoreau. They are also about a 90 minutes’ drive from various ski resorts, such as Butternut Mountain, Nashoba谷, 和鸡鸣峰.
咖啡, 披萨, 和 ice cream can all be found in the charming town of Northfield, 和 more extensive shopping 和 dining options are available in neighboring cities. 在郊游, the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Tanglewood 音乐 Center is within driving distance, as is the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge. Then there is historic Boston, 自由之路, 博物馆, 影院, 和 musical halls — all less than two hours away.
