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What is the OEC? | Yale Campus Recreation
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data-scroll-indicator="none" id="breadcrumbs-inner"> <nav class="breadcrumbs breadcrumbs--collapsible" aria-label="Breadcrumb" data-menu-variation="basic"> <ol class="breadcrumbs__menu breadcrumbs__menu--level-0"> <li class="breadcrumbs__item breadcrumbs__item--level-0"> <a data-link-style="underline" data-link-type="internal" class="breadcrumbs__link breadcrumbs__link--level-0" href="/"> Home</a> </li> <li class="breadcrumbs__item breadcrumbs__item--level-0"> <a data-link-style="underline" data-link-type="internal" class="breadcrumbs__link breadcrumbs__link--level-0" href="/oec"> Outdoor Education Center</a> </li> <li class="breadcrumbs__item breadcrumbs__item--level-0 breadcrumbs__item--active"> <a aria-current="page" data-link-style="underline" data-link-type="internal" class="breadcrumbs__link breadcrumbs__link--level-0 breadcrumbs__link--active"> Background & History of the OEC & Powers Lake</a> </li> </ol> </nav> <button aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" class="breadcrumbs__control breadcrumbs__control--left"> <svg class="breadcrumbs__icon breadcrumbs__icon--left" aria-hidden="true" role="img" > <use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/atomic/node_modules/@yalesites-org/component-library-twig/dist/icons.svg#angle-down"></use> </svg> </button> <button aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" class="breadcrumbs__control breadcrumbs__control--right"> <svg class="breadcrumbs__icon breadcrumbs__icon--right" aria-hidden="true" role="img" > <use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/atomic/node_modules/@yalesites-org/component-library-twig/dist/icons.svg#angle-down"></use> </svg> </button> </div> </div> <div> <div data-component-width="site" class="page-title visually-hidden"> <div class="page-title__inner"> <div class="page-title__top"> <div class="page-title__title-wrap"> <h1 class="page-title__heading"> What is the OEC?</h1> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div data-banner-content-layout="bottom" data-component-theme="one" class="cta-banner" data-banner-width="site"> <div class="cta-banner__content-wrapper"> <div class="cta-banner__image"> <div> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/16_5_320/public/2024-03/Rec%20Website%20Images%20-%20OEC2%20Hero%20Banner.jpg?h=c7985128&itok=i3wsEICy 320w, /sites/default/files/styles/16_5_480/public/2024-03/Rec%20Website%20Images%20-%20OEC2%20Hero%20Banner.jpg?h=c7985128&itok=0G7B5zZL 480w, /sites/default/files/styles/16_5_640/public/2024-03/Rec%20Website%20Images%20-%20OEC2%20Hero%20Banner.jpg?h=c7985128&itok=pK5mf04a 640w, /sites/default/files/styles/16_5_800/public/2024-03/Rec%20Website%20Images%20-%20OEC2%20Hero%20Banner.jpg?h=c7985128&itok=kXIaZOf7 800w, /sites/default/files/styles/16_5_960/public/2024-03/Rec%20Website%20Images%20-%20OEC2%20Hero%20Banner.jpg?h=c7985128&itok=fdgzmQew 960w, 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/sites/default/files/styles/16_5_2240/public/2024-03/Rec%20Website%20Images%20-%20OEC2%20Hero%20Banner.jpg?h=c7985128&itok=AOdJ1hJx 2240w, /sites/default/files/styles/16_5_2400/public/2024-03/Rec%20Website%20Images%20-%20OEC2%20Hero%20Banner.jpg?h=c7985128&itok=v86aowL1 2400w" sizes="(min-width: 2400px) 2400px, 100vw" width="960" height="300" src="/sites/default/files/styles/16_5_320/public/2024-03/Rec%20Website%20Images%20-%20OEC2%20Hero%20Banner.jpg?h=c7985128&itok=i3wsEICy" alt="OEC" /> </div> </div> <div class="cta-banner__content"> <div class="cta-banner__outer-wrap"> <div class="cta-banner__wrap"> <div class="cta-banner__text"> <h2 class="cta-banner__heading"> Outdoor Education Center (OEC) </h2> <div class="cta-banner__snippet"> <div><p>Located in East Lyme, CT. Open to the Yale Community and East Lyme Residents. </p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-component-width="site" data-component-alignment="left" class="accordion" data-embedded-components> <div class="accordion__inner"> <ul style="display: none" aria-label="Section controls" class="accordion__controls"> <li class="item"> <button aria-expanded="false" class="accordion__toggle-all">Expand All <svg class="accordion__icon" > <use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/atomic/node_modules/@yalesites-org/component-library-twig/dist/icons.svg#angle-down"></use> </svg> </button> </li> </ul> <div> <div> <div data-accordion-expanded="true" class="accordion-item" > <h2 class="accordion-item__heading"> <button aria-expanded="true" class="accordion-item__toggle"> What is the OEC? <svg class="accordion-item__icon" aria-hidden="true" role="img" > <use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/atomic/node_modules/@yalesites-org/component-library-twig/dist/icons.svg#angle-down"></use> </svg> </button> </h2> <div class="accordion-item__content"> <div data-component-width="site" data-component-alignment="center" data-component-variation="default" class="text-field"> <div class="text-field__inner"> <div class="text"> <div data-component-width="site" data-component-alignment="left" data-component-variation="default" class="inner-text-field"> <div class="inner-text-field__inner"> <div class="text"> <p>Located on 1,500 wooded acres, the Yale Outdoor Education Center (OEC) is nestled on the south shore of a pristine mile-long lake. There are plenty of spots to picnic, a hiking trail, and a clean lake in which to rowboat, kayak, paddleboard, fish or swim. </p> <p>A large, H-shaped aluminum dock provides ideal swimming conditions in the lake. Nearby, a wooden dock houses rowboats and is also available for fishing. Our extended beach offers single- and two-person kayaks and standup-paddleboards. All paddle craft may be used (only) during supervised waterfront hours. </p> <p>The OEC is in East Lyme, Connecticut, just northwest of the quaint, seaside town of Niantic and only 42 miles from New Haven. The OEC is available to all members of the Yale community via membership, day-use fee or rental. </p> <p>The lakeside Pavilion, a big, open-air structure with large picnic tables, is available for group rentals. A grill & serving area connect by breezeway. A 20’ x 24’ deck with seating fronts the pavilion. For a private atmosphere, the rustic Dining Hall, situated on a hill, offers a panorama of the lake from its oversize deck and indoor seating. Small groups to 25 may prefer the lakeside Gazebo with large grill and tables nearby.</p> <p>Additionally, the OEC offers a picnic grove with tables and grills, grass and sand beaches, campfire ring Cowboy Cauldron, clay volleyball court, and small basketball court. A spring water dispenser is in the Pavilion.</p> <p><br> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div data-accordion-expanded="true" class="accordion-item" > <h2 class="accordion-item__heading"> <button aria-expanded="true" class="accordion-item__toggle"> History of the OEC <svg class="accordion-item__icon" aria-hidden="true" role="img" > <use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/atomic/node_modules/@yalesites-org/component-library-twig/dist/icons.svg#angle-down"></use> </svg> </button> </h2> <div class="accordion-item__content"> <div data-component-width="site" data-component-alignment="center" data-component-variation="default" class="text-field"> <div class="text-field__inner"> <div class="text"> <div data-component-width="site" data-component-alignment="left" data-component-variation="default" class="inner-text-field"> <div class="inner-text-field__inner"> <div class="text"> <p>The Yale Outdoor Education Center was founded and named by Yale Medal recipient Edward C. Migdalski, father of the current director, who was the director from its creation in 1966 to 1984, when his son Tom took over management. Ed passed away in 2009 at age 91. He was a pioneer of the outdoor recreation concept and club sports movement nationally, and the author of nine outdoor-sports books, primarily on fishes and fishing. Prior to joining the Athletics Department in 1966, Ed was a world explorer, specimen collector and taxidermist at Yale’s Peabody Museum in New Haven. Some of his work is still present there. His taxidermy work is also viewable in the fish display case on the OEC boat dock.</p> <p>Prior to 1966, the OEC was called the Yale Engineering Camp, part of the Sheffield Scientific School, which was used for summer field-work experience for Yale students enrolled in the Engineering program. Some of the land was purchased by Yale, but most of it was gifted by donors for Yale’s use in perpetuity.</p> <p>Yale dissolved civil engineering as major study in the mid-1960s, which is when Ed Migdalski was given control of the camp for two years on a trial basis to see if he could successfully turn it into a recreation center after his presentation to then Yale treasurer Charles Gage.</p> <p>The dining hall, which we now rent for special events like weddings, receptions and meetings, was a dining hall back then, too, staffed by two cooks. <span> </span></p> <p>The woods used to come right up to the front (lake side) of the dining hall, and there was therefore no view of the lake; likewise, we added the deck off the front to enhance special occasion usage. We also finished the bare floors, installed new windows, and added interior siding. The wood tables and benches in the hall are original antiques to the mid-1920s. But the sink, stove, hot water and refrigeration are all newer.</p> <p>We widened the roads, previously only one lane and passable only by means of pullovers. Drivers would honk their horn in advance or be forced to back up a long distance to the last pullover. The speed bumps in our road were always there, but they are equally for water drainage purposes, and not just speed bumps. Their old-time name is a “Thank-You Mam” because on steep, long hills (not located here), they were used for horses to take a break and rest wagon wheels against them.</p> <p>We built the pavilion in 1981, which was funded by a Mr. Don Hopkins, who paid for construction materials, and the Yale Graduate School of Architecture designed it and provided the labor as part of its graduation requirement. The design was one chosen by Ed Migdalski for its detached cooking area via a “breezeway,” one of a number in a competition from a series of to-scale models built by the grad students.</p> <p>The picnic groves never existed either, and it was just a wooded shore where the tables are now, and it looked like the rest of the lake’s wooded shoreline. Likewise, we added the grass beach, sand beach, swim dock, boat dock and gazebo, all through alumni donations. (Please contact the OEC director if you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution for a special project or purchase at the Outdoor Center.)</p> <p>All the property surrounding the lake is private and owned by Yale. The dam, which is around to the right side, is state-controlled for water-level safety. The boat launch, located to the left and around the bend, is also state owned. The water itself is state controlled; therefore, anyone may launch from the state ramp, but nobody may go ashore elsewhere on the lake. Motorboats are allowed from the state launch only, but the lake has an 8-mph speed limit. You also must have a state inland-waters fishing license to fish in the lake, which is named Powers Lake.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-image-position="image-left" data-component-width="site" data-component-theme="default" data-image-style="inline" class="content-spotlight-portrait"> <div class="content-spotlight-portrait__inner"> <div class="content-spotlight-portrait__content"> <div class="content-spotlight-portrait__text"> <div><h3><span>Overnight stays, cabin, and campsite rentals are no longer available at the Outdoor Education Center.</span></h3> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-spotlight-portrait__image"> <div> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/2_3_175/public/2025-01/noun-no-camping-6123360-FF3632.png?h=a7ffc51c&itok=5a42y0f2 175w, /sites/default/files/styles/2_3_320/public/2025-01/noun-no-camping-6123360-FF3632.png?h=a7ffc51c&itok=viUWVGrS 320w, /sites/default/files/styles/2_3_480/public/2025-01/noun-no-camping-6123360-FF3632.png?h=a7ffc51c&itok=DdiN_496 480w, /sites/default/files/styles/2_3_540/public/2025-01/noun-no-camping-6123360-FF3632.png?h=a7ffc51c&itok=Ebj8m8Nl 540w, /sites/default/files/styles/2_3_640/public/2025-01/noun-no-camping-6123360-FF3632.png?h=a7ffc51c&itok=yjoATI3J 640w" sizes="(min-width: 1344px) 320px, (min-width: 992px) 320, 50vw" width="640" height="960" src="/sites/default/files/styles/2_3_480/public/2025-01/noun-no-camping-6123360-FF3632.png?h=a7ffc51c&itok=DdiN_496" alt="No Overnight" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> </div> <div id="block-yalesitesfooterblock"> <footer data-component-width="site" data-site-footer-border-thickness="8" data-footer-theme="one" data-footer-accent="one" data-footer-variation="basic" class="site-footer"> <div class="site-footer__inner"> <div class="site-footer__primary"> <div class="site-footer__branding"> <div class="site-footer__logo"> <a data-link-style="no-underline" class="site-footer__site-branding site-footer__site-branding--primary" href="https://yale.edu"></a> </div> </div> <div class="site-footer__columns"> </div> </div> <div class="site-footer__secondary"> <div class="site-footer__social"> </div> <div class="site-footer__meta"> <a data-link-style="underline-with-icon" data-link-type="external" class="link link--footer-link link--with-icon" href="https://usability.yale.edu/web-accessibility/accessibility-yale"> Accessibility at Yale</a> <span class="site-footer__divider">|</span> <a data-link-style="underline-with-icon" data-link-type="external" class="link link--footer-link link--with-icon" href="https://privacy.yale.edu/resources/privacy-statement"> Privacy Policy</a> <span class="site-footer__divider">|</span> <span>Copyright © 2025 Yale University. 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