Among the lessons of the pandemic is how quickly our important tradition and rituals, big and small, can be disrupted. No wonder that the return of the Puddle Jump, after a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic, was met with such unbounded glee on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022.
In fact, besides sports, this year’s Puddle Jump was the college's first large, fully unmasked campus event since, well, the last Puddle Jump, when the pandemic was just a wispy cloud on the horizon — how great to see all those faces!
Established 47 years ago, the event is overseen by the Bates Outing Club as part of Winter Carnival. The Puddle Jump, in the words of one of its founders, represents a chance for “exuberance” in winter.
You’ll find that emotion on full display — plus delight, surprise, and joy — as you view some unforgettable moments below.