About Colby’s Campus

The main campus at Colby is comprised of 714 acres, and has a plant inventory of more than 1,800 trees, 2,000 shrubs, and thousands of perennials that are regularly maintained in the campus core alone.  Thousands of other plants exist in the Perkins Arboretum and in other areas outside the campus core.

Approximately 90 percent of the campus—approximately 640 acres—is designated as a Wildlife Management Area by the state of Maine. There are many facets of wildlife management, but it is broadly defined as “…the art or science of producing wild animals and birds and of improving wildlife conditions in the state.”

As part of being good stewards of the land, the following restrictions apply to Colby’s main campus:

• No hunting is allowed on Colby College campus.
• No fishing is allowed in Johnson Pond.
• Dogs are not permitted to chase wild game.

The 128-acre Perkins Arboretum is located between Messalonskee Stream and Mayflower Hill Drive. Access the numerous trails across the street from the Millett House or at the lower side of the rugby field.

Johnson Pond is a high priority for the College. A natural buffer strip is maintained around the pond to help as a filter and no fertilizers are used around the pond itself. The pond is periodically inspected by an aquatic biologist as well as routinely tested for nutrient levels.

Where on campus can I smoke?

Smoking is prohibited throughout the Colby campus. Prohibited areas also including parking areas, athletic fields, and arenas. This also applies to Colby vehicles and off-campus Colby property. Personal, private, leased, or borrowed vehicles not owned by the College, when on the Colby campus, are also prohibited areas for tobacco use.

Are dogs allowed on campus?

College policies including the Student, Staff, and Faculty Handbooks address dogs as follows: (a) Students are forbidden to keep pets on campus, unless it can live in an aquatic environment). (b) Staff and faculty (except those residing on campus) are expected to refrain from bringing pets, especially dogs, to the campus. (c) Unleashed dogs violate state law as well as Waterville city ordinance.

Additionally, state and local regulations apply to visitors and pet owners who bring dogs to campus.

Dogs are limited to certain areas of campus. Dogs are not permitted inside any buildings or on athletic fields.

If you choose to bring your dog to campus, please keep it on a leash or close with you under your control. City of Waterville ordinance states that dogs running at large may be impounded.

Dogs should not be let loose to run on campus. Keeping dogs under control protects the wild life on our campus. State statutes identify as illegal, “nuisance” dogs, which are dogs that chase, wound, or kill wild life.

Please ensure that you clean up after your dog. City of Waterville ordinance specifies that it is a violation for any person to fail to immediately pick up and lawfully dispose of feces left by their dog on any public or private property.