Third grade students from Warring Elementary took a tour of Vassar College Feb. 21 in the next step of a pilot program, “Warring is College Bound,” for exposing primary students to local campuses.

The students were able to see Vassar’s library, art museum, a chemistry lab and a dormitory, among other sights. Elementary School Counselor Olivia Post said the dining hall may have been their favorite spot, though, as they were able to pick anything they wanted from the buffet serving setup.

Post said the students had “a great time,” though snowy conditions made some locations unavailable. “We’re hoping to go back in the spring when it’s warmer to view more of the campus.”

Under the pilot program, campus tours were scheduled this year for Warring’s third, fourth (Dutchess Community College) and fifth (SUNY New Paltz) grades. The New Paltz tour kicked off the effort in early December. The goal is to institute regular campus visits for all of the district’s elementary students to gain a better understanding of how colleges, and college life, operate.

“Our goal is to introduce all students to a variety of college lifestyles as early as possible, have them visit different sites on the campus and truly picture themselves as college students,” Warring Principal Nicole Penn said in December.