First Year Outdoor Orientation Programs
What is New Adventures?
Welcome Packet
About
Going to college is an adventure, so why not start it that way? New Adventures is Ohio University's outdoor orientation program for incoming first-year students, and it's the perfect way to ensure you begin your college experience with friends, mentors, and an adventure experience on your side.
Outdoor Pursuits and Signature Academic Experiences partner to offer this OHIO Signature Program, which offers incoming students the chance to participate in an outdoor orientation program during the summer before your first semester of college. Choose from backpacking or canoeing, while camping in scenic wilderness areas as you build a tight-knit community with the other incoming students adventuring alongside you. All the while, you'll gain the skills you need to succeed in your first year at OHIO.
From Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania to the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. Choose from one of our three New Adventures trips to register for and start your new adventure!
"New Adventures, for me, was the best way to make friends coming in to college. ... Without New Adventures, I wouldn't be in the major I am. I wouldn't be with the friends I am. I just wouldn't be the same person."
Adam Hellmich, New Adventures 2022 Alum
Food, gear, transportation, and instruction are included on all trips. No prior outdoor experience is necessary. Participants will travel in groups of seven to nine, consisting of five to seven peers and two Ohio University trip leaders.
General Registration Process:
To secure your spot on any New Adventures trip/s, register for the expedition/s of your choice at DSE Dashboard. Create a community account if your OHIO sign in does not allow you to register. General registration closes a week before the first day of a given trip. Please note that the prices in DSE reflect the fact that the Office of Experiential learning has subsidized our trips in order to extend this opportunity to more students.
Laurel Highlands - Pennsylvania
Activity: Backpacking + Whitewater Rafting
Cost: $400
Nestled in the hills of rural Pennsylvania, Laurel Highlands is a hidden gem of the Allegheny Mountains! This trip is perfect for students who are interested in getting into backpacking but want to ease into it, or for those who may not have the time to join us on a longer backpacking trip.
The Laurel Highlands trail follows the top of Laurel Ridge for 70 miles, connecting the towns of Ohiopyle and Johnstown on either end. Students will backpack sections of the Laurel Highlands trail for 3 days, 2 nights before visiting the town of Ohiopyle to spend their last day rafting the Lower Youghiogheny River! The ‘Yough’ for short, offers exciting Class III+ whitewater through a beautiful river canyon. What better way to rinse off after days on trail?
Grayson Highlands - Virginia
Activity: Backpacking
Cost: $350
Grayson Highlands features extraordinary recreational opportunities on and around the Appalachian trail within Grayson Highlands State Park. This trip is perfect for students who would like a little bit more challenge with backpacking given that the trail has mild elevation and slightly longer mileage than the Laurel Highlands trip.
On this trip, participants will get to experience 4-days, 3-nights of backpacking and camping along a historic section of the famed Appalachian Trail. Grayson offers sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, abundant birds and wildflowers, and even the chance to see wild ponies! The Highlands sit at a higher elevation offering cooler temperatures throughout the month of June and July, making it the perfect summer backpacking destination.
Boundary Waters - Minnesota
Activity: Expedition Canoeing
Cost: $800
On our Boundary Waters Canoe trip, students will experience one of the most pristine wilderness recreation areas in America. Each day, on this extended canoe trip, you will explore the North Woods as you canoe and portage your way to different backcountry campsites nestled on lakeside islands and along the shores. Though still accessible to beginner adventurers, this is our more challenging trip regarding trip length and the immersive backcountry style of the program.
Resident Hall Move-in
Participants on this trip have the option to store the belongings they plan to move into their residence hall in a locked climate-controlled storage unit in Walter Field house. Trip Leaders and participants will assist with the move-in process when you return to campus!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do not hesitate to contact us with any more questions you have. We want to help you prepare as best as we can. We can’t wait to have you be a part of this experience!
Already Signed Up? Welcome!