Ohio University Pepsi Scholars work in the garden.
Outdoor & Place-Based Experiences

Outdoor & Place-Based Experiences

Signature Academic Experiences support student engagement within their academic and career fields. Through framing experiences that support exploration and discovery, students will have a deeper connection to the world of possibilities for OHIO’s Bobcats.

Outdoor & Place-Based Experiences

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    Next Adventure: Second-Year Outdoor Programs

    Second-year students, step into your Next Adventure!

    Looking for a way to spend time outside, build your community by getting to know other second-year students, gain leadership and communication skills, and have fun? Join SAE's Next Adventure program & spend a Saturday just off campus exploring the Ohio University Outdoor Pursuits challenge course. Start your morning off with a series of low-ropes team building initiatives to boost your community and communication skills. Take a break for lunch (pizza is provided!) before you navigate high ropes elements and step onto the new Alphine Skypark. Finish the day with a ride down the zip line - featuring easy access to the entry platform for an exciting 1,000-foot ride across the Ridges landscape, with a slow and soft landing on the other end.

    This challenge course program runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    Program cost: $5 - Lunch provided!

    2026 Spring Next Adventure Challenge Course Days

    April 4, 2026 

    Sophomore Challenge Course Day

    		Register for April 4 Course

    April 18, 2026

    Sophomore Challenge Course Day

    		Register for April 18 Course
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    New Adventures: First-Year Outdoor Orientation Programs

    Start your OHIO experience with a New Adventure!

    Going to college is an adventure, so why not start it that way? Outdoor Pursuits and Signature Academic Experiences partner to offer this high-impact, community building First-Year Outdoor Orientation Program. Choose from backpacking, rock climbing, or a canoeing trip, while camping in scenic wilderness areas. 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. 

    New Adventures Orientation trips are open to all incoming first-year students. All gear, transportation, food, equipment, and instruction is provided. No previous outdoor experience is required!

    2026 New Adventures Outdoor Orientation Programs
    June 23 - 27, 2026Backpacking & Whitewater Rafting: Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania 
    July 15 - 19, 2026Backpacking: Grayson Highlands, Virginia 
    August 9 - 20, 2026Canoeing: Boundary Waters Minnesota

    Learn More & Register