The Pre-Orientation Program is a five day outdoor adventure offered to incoming first-year Hobart and William Smith students. The program provides a wonderful chance to experience backpacking, meet classmates, learn new skills, ease into the collegiate lifestyle and have a bit of fun before classes start.
The people you'll meet during the Pre-Orientation Adventure Program may turn out to be some of the best friends you'll make in college. The trip leaders foster an open and comfortable atmosphere regardless of background, race, sexual orientation, culture, experience level or religion.
While on your Pre-Orientation adventure, you might learn more about:
Students of all experience levels are welcome! So if you’ve hiked all the Presidential Range or only once camped out in your backyard, that’s OK! We will offer eight different trips each made up of eight first-year students and two upper-class guides and each running concurrently: two backpacking/kayaking trips in the Adirondack Mountains (advanced), two back-packing trips in the Adirondack Mountains (intermediate), and four backing trips in the Finger Lakes (beginner/intermediate).
The trip will cost $350, which can be billed to your student account or you can pay by check. There is financial aid available for students with need, so please indicate on your online application if you feel you qualify.
If you'd like to learn more about the program, read testimonials from last year's POAP students. If you think you're interested, please read about the Pre-Orientation trips and learn more about what to bring, where we’ll be going, what forms to fill out and what to expect!
Good luck, and welcome to Hobart and William Smith Colleges!
David Mapstone ’93
