Start your college experience with a once-in-a-lifetime adventure! Develop bonds within a small group of eight to ten first-year students and have fun exploring the natural world through a six-day wilderness orientation program.

ORION helps students develop friendships and learn necessary group skills while also learning outdoor living skills. If you are starting your Penn State education in the summer or fall of 2008, you are eligible to participate in the ORION program.

ORION includes four days of backpacking through the wilderness surrounding State
College. You will also have the opportunity to canoe or spend a day on Penn State's high ropes course. Prior experience is not necessary. Our student staff members are trained and experienced wilderness leaders.

Registration and Fees

ORION is a 2-credit course (KINES 089 Wilderness Experience). This course meets two of the three Health and Physical Activity (GHA) requirements for General Education. To receive credit for the ORION program, students must successfully complete the six-day trip, written assignments, a four-hour community service project, and they must attend an evening wrap-up session held early in the fall semester. Participants are responsible for a program fee, in addition to the appropriate tuition.

2008 Program Dates

• July 20 – 25
• August 9 – 14
• August 17 – 22

For more information about program content, costs, and registration, please visit our Web site at www.outreach.psu.edu/ShaversCreek/index-orion.html or contact:

Susanne Dubrouillet, Program Director
Phone: 814-863-2000
E-mail: susanne1@psu.edu