Freshmen Hitting The Trails Before Hitting The Books
August 1, 2000
University Park, Pa. – While thousands of undergraduate students nationwide begin their college careers hitting the books, 100 Penn State freshmen will hit the trails of central Pennsylvania. With backpacks weighing more than 40 pounds, students will face rugged terrain, form bonds, and develop skills to help them make the transition to college life.
Orion, Penn State’s five-year-old wilderness orientation program, is a six-day backcountry experience offered to first-year students. It will be held August 4-9 and August 12-17. Named after one of the most prominent constellations in the northeastern sky, Orion is collaboration between the Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, Continuing and Distance Education, and the Penn State Outing Club.
Wilderness orientation programs have become popular at universities and colleges over the past 20 years and are a rustic approach to integrate new students to the campus. Some universities, like Princeton, have more than half of their incoming students participate in the program. For more information on Orion, please visit http://www.outreach.psu.edu/ShaversCreek/Orion/.
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