Adirondack Adventure, Hamilton's eight-day outdoor program for incoming students, and its sister program USE, welcome 228 members of the class of 2012 – nearly half the class – on Aug. 15. The popular pre-orientation program features 27 trips that focus on hiking, canoeing, rock climbing or kayaking at beginning, intermediate or advanced ability levels. All trips are conducted in various locations in the Adirondacks.
Andrew Jillings, director of outdoor leadership and the Adirondack Adventure program, says "The big news for 2008 is the blossoming of the USE program. They've gone from 12 to 28 participants, 10 fully trained leaders and four trips instead of one." USE is a sister program of AA and focuses on service in the City of Utica, with groups staying in town and working with direct service organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and the food kitchen at Hope House.
As far as the Adirondacks trips, Jillings reports, "We added a new hiking trip as demand for land trips was phenomenal this year. It's called Northville hiking and goes from Piseco Lake north on the Northville Placid hiking trail."
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| View more photos from the day in our slideshow and watch the video as students arrive on the hill. |
Jillings brings the philosophy of "Challenge By Choice" to Adirondack Adventure. It is a leadership practice that allows people to choose when and where they want to stretch their comfort zone. Its goal is to provide a safe and effective learning environment, both mentally and physically.
Participating students arrive on campus for move-in and orientation on Friday, August 15, before the college's regular orientation. This program allows them to start college with a group of new friends and spend some time learning and having fun in a large recreational area within an hour's drive of the campus. "College is all one package, the academic and the extracurricular. Learning doesn't stop when you leave the classroom," says Jillings. At the conclusion of all the trips, students also participate in a high ropes course and other activities that emphasize cooperation, team-building and overcoming personal fear.
Adirondack Adventure students will spend Aug. 16 on campus preparing for trips, and then depart on Sunday, Aug. 17, for their three-and a half-day wilderness trips. They'll return on Aug. 20 to Outdoor Education Centers, where they'll participate in high ropes challenge activities and an awards ceremony before heading back to campus on Aug. 22 to join other members of the class of 2012.
Related Information
- Slideshow from 2008 Adirondack Adventure welcome
- Video as students arrive on College Hill
- Adirondack Adventure (AA)
- Urban Service Experience (USE)
