While most students mark the beginning of a semester by receiving syllabi on the first day of classes, first-year students enrolled in the Outdoor Adventure Program at Penn State Berks will begin their semester early on one of three different excursions: backpacking, canoeing, or sharing their time with others through community service.
Designed to help first-year students with the transition to college, the optional Outdoor Adventure Program supplements required first-year seminar classes. Students form friendships, learn about college life, and develop a deeper understanding of themselves through these learning opportunities, all before classes begin.
Building for Tomorrow: Aug. 5-8
Students experience the joy they can provide by working with children at the Berks County Youth Detention Center on Aug. 6, volunteering at Opportunity House on Aug. 7 and cleaning up Nolde Forest Trail on Aug. 8.
A Walk in the Woods: Aug. 15-18
This four-day, three-night backpacking adventure on the Appalachian Trail will allow students to enjoy the solitude of the woods, cook outdoors, sleep under the stars, and learn outdoor hiking skills in beautiful Pennsylvania. The group will enjoy geocaching, problem solving, and team building activities as a prelude to the college experience.
Canoeing Adventure: Aug. 16-19
Participants will camp out for two nights in tents on the Delaware River, enjoying breathtaking views and an abundance of wildlife while learning about the value of teamwork through canoeing.
For more information on the Outdoor Adventure Program, contact John Gallagher at (610) 396-6076.