Seeing @razpsu and @Lion84 have incoming freshmen, I thought I'd drop a note about Aurora, and more specifically the Orion Experience offered through Aurora. If your students haven't considered this program, they should. One of my daughters went through Aurora/Orion before starting her freshman year and she loved it. From my vantage it was absolutely life changing for her. Five days and four nights in Roth Rock State Forest. Ten incoming students (co-ed) and two leaders (also co-ed, students who've done Orion and taken further training) hike anywhere from 3 - 10 miles per day. They don't have tents, but do have a tarp which they string up each evening in an attempt to keep dry. All ten students usually sleep under the one tarp and leaders usually sleep in hammocks that they brought along. The entire thing is a "leave no trace" experience which means that everything they bring in must be packed out. The toilet is a hole that each one digs themselves when they have a bowel movement. They are allowed to use toilet paper but it must be packed out so they all opt to using moss instead. Water is collected along the way from any source they can find, which has some added clorox. No food may be disposed of along the way. Think about this for a moment; No Trace Left Behind.
My daughter considers it the single best experience of her life. It gave her much, including many life long friends that she maintains today. For those with students attending Branch campuses, they match them with other branch campus students from the same location if there are more than one from the same location.
Oh, and somewhat changing subjects, they should also consider "Discover House". One of my daughters lived in D-house her freshman year. It exists for incoming DUS students but it is possible to get placed there if you have declared a major, but you have to ask to be assigned. DH has an RA like all dorms, but they also have a full time "Activity Coordinator" who plans all kinds of things that aren't available to the general population. They reserve many of the required freshmen level classes like English Comp, etc. They have many social activities such as pizza nights, trips to DC, NYC, etc which are free, or mostly free, etc. They are trained counselors and spend a bunch of time talking to the members of D-house to push them to explore new things and help them to think beyond undergraduate school. No additional cost to live in H-house.
Both of the above create very tight knit groups which helps to make Penn State seem like a much smaller University.
Sorry for being verbose, but I thought you would like to know about these opportunities, which aren't well known.
Portions of the video at this link are mis-leading. They sleep in the woods, not in open areas with pavillions or anywhere near roads. They usually come across the first rattlesnake within an hour of being dropped off which is the first of many they will see, among many other things.
www.shaverscreek.org
I couldn't find a good link about Discover House but here are some testimonials. If you look I'm sure you'll find something better.
dus.psu.edu
My daughter considers it the single best experience of her life. It gave her much, including many life long friends that she maintains today. For those with students attending Branch campuses, they match them with other branch campus students from the same location if there are more than one from the same location.
Oh, and somewhat changing subjects, they should also consider "Discover House". One of my daughters lived in D-house her freshman year. It exists for incoming DUS students but it is possible to get placed there if you have declared a major, but you have to ask to be assigned. DH has an RA like all dorms, but they also have a full time "Activity Coordinator" who plans all kinds of things that aren't available to the general population. They reserve many of the required freshmen level classes like English Comp, etc. They have many social activities such as pizza nights, trips to DC, NYC, etc which are free, or mostly free, etc. They are trained counselors and spend a bunch of time talking to the members of D-house to push them to explore new things and help them to think beyond undergraduate school. No additional cost to live in H-house.
Both of the above create very tight knit groups which helps to make Penn State seem like a much smaller University.
Sorry for being verbose, but I thought you would like to know about these opportunities, which aren't well known.
Portions of the video at this link are mis-leading. They sleep in the woods, not in open areas with pavillions or anywhere near roads. They usually come across the first rattlesnake within an hour of being dropped off which is the first of many they will see, among many other things.
ORION Wilderness Experience with Penn State’s Nature Center
ORION is a great way to earn credits, get ready for college, and make new friends — all while backpacking in beautiful central PA!
www.shaverscreek.org
I couldn't find a good link about Discover House but here are some testimonials. If you look I'm sure you'll find something better.
Hear from Discover House Students
The Division of Undergraduate Studies is the academic home for students exploring multiple academic programs before committing to a course of study.
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