Adirondack Experience Freshmen Program
Tuesday August 30th – Friday September 2nd
Application deadline: August 19th
Campus arrival date:
Tuesday, August 30th by 4 p.m.
Trip dates: August 31st –September 2nd
For over fifty years, thousands of Paul Smith’s College students have enjoyed the outdoor experience and education in the beautiful Adirondacks. Prior to beginning your education at Paul Smith’s College, you will have an opportunity to enjoy the hiking and canoeing that entices visitors and year-around residents to this region. We hope you will join us for this year's adventure.
You will make new friends and experience life at Paul Smith’s College with your Adirondack Experience Leaders who are current students, faculty, and staff. Traveling, canoeing and hiking with a group (8 frosh and two leaders) is a wonderful way to meet people and enjoy the outdoors. The program is open to all members of the Class of '09. We offer a range of different trip activities from hiking and canoeing trips at an easy pace for 5 – 6 miles during a six hour day, enabling participants to enjoy the North Country waterways and mountains, to more strenuous hiking and canoeing (8 – 12 miles) for those who are more experienced and gung-ho to bag some of the High Peaks.
The Adirondack Experience program is certainly one of the best ways to start your time at Paul Smith’s College. Students make lifelong friends in the woods during outdoor adventures, and we hope that many students will continue to participate in other Outdoor Adventure pursuits throughout the school year.
No Experience Necessary/Proper Preparation is Still Important: Please understand that no prior outdoor (hiking or canoeing) experience is necessary. We expect that many of the participants have never been summiting mountains or paddling lakes, ponds and rivers before. You will be active every day so it is helpful if you engage in some form of regular exercise before the program. You should partake in physical activity for at least 30 minutes, three times per week. You should begin this program at least four weeks before the program begins. This activity increases the efficiency of the cardiovascular system to allow you to hike or canoe more easily, thus allowing you to better enjoy your trips. The most important piece of equipment to prepare is your feet, so it is essential that the boots be well broken-in before you arrive at Paul Smith's College. Boots that are not properly broken in invariably lead to chafing and blisters, and nothing can ruin a hiking trip more than blisters. The additional weight of a backpack also increases the potential for developing blisters. If you have new boots, you should wear them a minimum of 3-4 days a week before the trip with the same liner socks and wool socks you plan to wear during the Adirondack Experience program. This will break in the boots to your feet and get your feet used to the boots. If you find areas of chafing, you can experiment with different thicknesses of socks or apply tape or Moleskin to the areas of chafing. If there are areas of the boots that are pinching your feet, you can get the boots stretched at a local shoe repair shop.
A typical day trek will take from 6 – 8 hours. The groups will depart the campus in the morning after breakfast and return prior to dinner each day. Each person will be responsible for carrying his or her own personal gear (clothing, food, camera, insect repellent, etc) each day. You will need personal clothing items and appropriate footwear for hiking and paddling. Please be assured that you will be getting your feet wet while paddling (getting into and out of the canoe), and muddy while hiking the trails.
Housing: The participants will move directly into their residents hall room assigned to them for the fall semester on Tuesday, August 30th..
Activities: With a limit of sixty-four participants, we anticipate that this program will fill up quickly. Participants are divided into co-ed groups of six to eight participants and two Adirondack Experience leaders who are trained in outdoor skills, group dynamics, and wilderness first aid. The day-long treks will alternate between canoeing and hiking. You will find out the specific group you are assigned to when you arrive on campus. We will do our best to accommodate your indicated preference. Evening programs will complement the treks and your introduction to Adirondack adventures. Adirondack Experience will conclude in time for you to complete registration for the fall semester.
Special Needs: Everyone can find a trip that's right for him or her; and previous outdoor skills and experience is not required. Students with special needs or physical disabilities can often be accommodated.
Fall Athletes: Due to conflicting schedules, cross country runners, soccer and rugby players will be in the midst of pre-season training/conditioning, and will not be able to participate in the Adirondack Experience program.
Cost: The cost of the Adirondack Experience is $135. which covers all trip expenses (group leadership, food, transportation during the trip, and equipment usage).
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Jim Tucker at the Recreation Office at (518) 327-6389, at home at: 327-3363, or via e-mail at: tuckerj@paulsmiths.edu.
|
|
|
|