ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾

Orientation Trips are intended to help assist with the transition into ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ life by providing an inclusive and welcoming small-group experience for all incoming students. Trips are a great chance for new students to meet classmates, upper-class leaders, faculty, and staff members in a relaxed and informal setting.

The Outing Club offers a wide range of trips in Maine and New Hampshire, including day hiking, backpacking, sailing, surfing, whitewater kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking, meditation and wellness trips, and more. The McKeen Center offers a variety of trips, including ones that work with rural Maine communities, native communities in Downeast Maine, and underserved populations in the greater Brunswick area. 

Whatever your interests and experience level, there’s a trip for you! Check out our Orientation Trip Descriptions to read about a trips that we have offered previously and are representative of the program. 

Objectives of the Orientation Trip Program

1. To assist incoming students with the transition into ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ life by providing a welcoming, inclusive, and appropriately challenging experience that encourages a growth mindset, reinforces self-efficacy, and fosters pro-social behavior and connection.

2. To introduce incoming students to Maine’s distinct natural and human environments and promote an appreciation for the state’s environmental and social complexities through outdoor recreational and community engagement activities.

3. To position the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Outing Club and McKeen Center for the Common Good as co-curricular partners for incoming students as they explore existing or emerging interests throughout their time at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾.

4. To offer a capstone leadership opportunity for current students who seek to further develop themselves as leaders.