What is New Adventures?
About
Going to college is an adventure, so why not start it that way? New Adventures is Ohio University's adventure orientation program for first-year students, and it's the perfect way to ensure you jump into college with friends, mentors, and the adventure experience already on your side.
Outdoor Pursuits and Experiential Learning partner to offer this OHIO Signature Program, which offers incoming students the chance to participate in up to four trips that take place during the summer before your first semester of college. On each trip, you'll backpack, canoe, and camp in scenic wilderness areas as you form a tight-knit community with the other incoming students adventuring alongside you. All the while, you'll gain the skills you need to succeed in your first year at OHIO.
"New Adventures, for me, was the best way to make friends coming in to college. ... Without New Adventures, I wouldn't be in the major I am. I wouldn't be with the friends I am. I just wouldn't be the same person."
- Adam Hellmich, New Adventures 2022 Alum
Food, gear, transportation, and instruction are included on all trips. No prior outdoor experience is necessary. Participants will travel in groups of nine, consisting of seven peers and two Ohio University trip leaders. This year, there are 124 spots available spread among four different locations and experiences.
General Registration Process:
To secure your spot on any New Adventures trip/s, register for the expedition/s of your choice at RecShop.ohio.edu . General registration closes two weeks before the first day of a given trip. Please note that the prices in RecShop reflect the fact that the Office of Experiential learning has subsidized all trips by 50% in order to extend this opportunity to more students.
Scholarship Application Process
Financial aid in the form of scholarships is available to all interested students. The scholarship application is simple: biographical information and a 500-word essay.
This year, there are 54 scholarships available between the Appalachian Trail trips and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area trip. The Grayson Highlands trip is not eligible for scholarships. While we encourage students to apply to as many trips as they would like, selected applicants will be supported by scholarship on only one trip. Applicants will have the opportunity to rank order their trip preference and availability within the application. Applicants may submit a 300-500 word essay, or they may choose to upload a sound or video file no longer than 90 seconds.
If selected for a scholarship, you will receive a special registration link at which you can pay your reduced cost. Offers will be sent out the week of June 12th. After registering for a trip, information packets will be emailed to you to help you prepare for your New Adventures trip.
Grayson Highlands - Virginia
Activity: Backpacking
Cost:$100
The Grayson Highlands trip features extraordinary recreational opportunities on and around the Appalachian trail within Grayson Highlands State Park. This trip is perfect for students who are interested in getting into backpacking but want to ease into it, or for those who may not have the time to join us on a longer expedition.
Grayson offers sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, abundant birds and wildflowers, and even the chance to see wild ponies! Grayson also sits at a high elevation that offers cool temperatures throughout the month of June and July, making it the perfect summer backpacking destination.
Appalachian Trail - Virginia
Activity:Backpacking
Trip 1 Dates: July 11-16 Trip 2 Dates: July 25-30
Cost:$250
Scholarship Cost:$100
The Appalachian Trail is the crowned jewel of long-distance hiking in the United States. Due to popular demand, we are now offering two trips to the Appalachian trail to serve more students!
The Appalachian Trail traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. On these trips, participants will get to experience 25-30 miles of historic trail on their weeklong expedition through Virginia.
Boundary Waters - Minnesota
Activity: Expedition Canoeing
Cost:$500
Scholarship Cost:$100
Summer 2024 will be the 28th year that New Adventures has taken incoming students into the Boundary Waters as part of the flagship expedition of the New Adventures experience.
In the Boundary Waters, students will experience one of the most pristine wilderness recreation areas in America. Each day, they'll explore the North Woods as they canoe and portage their way to backcountry campsites nestled on lakeside islands and shores. Though still accessible to beginner adventurers, this is our most challenging trip regarding wilderness navigation and immersive backcountry exploration.
Move-in
Participants on this trip have the option to store the belongings they plan to move into their residence hall in a locked climate controlled storage unit in Walter Field house. Trip Leaders and participants will aid in the move-in process when you return from the trip! See more information in the FAQs below
Frequently Asked Questions
Do not hesitate to contact us with any more questions you have. We want to help you prepare as best as we can. We can’t wait to have you be a part of this experience!