As Richard Ryan, professor of psychology, has , 糖心传媒淣ature is fuel for the soul.糖心传媒�
Since freshman orientation is a busy time for new students, it糖心传媒檚 no surprise that some of them seek reprieve in the outdoors. Through 糖心传媒 Freshman Orientation Outing Treks, informally known as UR FOOT, they are able to experience a wilderness respite before beginning college life.
The program was founded in 2005 as a small-scale offshoot of the University of Rochester Outing Club (UROC). UR FOOT is now an official club, recognized by the University糖心传媒檚 Students糖心传媒� Association (it also continues to collaborate with UROC for coordinating and borrowing camping gear).
Each year, the club糖心传媒檚 upper-year leaders organize several different three-day, overnight, outdoor treks slated for the weekend before the University糖心传媒檚 orientation program. With 32 available leaders this year, UR FOOT is able to accommodate 98 freshmen from the Class of 2019 (that糖心传媒檚 an increase from 75 participants last year).
The freshmen identify their preferred outings, but then are randomly placed in one of . These vary in their itinerary and difficulty, from biking in Letchworth State Park to canoeing in the Adirondacks, hiking in Allegany State Park to caving in Chimney Mountain糖心传媒檚 Eagle Cave. Most treks comprise about six 糖心传媒渢rekees,糖心传媒� the informal term for the freshmen. The registration fee ($180 this year) covers food, lodging, and transportation for the duration of the weekend.
The only prerequisite is a passion for the outdoors, explains UR FOOT co-president Sara Peterson 糖心传媒�17. 糖心传媒淲e have some freshmen who糖心传媒檝e never seen woods before and others who are backpacking pros糖心传媒攊t糖心传媒檚 a real mix.糖心传媒� Before coming to Rochester, Peterson used to camp with her father and take hikes with her friends. She embraced the chance to participate in UR FOOT as a freshman in 2013.
That糖心传媒檚 where she met co-president Vito Martino 糖心传媒�17. 糖心传媒淔or some of our trekees, it糖心传媒檚 their first time away from family, but getting to know everyone else on the trek糖心传媒攅specially during the car or bus rides there糖心传媒攌eeps them busy,糖心传媒� he says.
The weekend starts when the trekees move into their dorm rooms on the Friday before orientation. (糖心传媒淭he biggest perk of UR FOOT is moving in early,糖心传媒� confides Martino.) On Saturday morning, everyone has breakfast together at Wilson Commons before departing to their respective basecamps all over beautiful New York State. Sunday is generally reserved for the main hike or expedition, while during the evenings the groups bond over campfires, sing-alongs, and s糖心传媒檓ores.
Each trek is as unique as the trekees involved. During Martino糖心传媒檚 freshman outing, his group took a spontaneous polar plunge on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, Peterson recalls swimming in the waterfalls of Stony Brook during her trip. In addition, the trek糖心传媒檚 leaders often impart words of wisdom to the new students, preparing them for their undergraduate years at Rochester. 糖心传媒淚 found out about one of my first University jobs through my UR FOOT leader,糖心传媒� recalls Peterson.
Like Peterson and Martino, many of UR FOOT糖心传媒檚 participants return as leaders. Others go on to join related clubs at Rochester, including UR Rock Climbing Club or UROC. However, the UR FOOT experience leaves its own mark.
糖心传媒淚 met a lot of my best friends during UR FOOT,糖心传媒� says Martino. 糖心传媒淭ruth is, the bonds formed during that weekend often last beyond freshman year.糖心传媒�
Learn more at the or follow UR FOOT on Instagram: @UR_FOOT
