A program introducing UW Oshkosh first-year students to college life featured adventure, team-building and fun campus connections.

The new end-of-summer initiative included four days of camping Aug. 31-Sept. 3 at High Cliff State Park. Students were invited to move into their residence hall before embarking on the trip and had the opportunity to make friends, meet course instructors and connect with campus.

Leaders are confident the Summer Outdoor Adventure camp will be offered again next year.

“What research has shown is first-year students who attend an activity like this—their retention rate is really high,” said Greg Batten, recreation coordinator at UW Oshkosh who worked on the initiative with Director of Student Recreation Nathan Scott. “Retention is so important for our campus—that we’re retaining and graduating students.”

First-year student Jared Lange, of Pleasant Prairie, said the activity helped him prepare for a new—and potentially scary—college experience.

“The trip itself was a very unique and fun experience,” he said. “I joined so that I could break out of my shell and get to know some people and make some friends before I started college. This is exactly what happened.”

Lange, who is undecided on a major, said he was nervous about starting college, but all the friends and connections made at the adventure program helped “take the pressure off.”

Meeting people

A survey sent to participants found that the opportunity to make friends before school started was a huge benefit.

University leaders focused on attracting first-generation students with “medium” grade point averages—with around a B+ average. Supplemental funding trimmed the cost of the outdoor adventure program to less than $100.

Batten said the intent was to help students identify goals to accomplish in the first month of school that would help them connect to campus through academics, social activities or involvement.

Move-in items for campus were dropped off at residence halls on Thursday before a kick-off event at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. Climbing at Devil’s Lake was followed by kayaking, biking and hiking at High Cliff State Park. On Sunday, students joined their peers moving into residence halls.

Each evening, several UW Oshkosh faculty/staff attended the outdoor adventure program to speak with students about setting goals and preparing for their first six weeks of college. A student panel spoke about college life and participants of the trip were given time to write in a journal.

“This program was truly remarkable,” said Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Development/Dean of Students Art Munin. “Not only will the program be repeated, but also, expanded. We saw amazing connections formed between students and saw the students get challenged in ways that furthered their development.”

Forming bonds

Munin took part in one day of the trip, playing guitar and enjoying the campfire conversations that took place. He said a discussion on inclusive excellence revealed that music is a universal language as it shares stories across people, culture, time and location.

“We ended with discussing how music can be an avenue to learning other people’s stories and a way to form connections in their new Titan community,” he said.