Meet new friends, discover Colgate, and explore the Adirondacks all while having a great time in the outdoors. Wilderness Adventure is a great way to kick-start your Colgate experience!
Wilderness Adventure (WA) is Colgate’s largest pre-orientation program. Each year in August, over 125 first-year students come to campus early to make friends, learn about Colgate from upper-class student leaders, and have an absolute blast! All of our trips use the outdoors to help students acclimate to Colgate, central New York, and life as a college student. Living and traveling with a small group of other first-year students and two or three highly trained leaders, you’ll work together to hike, paddle, climb, cave, bike, or sail through stunning New York wilderness. No previous experience is needed for any of our trips, just a willingness to have fun, learn, and meet new people.
2013 Session Dates
Clearwater Trip: August 7-10
Session I: August 7-12
Session II: August 17-24
*International Students & Benton Scholars: Please note that you should not sign up for Wilderness Adventure Session II due to your commitments to
Benton Scholars' pre-orientation and
International Students' Orientation respectively. Due to these conflicts, students in these groups will be given priority registration in Session I of WA. Contact Outdoor Education if you have any questions.
2013 Early Decision Registration Form - the ED Registration deadline has passed. If you are an ED student and want to register for WA, please use the "Regular Decision Form" found below.
2013 Regular Decision Registration Form - due June 3rd, 2013
2013 Fact Sheet Sailing 2013 Fact Sheet Waiver Form Medical History Form General Gear List Kayak Gear List Caving Gear List
Clearwater Sailing (August 7-10; 4-days; $700)
$700; August 7-10 (Note: this trip has unique dates, cost, and start/end locations from our other trips)
Days will be spent enjoying time on the water with the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains in view, learning how to sail, exploring the ecology and history of the area, and assisting with keeping the boat shipshape. Evenings will be spent camping on shore, star-gazing, getting to know other members of your incoming class, and preparing for your first year at Colgate.
Days will be spent enjoying time on the water with the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains in view, learning how to sail, exploring the ecology and history of the area, and assisting with keeping the boat shipshape. Evenings will be spent camping on shore, star-gazing, getting to know other members of your incoming class, and preparing for your first year at Colgate.
You will not need to rent any special equipment for this trip, and all meals will be provided on the ship. The trip will be leaving from and returning to ports in the Hudson River Valley, proximal to public transportation easily accessible from NYC and Albany.
No previous sailing experience necessary.
Level 1 Trips (No previous experience required)
Local Adventure Sampler ($200; August 7-12)
Experience four varied and exciting adventure activities along with 12 of your classmates. You’ll swing from the trees on our high ropes course, hike along the scenic trails of central New York and the Southern Adirondacks, explore local waterways by canoe, and try your hand at rock climbing at a local crag. Each evening, you will return to Hamilton and spend the night at Colgate’s Beattie Reserve sleeping in our yurt*.
This trip is designed to be a little less rustic and demanding than our typical options but still provides plenty of fun and adventure and the chance to try out several activities with a new group of friends.
*What's a yurt? It is a 30' diameter circular tent made of wood and canvas. It has a permanent foundation, wood and propane stoves, couches, and bunk beds.
Fly Fishing/Hiking ($300; August 7-12)
Learn the basics of fly fishing – casting, river ecology, angler ethics and more. Think like a fish as you explore local hot spots putting catch & release practices into play. You’ll also get a chance to stretch your legs, exploring local trails, and maybe even summiting a peak in the southern Adirondacks. Even if you don’t catch many fish, we guarantee you’ll bring back plenty of good memories. The cost of a New York State Fishing License is included with the trip.
Backpacking/Canoeing ($300; August 7-12)
We will spend two days backpacking and two days canoeing, with 4-8 miles of travel daily. With minimal or no portaging, this trip is a great way to see the Adirondacks by land and water. A great introduction to backcountry travel, this trip also provides time to socialize and enjoy the natural splendor of the Adirondacks.
Backpacking ($300; August 7-12)
We will hike 3-6 miles per day over both flat and hilly terrain, arriving at camp by early afternoon with time to relax before dinner. Camp moves every other day, with rest days between. We'll spend layover days relaxing in camp or exploring the surrounding area -- this may include hiking to the summit of a peak.
Canoeing ($300; August 7-12)
We will hike 3-6 miles per day over both flat and hilly terrain, arriving at camp by early afternoon with time to relax before dinner. Camp moves every other day, with rest days between. We'll spend layover days relaxing in camp or exploring the surrounding area -- this may include hiking to the summit of a peak.
Level 2 Trips (Moderate level of physical fitness required)
Caving/Day Hiking ($300; August 7-12)
Are you looking for a new kind of adventure? Join us in learning about caves, geology, navigation, rope work, and life underground at 52 degrees Fahrenheit year-round!
We will explore several horizontal caves as well as one or two vertical caves that require ropes and harnesses to rappelling to enter and exit. We'll spend nights in a rustic cabin and may perform a service project for the Northeast Cave Conservancy. There will be ample opportunity to hike, socialize, and swim.
Backpacking ($300; August 7-12)
We will hike 4-8 miles daily over terrain that is hilly and sometimes steep, arriving at camp by late afternoon. Days can be long and challenging, but there are trail breaks along the way. We move camp every day, with the exception of one layover day spent relaxing and exploring the surrounding area -- perhaps hiking to the summit of a nearby peak.
Sea Kayaking ($300; August 7-12)
We will kayak 3-10 miles daily from campsite to campsite with a rest day in the middle. We will help you perfect your kayak strokes and learn to pack your boat while enjoying the beauty of Cranberry Lake in the Adirondacks. Free time is spent honing kayaking skills, learning to roll a kayak, swimming, and cooking in camp. There also are numerous day hiking opportunities.
Climbing/Bouldering/Day Hiking ($300; August 7-12)
Experience a variety of climbing across central New York and the Adirondacks. You’ll get to try your hand at roped climbing, bouldering, and maybe even hike a peak! This trip is a great introduction to rock climbing, and no previous experience is needed. You will not only challenge yourself while scaling the cliffs, but also enjoy beautiful scenery and have a great time with your group in this beautiful setting.
Level 2+ Trips (High level of physical fitness required)
Mountain Biking ($300; August 7-12)
We'll explore Central New York state parks and forests in high gear while jumping logs, riding bridges, and seeing parts of the forest in fast forward. We will spend nights in local cabins and/or yurts while playing games and cooking group meals. During the day we will teach you basic to intermediate riding, bike maintenance, local human and natural history, and about building or maintaining features on the Colgate bike trails.
Tree Climbing ($300; August 7-12)
Bet you haven't tried this! We'll teach you to use a ten-foot-tall slingshot to rig trees, ascenders to get into the canopy, and how to ride a zip line from tree to tree, with plenty of time to enjoy the view. We will spend nights either in the Yurt at Colgate's Beattie Reserve, or in a local cabin -- both are heated with wood and have cooking stoves and nearby outhouses.
Lightweight Backpacking ($300; August 7-12)
With backpacks 50% lighter than typical packs, we’ll carry a minimum of equipment and compensate with specialized lightweight camping techniques. Lightweight backpacking combines the splendor of wilderness travel with the glory of a light load on your back. Some previous backpacking experience may be helpful but it is not required, we can teach you everything you need to know.
We will hike 6-12+ miles daily over steep terrain, and we will hike over one or two peaks. Days are challenging but the light packs make the long days manageable.
We change camp daily, with one layover day spent relaxing in camp and day hiking, possibly to the summit of a peak.
Level 1 Trips (No previous experience required)
Backpacking ($430; August 17-24)
We will hike 3-6 miles per day over both flat and hilly terrain, arriving at camp by early afternoon with time to relax before dinner. Camp moves every other day, with rest days between. We'll spend layover days relaxing in camp or exploring the surrounding area -- this may include hiking to the summit of a peak.
Canoeing ($430; August 17-24)
We will paddle on flat water lakes and rivers with minimal portaging (carrying the canoes and gear over land between waterways). We'll arrive at camp by early afternoon, with time to relax before dinner. On rest days we will cook in camp, swim, and go on day hikes.
Level 2 Trips (Moderate level of physical fitness required)
Backpacking ($430; August 17-24)
We will hike 4-8 miles daily over terrain that is hilly and sometimes steep, arriving at camp by late afternoon. Days can be long and challenging, but there are trail breaks along the way. We move camp every day, with the exception of one layover day spent relaxing and exploring the surrounding area -- perhaps hiking to the summit of a nearby peak.
Sea Kayaking ($430; August 17-24)
We will kayak 3-10 miles daily from campsite to campsite with a rest day in the middle. We will help you perfect your kayak strokes and learn to pack your boat while enjoying the beauty of Cranberry Lake in the Adirondacks. Free time is spent honing kayaking skills, learning to roll a kayak, swimming, and cooking in camp. There also are numerous day hiking opportunities.
Climbing/Day Hiking ($430; August 17-24)
This trip will take place in the High Peaks of the Adirondacks and will include three days of climbing and two days of hiking. Base camping out of Round Pond, you will climb and hike in the heart of the Adirondacks. In addition to the challenges of scaling the cliffs, you’ll also enjoy beautiful scenery and have a great time with your group in this beautiful setting.
Level 2+ Trips (High level of physical fitness required)
Backpacking ($430; August 17-24)
We will travel 6-9 miles over steep terrain, hiking over an Adirondack pass with a full pack. We will move camp every day with the exception of a layover day when you'll have the option of climbing an Adirondack High Peak. There will be many trail breaks and time for relaxing in camp each night.
Canoeing/Backpacking ($430; August 17-24)
We will spend three days backpacking and three days canoeing, with 5-10 miles of travel daily. The trips will involve some portaging of canoes – carrying the canoes and gear over land between waterways. It is a great introduction to backcountry travel, with time to socialize and enjoy the natural splendor of the Adirondack high peaks and the Raquette River.
Lightweight Backpacking ($430; August 17-24)
With backpacks 50% lighter than typical packs, we’ll carry a minimum of equipment and compensate with specialized lightweight camping techniques. Lightweight backpacking combines the splendor of wilderness travel with the glory of a light load on your back. Some previous backpacking experience may be helpful but it is not required, we can teach you everything you need to know.
We will hike 6-12+ miles daily over steep terrain, and we will hike over two Adirondack High Peaks. Days are challenging but the light packs make the long days manageable.
We change camp daily, with one layover day spent relaxing in camp and day hiking, possibly to the summit of a peak.
Level 3 Trips (High level of physical fitness required. Previous experience suggested.)
Level 3 Backpacking ($430; August 17-24)
We will travel 6-12+ miles daily over steep to very steep terrain. We will hike over two Adirondack High Peaks with full packs. Days are long and challenging, and we may not arrive at camp until dinnertime or later, with trail breaks along the way. We move camp daily with the exception of one layover day spent relaxing in camp and day hiking, possibly to the summit of a peak.