What to know before you go!
FYJ Travel Information and Schedule
First Year Journey Registration and Acceptance Dates
- Monday, May 18, 2026: FYJ 2026 Registration is available.
- Friday, July 3, 2026: Registrations are due. Register early to secure your top trip!
- Friday, July 10, 2026: Match Day! Final Trip Assignments, pricing, travel information and FYJ paperwork sent via redlands.edu email to applicants. Register early to secure your top trip.
- Friday, August 7, 2026: Trip Payment and Participant Paperwork is due.
FYJ Virtual Open Houses
Join us for our FYJ Virtual Open Houses! We’re hosting online meetings on the following dates. We will answer your questions and give an overview of the trips and schedule. Sign-up for a meeting by contacting Outdoor Programs at outdoor_programs@redlands.edu, and we will share the online meeting link.
- Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 5:30 PM PST
- Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 5:30 PM PST
- Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 5:30 PM PST
First Year Journey On-Campus Dates
- Friday, August 21, 2026 by 4pm: FYJ Participants arrive and if living on-campus, check in to their residence halls. All FYJ Participants, Trip Leaders and Staff will meet for dinner and evening activities.
- Saturday, August 22, 2026: First day of FYJ activities on campus! Introductions and events including pre-trip meetings, equipment checks, and generally getting settled into your new home. Students will be sleeping in their residence halls tonight. Off campus students may go home and return the next morning at designated times.
- Sunday, August 23, 2026: Students embark on their journeys.
- Monday, August 24 - Thursday, August 26, 2026: Students on course.
- Thursday, August 27, 2026: First Year Journey return wrap-up, reflection, and celebration dinner.
- Friday, August 28, 2026: First Day of New Student Orientation. All other on-campus students will be moving in.
Additional Important Logistics
If you have further questions, contact outdoor_programs@redlands.edu.
- All gear rentals are FREE for students participating in FYJ. You will be asked to sign a Rental Agreement form and provide valid credit card information which will only be used in the event that gear is damaged or lost.
- Your FYJ acceptance packet will include a list of needed gear and equipment.
- Items on the list marked with an asterisk (*) are available to rent from the Outdoor Programs Rental Shop.
- A form will be included in your FYJ Navigate Journey where you can indicate what gear you will need to rent.
- Rental gear will be picked up from the Outdoor Programs Rental Shop on the day you arrive on campus.
- If you have questions or concerns, contact outdoor_programs@redlands.edu or mattea_pulido@redlands.edu.
- All FYJ participants who will live on campus will move in on the first day of their program, Friday, August 21, 2026.
- You'll spend the first nights in your room before departing for your journey. Commuters will sleep at home on days leading up to the trip, but come to campus for trip prep activities.
- Official check-in procedures will be communicated before your move in day.
- Upon acceptance into a scheduled FYJ trip, you'll answer a travel information sheet as a part of your FYJ Navigate Journey that contains information about flights and shuttles to campus.
- Several free FYJ shuttles will be available from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from Ontario Airport to campus on 8/21 for all FYJers.