First Year Journey Trips
Up for hiking through the wilderness, camping outdoors, enjoying some sun at the local beaches, or making new friends over a homecooked meal? First Year Journey is a great way to have these new experiences and connect with other first year students! Check out our trips and be sure to review the location, difficulty level and sample itineraries to get to know each adventure. Once you have an idea of which journey you are interested in, complete the registration form on Navigate.
As FYJ is an optional pre-orientation program, all trips cost $500; however, each student’s trip fee will be based on their financial aid package, (FASFA and SAI (Student Aid Index)), and qualifying students will automatically receive a full or partial fee waiver, depending on their individual financial situation. No applications or scholarship forms required; we pull that information on your behalf. Most students receive a fee waiver of some sort, with many students attending for zero cost.
Registering before July 3 guarantees you higher priority and maximizes your chances of securing your desired trip. If you're unable to meet this deadline, we encourage you to complete the registration form and email the Outdoor Programs office promptly to explore any available options.
*All trips take place over one week leading up to Orientation. Students will spend two days on campus, getting settled and preparing for their trips, and five days in their respective destinations.
Camping Experience
Trip Length: 7 Days
Camping trips will have access to water, toilets, and vans. Participants will sleep in tents on established campsites, typically around other visitors. Click on any of the following trips to see a sample itinerary for your preferred adventure.
Zion National Park Adventure
Location: UtahTrip Type: Active - 10 spots
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Adventure awaits you in Zion National Park! This trip includes camping, hiking, the West Rim Trail, and a day of canyoneering and rappelling with experienced guides. While all aspects of the trip are made with beginners in mind, the adventure level is high (as are the heights).
PCH Adventure: Central Coast
Location: Along the Central Coast, CA Trip Type: Easy Going - 14 spots
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Maybe the best kept secret on the West Coast, the Central Coast of California is unique and spectacular. This trip experiences some of the best the region has to offer, with coastal camping, sea kayaking, day hiking, and exploration of the rugged coastline of the iconic Pacific Coast Highway.
Kern River Adventure
Location: Kern River and Sequoia National Park, California Trip Type: Active - 10 spots
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Love big trees, big rivers and big fun? Based on the Kern River, on this trip you will get to experience some of the most massive trees in the world, participate in a service project with the Kern River Conservancy and experience the thrill of whitewater rafting on the mighty Kern River. The rafting day includes professional guides, instruction, and all the safety equipment needed.
PCH Adventure: Malibu
Location: Malibu, California Trip Type: Active - 14 spots
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California dreamin’? Come experience some of the most iconic coastline California has to offer. This trip offers coastal camping, guided surfing, and rock climbing at the iconic Point Dume. A perfect balance of coastal chill and epic thrills.
Mammoth Lakes Adventure
Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA Trip Type: Active - 10 spots
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You thought Mammoth was just for winter? Well, think again! Nestled in the Sierra Mountains, Mammoth Lakes offers some of the most beautiful summer sights in all of California. Experience paddle boarding, rock climbing, and hiking along famous through hike trails like the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail.
Wilderness Experience
Trip Length: 7 Days
Wilderness trips take place away from vehicles, established campgrounds and typical facilities, sleeping in wilderness areas of public lands.
High Sierra Backpacking
Location: Lee Vining, Eastern Sierras, CA Trip Type: Adventurous - 10 spots
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Travel deep into California’s Sierra Nevada mountains to learn backcountry travel skills, Leave No Trace ethics, and build a community of peers. This trip has significant elevation gain, no backpacking experience is necessary, but some physical fitness is recommended.
Sequoia National Park Backpacking
Location: Sequoia National Park, CA Trip Type: Daring - 10 spots
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Home to some of the most massive trees in the world, soaring granite mountains, pine forests and spectacular rivers, Sequoia National Park is a worthy destination for your FYJ. You’ll spend time in the Sequoia backcountry; no backpacking experience is necessary, but some physical fitness is recommended.
Indoor Programs
Trip Length: 7 Days
FYJers participating in our Indoor Programs will stay in one of 3 houses in the mountains, beach or desert, have access to showers and will be sleeping inside in beds. One of the houses is ADA compliant and will have physically accessible activities.
Mountain Cabin Adventure
Location: Big BearTrip Type: Easy Going & Wheelchair Accessible
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Set amidst the local mountains, you will be given an opportunity to foster meaningful connections while participating in low-key community forward activities. You’ll spend time at the lake, experience the Big Bear Zoo and cruise along entry-level walking paths. This is a perfect adventure for anyone looking to develop friendships and breathe in the mountain air. Feel free to reach out for other details about this adventure.
Desert Home Adventure
Location: Zion National Park Trip Type: Active
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Adventure awaits you in Zion National Park! This trip includes hiking in the gorgeous Zion National Park, exploring the twists and turns of the Virgin River and a day of service with the Best Friends animal shelter. This is a trip made with beginners in mind who are looking for a balance of outdoor adventure and a cozy bed to sleep in at night.
City to Coast Adventure
Location: Ventura & Los Angeles Trip Type: Easy Going / Active
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California dreamin’? Come experience a chill stay at a city home in Los Angeles County. Experience city living with stops at the Griffith Observatory and Hollywood sign, walk the beautiful grounds of the Ventura Botanic Garden, and try your hand at surfing in Malibu. You’ll experience a mixture of cityscape and the gorgeous offerings of the SoCal coast!
Trip Classification Descriptions
- Designed to introduce adventurers to the outdoors. If you don’t want to sweat a whole lot, this is the trip for you!
- These trips typically include less than 4 miles of hiking (which is around the equivalent of walking to and from the Brockton apartments to Ann Peppers twice), physical activity duration under 4 hours, and walking with less than 500 ft of elevation change.
- You don’t need any previous experience to thoroughly enjoy yourself on these trips.
- Designed for the novice adventurer looking to learn more about the outdoors, so you’ll probably break a sweat a few times.
- Active trips may include hiking 3-6 miles, 4-7 hours activity duration, and/or elevation change of 500-1000 ft.
- No experience is needed to sign up for these trips, but a basic level of fitness will help to make these trips more enjoyable as these trips will ease you out of your comfort zone and teach you some of the basic essentials (including that everyone sweats) of what to do and how to do it in order to have fun in the wilderness.
- Designed for the seasoned explorers as well as the daring novice. You are approaching “Am I clumsy enough to spill water all over myself or is that sweat?” territory here.
- Adventurous trips may include hiking 7-10 miles per day, 8-10 hours of activity duration, or 1000-2000 feet of elevation change.
- Participants on these trips will experience advanced challenges for beginners with a potential for higher levels of exertion on these trips.
- Designed to challenge seasoned explorers, and likely going to make you sweat- a lot!
- Epic trips may include more than 10 miles of hiking per day, often for more than 10 hours, with potentially more than 2000 feet of elevation change.
- In order to promote safety for all participants and staff and confidence in your physical fitness is encouraged.
- These trips are designed to provide a space for you to be physically and emotionally challenged.