While approximately 680 first-year students will arrive at Gustavus Adolphus College on Friday, Aug. 31 for new student orientation, 21 first-year students will arrive on campus a week earlier to participate in a unique experience called the New Student Wilderness Immersion Program.
The 21 first-year students and six facilitators will gather at the College on Friday, Aug. 24 and then depart for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on Saturday, Aug. 25.
The Wilderness Immersion Program is designed to provide new Gustavus students with an experiential leadership opportunity that will foster personal growth, encourage the pursuit of learning, develop an understanding of environmental stewardship, and create a sense of service to one another as members of the Gustavus community.
Natural challenges and the guidance provided by the trained faculty and staff facilitators will allow students to reflect upon their experiences and intentionally prepare for the transitions they will face as the fall semester begins.
A past participant of the program said, “I gained environmental awareness, confidence through physical and leadership challenges, and great new friends.”
Participants will return to Gustavus Wednesday, Aug. 29 and spend the following day processing the experience. On Friday, Aug. 31 the participants will join other incoming students at the start of new student orientation.
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