Woods Before Work: Pre-orientation Camping Trip Introduces Frosh To Wes

By Miriam Berger, Assistant Features Editor

Courtesy of Wesleyan Jewish Community Students on the camping trip mingle before the start of orientation week.

Unlike the many members of the class of 2013 who likely spent their last night before orientation prepping for the year ahead, Max Hellmann ’13 was already getting a taste of college life as he sang campfire songs with fellow incoming freshmen in the woods.

Hellmann was one of seventeen first years who participated in a pre-orientation camping trip organized by members of the Wesleyan Jewish community. The group spent two days and nights immersed in out-door group activities while camping at Kettle Town State Park, approximately thirty minutes from campus.

“I signed up for the trip because I thought it would be an easier way to meet people before hand,” Hellmann said. “I wanted to be out in the woods and to have a relaxing start to it [college].”

This is the third year that the Jewish community has run a pre-orientation trip, though it was not held last year due to planning constraints. Emily Hoffman ’10, the main coordinator, said that the trip was advertised as an accepting, introductory experience for freshman from all religious backgrounds.

“At the beginning of the trip we told them [the freshmen participants] that they could ask us anything about Wesleyan, Jewish community related or not,” Hoffman said. “It was informally Jewish, without any official emphasis.”

While the trip was advertised as a Jewish camping event, Marc Whittington came without any religious motives.

“As a non Jew, it was nice to learn a little about the culture but not to be overpowered,” Whittington said.

Whittington described how both Jews and non-Jews enjoyed learning several Jewish songs and religious rituals common among members of Wesleyan's Jewish community. In addition, the students spent their two days together engaging in group bonding games, enjoying the nearby beach, and participating in various sports such as soccer and yoga.

“I definitely did not think that there was too much Jewish emphasis,” Whittington said. “I was actually surprised that there were only a few non-Jews.”

The night before the trip, Hoffman met with the other upperclassmen to brainstorm activities they hoped to conduct, such as the various icebreakers, group projects, and movement exercises. From there, Hoffman explained, the structure of the trip was determined solely by student interests and responses.

“It pretty much took on its own life,” she said. “It was very organic. The freshmen had a lot of their own ideas about how the trip could go.”

To cover the cost of the program, including student-cooked meals and the camping site, each first year participant paid a fifty-dollar fee.

“My favorite aspect was being so comfortable with such a large group of people off the bat,” Bryan Hollingsworth ‘13 said. “It definitely exceeded my expectations; I met great people and made some close friends.”

Rachel Levenson ’12, one of the organizers of the trip, deemed the program a success.

“Upperclassmen and freshmen were able to get to know a core group of students on campus,” Levensen said. “It was great to see the group so engaged and really into it.”

While comparable universities in Connecticut provide multiple pre-orientation programs, this is the only one offered here. Hoffman reiterated the importance of pre-orientation opportunities.

“I think that orientation can be a very crazy, confusing time, and it’s really good with a small group of people to chill out and reflect and to get to know one another,” Hoffman said.

Participants this year expressed their hope that the trip will be held again in the future, perhaps in addition to other pre-orientation meet and greet opportunities.

“The upperclassmen were so helpful to talk to and the people I met were incredibly friendly,” Daphna Spivack ’13 said. “I thought it was a really amazing trip and I think that there should be more like it.”