An alternative college prep

New people, new classes, a new home. For thousands of incoming Carolina first-year students, transitioning from high school to university life is full of changes.

But for eight soon-to-be-Tar Heels, the challenges of being a first-year student now look a lot less frightening.

After hiking more than 21 miles with 50-pound bags on their backs in the summer heat — and sleeping in a small tent with three other people for five days — entering college, suddenly, doesn’t seem so daunting anymore.

“It’s been physically and mentally demanding, so whenever school gets tough, you’ll know how to overcome it,” said Eylssa Collins, a first year student on the trip.

In a different kind of orientation, Campus Recreation’s Outdoor Education Center challenged the eight Carolina newcomers during its Wilderness Adventures for First-Year Students trip.

Held in the dense western North Carolina forests of Yellow Buck Mountain and Wilson Creek, the six-day excursion aimed to bring new students closer to nature while preparing them for the personal and social transition to college life.

“The goal is to teach these incoming freshmen things about themselves through nature,” said Clement Gurrey, the trip’s lead instructor. “Yeah, we’re teaching them about backpacking skills, we’re teaching them how to appreciate nature, how to stay hydrated while hiking. But aside from that we talk about group dynamics, group development and making your needs known.

“They come out with this really powerful experience. They meet a lot of people and they get more comfortable being around people. All the barriers come down here.”

Each summer, the trips provide an opportunity for incoming students to meet classmates before arriving on campus. It also offers them a chance to test their limits.

Although the trip is open to hikers of all skill levels, student instructors spend the first few days of the trip teaching fundamental outdoor skills including packing a bag, navigating with a map, setting up camp and the technical skills needed for the trails.

After that, instructors remain in the background, allowing the first-year students to be self-sufficient in the wilderness. Even for the trip’s most experienced hikers like Eagle Scout Matt Frisby, the method allows for more opportunities to hone wilderness skills.

“In Boy Scouts you’re not really allowed to go off and do anything on your own — the leaders always have to be there,” he said. “Here it’s all about independence and figuring things out for yourself. It’s fun to learn how to do these things.”

On many occasions, the hands-off philosophy means letting the hikers head in the wrong direction — sometimes leading a 14-hour day on the trail.

“We try to guide them,” Gurrey said. “We try to remind them of navigation skills and what’s they should be looking for and hopefully they’ll get their way out of it.”

The lost wanderings may be a frustration, but they provide a chance for the group to grow.

“With every challenge, barriers break down,” said camper Lily Schwartz. “Every time we mess something up, there’s no time for being shy. You just have to figure it out.”

Apprentice instructor Kirsten Geiger said that throughout the trip, the group dynamics change as the hikers become closer and more confident with their abilities.

Having taken the trip as a first-year student herself, Geiger said she knows firsthand how the trip’s raw atmosphere prepares the hikers for college.

“I made my best friend on my trip,” she said. “I was pretty low going into it and I got a lot of confidence from it. It empowered me because if I could spend a week in the woods, I could do anything.”

After completing the 21.5-mile hike with no showers, eating bagels twice a day, reading maps wrong and sleeping side-by-side for five nights, the campers said they felt more ready for college than before.

“We’ve already talked about getting phone numbers and meeting up when school starts,” Frisby said. “It definitely makes Chapel Hill feel like a smaller place.”