Friday February 10, 2012
Frosh Trip Leader Newsletter
It's time once again for that most incredible adventure, Frosh Trip 2011! Please read this newsletter carefully. The link to the online Application is below. |
Early Training Dates 2011 - TENTATIVE (Pending training scheduling)
- Thursday, August 25 - Rock Climbing Leaders Return
- Friday, August 26 - Monday, August 29 - PCIA Base Managed Climbing Course
- Friday, August 26 - Biking leaders return
- Saturday, August 27 - Monday, August 29 - Bike Leader Training
- Saturday, August 27- Canoeing, Outdoor Adventure & Sustainable Farming leaders return
- Sunday, August 29 - Monday, August 31 - Canoeing, Sustainable Farming, & Base Camp/Outdoor Adventure Training
Frosh Trip Dates 2011 - FINALIZED
- Tuesday, August 30 - Advance Team members arrive.
- Tuesday, August 30 from 12:00 – 5:00 PM. Advance Teams finishes final Frosh Trip prep
- Tuesday, August 30, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Leader move-in
- Tuesday, August 30, 5:00 PM. Leader Check-in Dillon
- Wednesday, August 31 - Friday, September 2 – Leader Training Workshops
- Saturday, September 3 – Frosh Arrive
- Sunday, September 4 - Friday, September 9 – Frosh Trip 2011
- Friday, September 9 - Frosh Trip DJ Party
- Saturday, September 10 - Leader Clean-up & Barbecue
What's New This Year
The arrival date for Leaders is Tuesday, August 30 and OA check-in is at 5 PM in Dillon Gym. Leaders will be able to move into their regular year dorm rooms on August 30.
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Once again it’s time to start thinking about our next great endeavor, FT 2011! This past fall was a tremendous success with the largest program ever--797 frosh on 96 different trips! OA runs the largest wilderness orientation program in the United States. This year should be even bigger and we will need lots of people to make it happen. We hope you can be a part of FT 2011. If you are still in the process of completing leader training you can still apply. Your acceptance for Frosh Trip 2011 will be based on your successful completion of leader training this spring.
The Frosh Trip itself runs from Saturday, September 3 – Friday, September 9. Leader Check-in is Tuesday, August 30 at 5:00 PM in Dillon Gym. Leaders should plan to arrive on August 30. Some leaders including Leader Trainers, Biking Leaders. Climbing Leaders, Canoeing Leaders, Sistainable Farming Leaders and Base Camp/Outdoor Adventure Leaders arrive earlier, see the detailed schedule above for arrival dates.
CPR CertificationAll Leaders must be certified in Adult CPR (either Red Cross or American Heart Association) before leading a Frosh Trip. If you did not take your class through OA you will need to provide a photocopy of your certification card. We are offering a number of classes this spring for those who need to recertify. There will be CPR Refresher Courses after spring break. See the OA TripStore for dates & times. American Heart Association taught by OA is good for 2 years. Red Cross Certification is good for one year. |
Frosh Trip Application & Health History Forms
To apply, fill out the Frosh Trip Application and Health History Form on the Web. Applications are due by Friday, April 8. If you are in the process of completing the Leader Training requirements this spring you should go ahead and submit an application to lead. Your application will be reviewed at the end of the year to confirm that you have completed all of the leader training requirements and are eligible to lead a trip.
Advance Team
We are looking for a group of leaders who can come back early on Tuesday, August 30 to work as an Advance Team on Tuesday afternoon to help in final preparations for FT 2011. This group will be responsible for such things as last minute packing and all the thousands of little things that need to be done in the final hours before the Frosh Trip starts. Advance Team starts working on Tuesday, August 30 from 11:00 AM- 4:00 PM. If you are interested in volunteering for the Advance Team, please indicate this on your application.
Are You Going to Be on Campus this Summer?
If you are going to be on campus this summer, please check this on your application form. We need help all summer long to get ready. Every week we do Thursday Pizza Night at the ER - free pizza in exchange for packing first aid kits, and fixing packs and stoves. If you are going to be in Princeton, please mark this on your Frosh Trip Application.
Early Arrival Housing Information |
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Due to summer construction projects please be aware that some dormitories MAY NOT be available for early arrival students. Check the Housing Web site for the latest information. If you draw a room in any of these locations and you are in a pre-approved early arrival group, you MAY NOT be able to access your room until September 10 You must find alternate arrangements before this date, as the Housing Department will not have temporary housing available. More dormitories may be added to this list as the summer construction schedule is revised. Please take this into account when choosing your room for next year. In most cases you will end up staying with co-leaders or friends until Frosh Trip returns on September 10. We will be working with Building Services to identify storage areas for your belongings until you can get into your room. |
Leaving Things in Storage for the Summer |
If you have items like clothing and gear that you need to get to before the Frosh Trip there will be limited Early Arrivals Storage for OA Leaders in Gauss Hall. This means 1-2 boxes only and should only be gear you need for the trip. This will be the ONLY area that you will be able to get into on September 1 when you return. Gauss Storage will be open:
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Positions for FT 2011
The Frosh Trip is a massive logistical enterprise. Ours is the largest program in the country in terms of participants and number of days. This means we need lots of qualified staff: leaders, support team staff, and Command Center managers. In order to be eligible to lead a Frosh Trip you should have completed all of the leader training requirements. If you haven’t completed everything yet but are planning to so by the end of the year, you should still submit an application. You will be considered for a leader position based on your successful completion of the Leader Training requirements and the evaluation after your Leader Training Trip.
When you apply to be part of FT 2011, you are agreeing to serve in the role and location, which you are assigned to, without complaints.
We will do our best to place you in the position that you request and will take into account your location preferences and pairing requests. In a program of this size, we can't fulfill everyone's requests and we cannot switch people around at the last minute. You will find out just what position and location you have been assigned to when you return in August. People who have not completed all of the Leader Training requirements might be assigned to be on a Support Team if that is where we need you most.
You can apply for any of the following positions:
Leaders
You need to have successfully completed all of the leader training requirements by June 12. You must also have current CPR certification for September 2011. If your certification has expired or will expire you need to re-certify your CPR before Frosh Trip.
Support Team Staff
We couldn't operate the Frosh Trip without Support Staff Teams. We pair two people together in each Team so it can be a fun job to do with a friend. You'll be stationed near the different trip areas in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, or New England. During the week your team is our field resource to groups that are on the trail. You will interact with groups on a daily basis shuttling groups back and forth between the river and trail, resupplying groups with equipment, delivering water drops, and providing transportation in special situations. It gives you a chance to interact with the groups and meet some incoming students during the trip. You are "on call" each day will be linked in by cell phone to our Communications Center here on campus. Most Support Teams will be driving a 7-passenger mini-van. Food, comfortable lodging, and all expenses are covered by OA during the week. In order to drive a van you need to have a valid US or Canadian driver's license and complete the University Van Driver Training program. This is a 30-minute Web-based instructional course and a 15-minute road test. We will send you more details about van certification after you apply.
Command Center Managers
Command Center Managers are an essential resource for making the Frosh Trip run smoothly. Managers are a small group of students that stay on campus during the trip and help supervise daily activities from our Communications Center. Managers intercept incoming calls from groups and schedule the Support Teams in the field to respond as needed for special pickups, equipment resupply, and water drops. Before and after the trips Managers supervise frosh arrival and departure, equipment and food distribution and check in at the end of the trip. You will be staying in your room on campus and will be provided with a food allowance for meals during the week.
Recruit your Roommates & Friends to be Command Center Managers & Support TeamIf you know anyone who is not a leader, but would be interested in working either as a Command Center Manager or Support Team Staff, have them apply online at Frosh Trip Applications (https://oa.princeton.edu/applications). We need lots of Support Team Staff and Command Center Managers this year and it really helps if you recruit good people. Applications are due Friday, April 8 and interviews will be held after that. |
Types of Trips
OA is offering a broad range of trips for this year’s Frosh Trip. Please rank your trip interests on the application form.
Backpacking:
Most OA trips involve backpacking. This year we will be using the same areas we have used in the past. Catskills, NY; Shenandoah National Park in Virginia; Central Pennsylvania - Black Forest, Laurel Highlands, Loyalsock; AT in Massachusetts, Pennslvania, Maryland, Connecticut, Vermont, and New Jersey.
Base Camp/Outdoor Adventure Trips:
These trips have been extremely popular we anticipate even more frosh requesting them. Groups camp out in backwoods sites at the Princeton-Blairstown Center for the week and do a different activity each day including: the high ropes course & zipline, outdoor climbing wall, rappelling, an overnight on the Appalachian Trail, and a trail maintenance service project. Leaders selected to lead a Base Camp/Outdoor Adventure trip will need to return to campus on Saturday evening, August 27 to participate in a training and orientation at Blairstown that begins at 9:00 AM on Sunday, August 28.
Sustainable Farming Trips:
These trips have been extremely popular we anticipate even more frosh requesting them. Groups camp out in backwoods sites at the Princeton-Blairstown Center for the week and do a different activity each day including: the high ropes course & zipline, outdoor climbing wall, rappelling, an overnight on the Appalachian Trail, and a trail maintenance service project. Leaders selected to lead an Sustainable Farming trip will need to return to campus on Saturday evening, August 27 to participate in a training and orientation at on the farms that begins at 9:00 AM on Sunday, August 28.
Biking Trips:
These trips have been extremely popular we anticipate even more frosh requesting them. Groups camp out in backwoods sites at the Princeton-Blairstown Center for the week and do a different activity each day including: the high ropes course & zipline, outdoor climbing wall, rappelling, an overnight on the Appalachian Trail, and a trail maintenance service project. Leaders selected to lead an Biking trip will need to return to campus on Friday evening, August 26 to participate in training that begins at 9:00 AM on Saturday, August 27.
Canoeing or Backpacking/Canoeing Trips:
There are several all canoeing trips both flatwater and whitewater. There are also some trips that involve both backpacking and canoeing. All of these are in the Delaware Water Gap. Leaders selected to lead a canoeing trip will need to return to campus on Saturday evening, August 27 to participate in a Zoar Canoeing training that begins at 9:00 AM on Sunday, August 28.. The course is free. You need to Sign for the Zoar Canoeing Course at the OA TripStore.
Backpacking/Rock Climbing Trips:
There are several backpacking and rock climbing trips in the Delaware Water Gap. Leaders selected to lead a climbing trip will need to return to campus on Saturday evening, August 28 in order to take a special 2-day Rock Climbing Training that begins at 9:00 AM on Sunday, August 29. The course is free. You need to Sign up for the PCIA Base Managed Climbing Course at the OA TripStore.
Apply OnlineHere is the special information you'll need to put in your application. Dig it up before going to the online application.          Â
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Students who are on foreign study or taking time offSometimes people who are on foreign study have difficulty logging in. You have to go through Princeton's Central Authentication Service in order to access the application page. Since there is no way for us to test this from our end to fix the problem it is important to find out if you are getting some type of error message and if so what in order to diagnose the problem or if you simply can't get to the login page. Please email Outdoor Action with detailed information about the problem you are having and any error messages. It's best to use Internet Explorer and you must have Session Cookies enabled in the browser. If you are coming in from an Internet cafe cookies may be disabled. You may be better coming in from a connection at a University or library. Rick |