Why should I go on one of these trips? Because they are the best part of coming to college and possibly even your life! You will start off your college experience already knowing several other students who have been in the trenches with you. You also get a t-shirt exclusive to trip participants, you get to see some of the best nature views anywhere, and you can feel good knowing you pushed yourself and achieved something.
When will I receive my packing list? You will receive a packing list when your trip assignment is confirmed in early August.
I’ve never gone camping before can I still go? Yes! Everyone is welcome 🙂 We have options for those of you who want to try new things or just take an easy week as your introduction to Clarkson. Please read the trip descriptions and look at the maps to see which trip is right for you!
The packing list says 2 one-liter bottles. Do we only get 2 liters of water for 4 days? No. All trips carry a water filter or chemical purification and each participant should be drinking at least 2 liters per day. You should NEVER drink water from a stream or pond without filtering or chemically treating it.
How difficult are “difficult” trips? Trip difficulty is determined based upon trip distance per day, elevation change, trail conditions, and geographic features to be overcome. In general “difficult” trips are the hardest trips available that year. In years past these have included hiking trips summitting 6 – 11 high peaks and canoeing trips of 70 miles including 8 miles of portaging, but these are extremes. Although this may seem hard, every trip can be completed by any moderately in-shape person, however you may have to push yourself at times. Please review your trip description and difficulty description carefully before signing up.
Are we really going to be sleeping outside every day? YES. All trips are a primitive wilderness experience taking place entirely in the woods. All participants will be sleeping in tents or lean-tos every night and carrying everything they will use for the trips.
What is the big deal over cotton/jeans? Do I really need fleece or wool? In the wilderness, cotton kills. While your thick cotton hooded sweatshirt may be nice at home, if or when it gets wet it will actually make you colder than if you were not wearing it at all. Also if or when it gets wet, cotton takes days to dry. If you wear jeans and you get them wet the first day you will be wet for the remainder of the trip. Fleece is also lighter than cotton so you will not have to carry as much weight which is always good.
Hiking socks? Those are like $15 a pair, I don’t need those. Wool blend hiking socks will give you about 5 more miles per day of hiking before blisters set in than cotton socks. Yes, you do need them. If you don’t like wool or can’t wear them due to an allergy, you can wear a nylon sock or a fleece sock. Just make sure it’s thick and will dry.
That registration fee is a lot to spend for four days in the woods, isn’t it? It may seem like it but in addition to food, transportation, good times, and a sweet t-shirt, you get trip leaders certified in Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder. As well as students who have taken an exclusive leadership training with NOLS. We require all of our trip leaders to have this training that we provide, which ensures your safety. Additionally, if you decide to stay with CUOC you can become an awesome trip leader and get this free training, too. So, think of it as an investment.
I need to borrow gear. How does that work? All you need to do is fill out the Google Form that will be sent to you in August before you arrive to campus. We will make sure you have everything you need for the trip! You must fill out that form.
The gear list says certain items can be acquired from CUOC, do I have to pay for these? No. All CUOC gear is rented for free to students on the trips.
Will the trips return to Clarkson in time for me to go to the required Orientation events? You will return in time for all Orientation events.
What if it rains? All trips take place rain or shine and you should be prepared for both. Precautions will be taken in the event of dangerous weather such as thunderstorms.
I have a medical condition that may require me to leave the trip. Will this work out? The Outing Club will make every reasonable effort to accommodate any medical condition. Also, having a medical condition will not prevent you from going on a specific trip. Some trips, due to geographic location, will not be able to perform an evacuation to civilization in less than 24 hours, however, If you feel that this may happen to you we can work with you to find a trip you will enjoy where a quick evacuation is more possible. Please be honest about your accommodations on your sign-up form, and feel free to email OAS@clarkson.edu to request any accommodations.
I would like to leave the trip early for a ROTC or sports team try-out. Can I arrange it, so I can leave early? ABSOLUTELY NOT. We go on buses, and come back on buses together. When you’re in the woods, you’re under our care. Only those with medical emergencies may leave early.
What if I have to use the bathroom while we are in the woods? Honestly, not a single person actually asked me this but 99% of people think it. The fact is the trips are four days so you’ll have to go at some point. You do NOT want to hold it for that long or else you will have an unpleasant first week of school. It may be cliché but every tree is a bathroom in the woods, and that goes for all genders. If that doesn’t work for you, every lean-to site has an outhouse nearby so you have no reason to not go.
Should I be scared of bears? Bears couldn’t care less that you are in the woods and if they do it is only because they want your food, which we store in bear proof containers because we also want our food. You will probably not even see a bear and are statistically more likely to be killed by a tree than a bear.
I’m an Honors or Clarkson School student. Can I go on the CUOC trips? The Honors and Clarkson School orientation trips conflicts with our trips. You will not be able to attend our trips, but you will be attending other fun trips/activities with your Honors or TCS cohort.
I’m a transfer student. Can I go on the CUOC trips? We have a special day-trip planned just for transfer students. While you can’t sign-up for the camping trips, we hope you will join us on the day-trip and at many future CUOC trips (we have one almost every weekend!).
I’m an international or exchange student. Can I go on the CUOC trips? Yes!
Can I go fishing on CUOC trips? You can, if time permits, but you can’t keep the fish and you need to have a valid NY State fishing license.
I want to join a sports team, but I don’t know when try-outs are? Can I go on CUOC trips? You will have to check with your coach. If try-outs don’t interfere, then you can join us. If they do interfere, you will have to talk with your coach.
I have a question that isn’t on this list! Email me at risenqe@clarkson.edu!