The program began with five days of “camping prep,” during which students learned to set up tents, hang tarps, stick together on practice hikes, and even go to the bathroom in the woods. OLE culminated in a five-day camping trip to Vermont, where students hiked a mountain, performed community service on a farm, kayaked, toured the University of Vermont, cooked for themselves, and had fun back at the campsite.
For most students, this was their first experience camping. All of them walked away with newfound independence and resourcefulness, as well as deeper friendships and an appreciation for nature.