Frequently Asked Questions

Nope! We can teach you what you need to know for these trips - whether it's what to pack for overnight camping or how to cook on a campstove, or a new frame on working with community partners. We have a broad range of trips, that range from whitewater kayaking to volunteering with under-served populations to hiking to yoga. There is a trip for everybody! All we ask is that you’re willing to bring a positive attitude to your trip. If you are worried about the details of a certain trip, please contact Bella Piekarski '28 at bocOtrips@bowdoin.edu for BOC trips, and Campbell Truschuk '28 and Karen Tuyizigire '28 for McKeen Center trips at mckeenOtrips@bowdoin.edu.

We have a limited amount of sleeping bags, sleeping pads & backpacking backpacks that we lend out for trips. So, if you have your own or can borrow and item from family or friends (even if it means bringing it on a plane) we ask that you bring your own as that will allow us to outfit folks who don't have access to these pieces of equipment. 

If you need to borrow a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, or backpacking backpack, please fill out the gear request form which is sent out with your trip assignment in late July. 

The Outing Club will have long underwear tops, long underwear bottoms and wool socks for sale at the Schwartz Outdoor Leadership Center the day you arrive to campus if you need to purchase any last minute layers for your trip (financial aid is available for those who qualify).

Group equipment such as PFDs, helmets, paddles, wetsuits, waterproof bags for canoeing, etc. will be provided for your individual trips.

If you have further questions please contact Bella Piekarski '28 at bocOtrips@bowdoin.edu. 

While phones are awesome tools that help us feel connected with our important people far away, they detract from our ability to connect with folks around us. Since one of the main goals of orientation trips is to create an immersive experience where you can connect with your new classmates, we ask that phones are turned off for the duration of the trip and that trip leaders collect phones prior to departure from campus. Trip leaders will hold onto phones for the duration of the trip (and that way they don't get dropped in a lake or something like that) and return phones to participants after de-issue on August 29. Trip leaders will have their own phones easily accessible in case of emergency, and trips in more remote areas of the state without cell service will also carry Garmin inReach devices.

If you need to request an accommodation to have your phone during your orientation trip, please email accessibility@bowdoin.edu. 

If you didn't get your questions answered on this FAQ page, head to the first year experience page to find more information and videos about Orientation trips! Here is the link: First Year Experience Page.