- Harvesting produce grown by immigrant and refugee farmers as part of the New American Sustainable Agriculture Project in Lisbon
- Preparing lunch for clients at Preble Street’s soup kitchen in Portland
- Connecting with local children during a body-painting activity with ArtVan in Brunswick
- Clearing trails on Vinalhaven Island with members of Maine Coast Heritage Trust
- Harvesting potatoes with farmers of Friends of Aroostook
- Having lunch with staff members of the Immigrant Resource Center of Maine in Lewiston
- Participating in a Maine-Wabanaki REACH history workshop
- Cleaning and feeding surf clam hatcheries at the Downeast Institute
Community Immersion Orientation Trips
The Community Immersion Orientation Trips are intensive four-day experiences spent confronting social, economic, and environmental issues, while also celebrating what makes Maine communities vibrant and unique.
Overview
Community Immersion Orientation Trips, along with the Bowdoin Science Experience and orientation trips organized by the Bowdoin Outing Club, provide first-year students with an introduction to the Bowdoin community that challenges them and engages them in existing and emerging areas of interest. The experience includes daily service projects, field trips to sites of interest, discussions with staff from area non-profits, nightly reflective discussions, and social activities that support local businesses. Students build life-long friendships while fostering a commitment to service that will hopefully last their stay at Bowdoin and beyond.
Student Leadership
Many students who have taken part in the Community Immersion Orientation Trips program often go on to become Orientation Trip leaders and help first-year students begin to navigate college life and the local community. Whether it is organizing service projects, leading discussions about important community issues, modeling responsible community engagement, or making first-years feel more comfortable by leading fun ice-breakers, these leaders devote four days to making new students feel at home once they arrive at Bowdoin.