Sometime between sea kayaking and Pilates classes, college-long friendships can form.
The Tufts Orientation for Physical and Personal Development (FIT) and Tufts Wilderness Orientation (TWO) programs offer members of the Class of 2009 a chance to bond through exercise before tackling the challenges of college.
The FIT program, offered jointly through the physical education and athletics departments since 2002, introduces incoming freshman to Tufts' fitness and wellness opportunities. The four day program includes sailing, yoga, hiking, rock climbing, sea kayaking and Pilates.
"FIT is a great pre-orientation program because many freshmen are worried about meeting people and maintaining a healthy lifestyle," senior FIT peer leader Seth LaPierre said. "We show them that you can eat at the dining halls but still be healthy and in shape by using the amazing facilities and services Tufts has to offer."
Participants received advice from experts on college nutrition, stress management, exercise and fitness options during the school year.
"We have a great nutrition school and some wonderful wellness resources at Tufts," FIT program director Branwen Smith-King said. "[I wanted] to provide opportunities for freshmen to learn about some of their non-academic options and have a lot of fun so once classes started they felt more comfortable."
FIT aims to attract incoming students from all backgrounds and fitness levels.
"We want the program to be for anybody," Smith-King said. "Maybe you didn't play sports in high school; maybe you did. We want a broad spectrum of students."
This year's class included 116 students from 21 states, Canada and Switzerland.
Tufts' Wilderness Orientation is a more established pre-orientation program, having just completed its 19th year. Two hundred freshmen went on the 25 trips offered this year, spending five days and four nights in the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire.
Two of the trips were canoeing, and two others were "hybrids" combining hiking and canoeing. One trail maintenance trip was available for freshmen with more outdoor experience. The rest were basic hiking excursions.
"We try to offer the freshmen a chance to get out in nature and interact," program co-coordinator Adina Allen said. "[TWO] gives them an experience where the boundaries are broken down. Hiking gives the freshmen a chance to bond with each other as well as physically and mentally challenge themselves."
No previous wilderness experience is required to participate.
"I had never been backpacking before TWO," Allen said. "Now I have gone out West on several three week trips."
Allen and fellow co-coordinator Chris Valente started an alumni fund to help freshmen in need purchase gear and other wilderness necessities. The student-run organization (with the help of faculty sponsor George Ellmore) plans to develop an alumni fund to make TWO an even more inclusive event.
Wilderness participants bond through full-day hikes, shared meals around campfires, and sleeping in tents. A streaking tradition also helps freshmen to become comfortable with one another.
"The best part of wilderness was having a solid base of friends going into the orientation process," senior TWO member Erin Gregory said. "Once you get naked with people, you're pretty much bonded for life."
"A lot of these trips have friendships that carry on," Allen said, "if not all the way through college, at least through the first semester when the freshmen are getting adjusted."
