ABOVE First Year Program

Students on rope course The ABOVE program is a multi-day adventure program for incoming first-year students that takes place before the start of the fall semester. All levels of experience may participate, but you must be able to swim.

ABOVE is a great way to meet new friends who love the outdoors as much as you do! Meeting other students, faculty, and staff before school starts increases your comfort and confidence.

Packing List

Registration

ABOVE 2018 runs August 14-19. View the ABOVE 2018 Handout for more information. Program participation is $250. Space in the ABOVE program is limited to 20 students. Email us at to reserve your spot.

Fill out and return the following required forms, along with your payment. to Peter Berry, Outdoor Leadership Program:

ABOVE 2018 Participant Registration
Liability Release (PDF)
Health Form (PDF)

ABOVE 2018 Activities

Camping
Fire starting
Environmental activities
Camp crafts
Canoe

Caving
Climbing
Night hike
Solo experience

Schedule of Activities 2017

Tuesday, Aug. 14

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.	Check-in at Schewel Hall
4 p.m.	Meet at Schewel Circle to depart for Hiwassee, Virginia. We’ll travel to Camp Powhatan – an optimal location for easy drives to local caves, waterways, and over 16,000 acres open for exploration

Wednesday, Aug. 15

7:30 – 8:45 a.m.	Breakfast
8:45 a.m. – 4 p.m.	Canoe Trip: Suit up! We’re spending the day paddling down the New River from Ripplemead to Pearisburg.
4 – 6 p.m.	Low Ropes Games and Initiatives
6 – 7:30 p.m.	Dinner
7:30 – 9 p.m.	Everything you wanted to know about college life

Thursday, Aug. 16

7:30 – 8:45 a.m.	Breakfast
8:45 a.m. – 4 p.m.	Caving Trip: Put on some clothes you don’t mind ruining – we’re going to explore the muddy underground world of wild caves! Make sure to bring a change of clothes for later — you’ll need it!
4 – 6 p.m.	Clean Up and Free Time
6 – 7:30 p.m.	Dinner
7:30 – 9 p.m.	Leave No Trace (LNT) Activity. Learn more about Leave No Trace outdoor ethics through discussion and activities led by OLP staff.

Friday, Aug. 17

7:30 – 8:45 a.m.	Breakfast
8:45 a.m. – noon	Rock Climbing and Rappelling: Conquer your fear of heights as we climb and rappel, getting comfortable with our techniques before taking on artificial ice climbing after lunch!
Noon – 1:30 p.m.	Lunch
1 – 5 p.m.	Ice Climbing and Bouldering: Let’s use those skills we honed during the morning to do artificial ice climbing. The holds are made of plastic, rubber, and silicone, so we don’t need to worry about melting in the middle of August. We’ll use real ice axes though, and it will truly be as close to the real thing as we can get during a Virginia summer!
5 – 6 p.m.	Early Dinner
6 p.m.	Depart for Overnight-Solo Hike: We’ll be doing an overnight backpacking trip which will include a “solo” experience. A solo is an intentional solitary experience designed to reflect on the day and the week; build yourself a shelter, write in your notebook, or just catch up on some sleep!

Saturday, Aug. 18

6 a.m.	Backpacking and Overnight Solo: Rise and shine! We’ll gather together and make our way back to camp for an awesome meal — you’ve earned it!
7 – 9 a.m.	Breakfast of Champions
9 a.m. – noon	Pack Gear and Depart for University of Lynchburg. It’s been a fantastic week! We’ll have you back to LC around noon so that you can unpack and settle back into your residence hall before Hornet Days begin!