About
Could there be a more memorable, fun, or impactful way to start college than backpacking through a remote Colorado wilderness area with a small group of future classmates? Designed specifically for incoming college students, Husker Entrada Adventure Orientation is a weeklong excursion that includes a multi-day backpacking expedition into the heart of Colorado's rugged South San Wilderness Area. Husker Entrada seeks to make the transition to university life easier by providing opportunities to form new friendships and to get connected to the university prior to arriving on campus. On Husker Entrada, participants will be introduced to mountain travel, explore issues relevant to student life, and be inspired to get the most out of their university experience. We will cap off our backpacking journey with a day of whitewater rafting on the word-famous Arkansas River. Join us for this unforgettable journey and an impactful start to your UNL college career.

Husker Entrada Adventure Orientation Trip Details
Date: August 9-16, 2009
Price: $495.00
Registration Deadline: July 11, 2009

Goals

• Learn basic backpacking and mountain travel skills in beautiful Colorado!
• Establish meaningful personal relationships with future classmates prior to arriving on campus
• Create opportunities to discuss relevant campus life issues
• Introduce UNL involvement opportunities and campus resources
• Develop self awareness through wilderness challenges and unique experiences
• Build a greater understanding and appreciation for the natural environment
• Promote lifelong wellness through healthy, active, and balanced lifestyle choices

Location
Our expedition will begin on the UNL City Campus where you will meet your trip leaders and fellow travelers. Our first couple of days will be spent making trip preparations and then traveling by university vehicles to southern Colorado. Our backpacking trip will take us deep into the heart of the remote South San Juan Wilderness Area. Located in the Rio Grande and San Juan National Forests, South San Juan Wilderness is considered by many to be the wildest corner of Colorado. Towering 13,000 foot peaks will be our backdrop as we trek through alpine meadows, visit pristine mountain lakes, navigate deep glacial valleys, and traverse windswept ridges of the Continental Divide. Each day you will enjoy clean mountain air, experience new and rewarding challenges, enjoy the company of fellow travelers, taste the satisfaction of a well earned meal, and rest peacefully under the starry Colorado night sky. We will cap off our journey with a day of whitewater rafting on the world-famous Arkansas River before returning to Lincoln, Nebraska.

Content
No prior backpacking or outdoor skills are required to participate in Husker Entrada Adventure Orientation. All participants will be instructed in backcountry living, leave-no-trace ethics, map and compass navigation and other essential outdoor skills. Students will be provided with leadership opportunities, discuss issues relevant to college life, and be introduced to UNL involvement opportunities and important campus resources. Students will be challenged daily, reflect on their experience in personal journals, learn from their diverse classmates and trip leaders, and prepare for a successful transition to life on UNL campus and beyond.

Staff
Our trip leaders are often the favorite part of our participants' trip. Our leaders are experienced, unique, educational, passionate, and fun individuals who are knowledgeable about both the outdoors and UNL. Husker Entrada leadership is provided by Outdoor Adventures, a program of UNL Campus Recreation. Trip leaders include Outdoor Adventures professional staff and trained student leaders. All trip leaders are trained in wilderness medicine and hold current Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid certification. A minimum of 2 leaders go on every Husker Entrada trip. To minimize our impact on the fragile areas in which we will be traveling, total group size is limited to no more than 10 people per trip including participants and trip leaders.

Equipment
The registration fee covers most food, round-trip transportation from UNL to Colorado, leadership and instruction, all accommodation, a day of whitewater rafting, and trip insurance. The fee also covers all activity related group and individual gear including tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, cookware, stoves, headlamps, and water bottles. Participants are expected to provide all personal clothing items such as hiking shoes, rain gear, and appropriate layers. Some meals while traveling to and from Colorado are not covered in the fee. A complete packing list will be provided upon registration.

Day 1 and 2 - Arrival and Orientation
On day 1 of Husker Entrada, students will arrive late morning at the UNL Campus Recreation Center where they will meet their trip leaders and fellow trip participants during an informal grill-out lunch. Following lunch, the group will be transported to UNL's Leadership Development Center to participate in a challenge course program designed to introduce group members, build trust, and expose the group to the teamwork and problem solving skills needed for group success during their expedition. Day 2 will begin with a focus will on pre-departure preparations. The day will start with a pre-trip briefing where we will discuss the itinerary and logistics of our expedition. Trip leaders will also teach some of the basic backpacking skills needed for the trip. Gear will be issued, packs will be packed, vehicles will be loaded and we will depart for our destination, the South San Juan Wilderness Area of southern Colorado!

Day 3 through 6 - South San Juan Wilderness Backpacking
Day 3 marks the start of our team's expedition into the backcountry. As we literally acclimatize to the altitude and change in scenery, we will discuss keys to "acclimatizing" to university life and successfully making the transition to a new environment. Our days will be spent practicing new backcountry skills, developing self reliance, discovering leadership abilities, and discussing a variety of interesting topics related to college life. We will travel through alpine meadows, navigate deep glacial valleys, traverse windswept ridges, and enjoy the solitude of the wilderness and the companionship of our fellow travelers. Each day we will hike through breathtaking scenery, enjoy savory backcountry meals, and enjoy the freedom of the hills. We will hike out of the wilderness on our 6th day revitalized and better prepared for college at UNL.

Day 7 and 8 - Whitewater Rafting and Commencement
On day 7, our group will head north for an incomparable whitewater rafting trip on the world-famous Arkansas River. On day 8, we will return to UNL Campus with new ideas, new friends, new skills, and ready to be a Husker!

Registering for Husker Entrada is simple. Just follow the steps outlined below and get excited for a trip of a lifetime! Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and space is limited. Register today to ensure your spot!

Husker Entrada Adventure Orientation Trip Details
Date: August 9-16, 2009
Price: $495.00
Registration Deadline:July 11, 2009

1. Download and Complete the Husker Entrada Registration Form.
2. Submit the Registration Form and payment via mail to:
   Husker Entrada - Jason Bakewell
   55 Campus Recreation Center, PO Box 880232
   Lincoln, NE 68588-0232
3. Once we receive your Registration Form, we will email you a Husker Entrada Adventure Orientation Information Packet to confirm your registration. If the trip is full, your payment will be refunded and you will be placed on a waiting list.

We would be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding Husker Entrada Adventure Orientation. Please consult our Frequently Asked Questions page for the answers to common inquiries. Further questions may be directed to Jason Bakewell, Coordinator for Outdoor Adventures at jbakewell2@unl.edu or 402.472.1853.