For First-Years

Our site-based trips stay primarily in one location for the duration of the trip as opposed to traveling to a new location each day. FOPpers will stay at a fixed camp at a designated campground or indoor facility. The sites have a range of amenities- running water, bathrooms, a kitchen, and/or showers MAY or MAY NOT be present. 

FOPpers will engage in a variety of activities such as day hikes, playing games with their trip, and taking in the natural beauty of their campsite to fully explore one area while also spending time building connections with each other and reflecting about the transition to college. 

Previous site-based trips have included Dolly Copp Campground, Hummingbird Center and AMC Cardigan Campsites. 

Our site-based service trips stay primarily in one location for the duration of the trip as opposed to traveling to a new location each day. FOPpers will stay at a fixed camp at a designated campground or indoor facility. The sites have a range of amenities- running water, bathrooms, a kitchen, and/or showers MAY or MAY NOT be present. 

FOPpers will spend 3 days doing service projects such as building and maintaining trails, barn chores, or learning about sustainable practices. On the other 3 days, FOPpers can expect to go on day hikes, play games with their trip, take in the natural beauty of their campsite, or go on other adventures to nearby destinations. By engaging in service work, FOPpers contribute positively to their environment while building connections with each other and reflecting about the transition to college. Previous site-based service trips have included Merck Forest & Farmland Center and Farm & Wilderness. 

Our wilderness backpacking trips involve 6 days of hiking throughout the native northeast such as on New Hampshire’s Monadnock Sunapee Greenway, Vermont’s Long Trail, and the Appalachian Trail. FOPpers will carry all necessary gear and supplies in a pack while hiking through various terrains and wilderness areas. Typically, this trip involves setting up a new campsite each day, with the exception of a few lay-over days- which is when backpacking trips remain at the same site for an additional night and do day-hikes or other activities. There are 3 types of wilderness trips with varying degrees of difficulty. 

Trip Difficulty: 

We offer trips of varying levels of physical challenge so that we can provide fun and challenging experiences for anyone. When you fill out your preferences for trip type, you will be asked to rank your preferences about what your ideal FOP trip would look like. Think about if these statements apply to you, and on the application you can rank how much you identify with each statement: 

• I would rather spend most of my day hiking than doing group activities at a campsite.
• Physical challenge and accomplishment helps me grow and bond with others.
• I am physically active every day. 
• On an ideal trip, I would be hiking about 7-9 hours per day. 
• On an ideal trip, I would be hiking about 4-6 hours per day. 
• On an ideal trip, I would be hiking about 1-3 hours per day.

There are many ways to have a fun, challenging, and productive FOP experience. Challenge can mean different things for different people. Also, remember that any one trip probably combines more difficult and less difficult parts and this number is simply a guideline for when we are considering where to place you. 

Our wilderness service trips are a combination of 3-4 days of hiking throughout the native northeast either on New Hampshire’s Monadnock Sunapee Greenway, Vermont’s Long Trail, and the Appalachian Trail, and about 2-3 days of service projects such as helping to maintain trails or building privies and trail signs. Similar to wilderness backpacking trips, FOPpers will carry gear and supplies and set up at different campsites each day when backpacking. For service days, FOPpers will return to the same campsite. Wilderness service trips are as difficult as a 6-8 hour backpacking trip due to the physical demands of the service projects. 

Previous wilderness service trips have included transporting lumber for a privy at Winturri Shelter. 

Our switch trips are a combination of 3 days of hiking throughout the native northeast either on New Hampshire’s Monadnock Sunapee Greenway, Vermont’s Long Trail, and the Appalachian Trail, and 3 days of traveling on canoes and setting up campsites along the water’s edge for overnight stays. Midway through, FOPpers will “switch” to continue along their route. FOPpers will carry gear and supplies and set up at different campsites each day. Switch trips are as difficult as a 4-6 hour backpacking trip and FOPpers are required to complete a swim test after arriving on campus. 

Previous switch trips have included canoeing on Squam Lake and Lake Francis Lake with hiking on the Appalachian Trail. 

Not Offered Fall 2026

Our identity trips function similarly to our other trip types, but are designed for FOPpers to share and engage with others who share similar backgrounds, while exploring the native northeast through wilderness backpacking, wilderness service, site-based, site-based service, and switch itineraries. FOP offers a range of identity trips. FOPpers will be asked on when they register if they are interested in going on an identity trip. In 2024, FOP ran a API Wilderness Backpacking Trip and a Women/Female-Identifying Wilderness Backpacking Trip.