Site-Based Service Trips
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. Check out a sample itinerary!
Sample Itinerary for a Service Day:
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Wake up at your campsite. Brush your teeth, get changed, and get ready for a day of service!
Eat a delicious breakfast of oatmeal or cereal. Enjoy a warm cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
Hike to your service location for the day!
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Participate in service activities such as barn chores or trail maintenance!
Learn more about the land which you are staying on through facility tours and environmental education.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch break!
Find a good spot under the shade of a tree or on a beautiful lookout to eat lunch.
Lunch might be a peanut/sunbutter and jelly pita, hummus and cheese on pita, or adult lunchables.
Play games like contact or big booty or stretch out before more service work.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Finish your service activity and then admire your hard work!
Hike back to camp.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Arrive at camp!
Play card games, do arts & crafts, and/or journal.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Starting cooking dinner! Dinner might be a FOP classic such as gado gado or backcountry samosas.
CHOW (you’ll learn what this means soon) and enjoy a long dinner with your trip.
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Clean up dinner.
Brush your teeth and change into comfy clothes.
8:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Do a processing activity inside or under the stars with your trip. “Processing” activities are facilitated conversations designed to get you thinking about the transition to college, your identity, and help your group bond.
9:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Bed time! Rest up before a day of service or hiking tomorrow.
Sample Itinerary for a Hiking Day:
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
- Wake up at your campsite. Brush your teeth, get changed, and get ready for a day of service!
- Eat a delicious breakfast of oatmeal or cereal. Enjoy a warm cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Take off hiking for the day!
- On trail, you’ll chat with your leaders and fellow FOPpers, play trail games like contact, sing trail songs like “The Princess Pat” and stop along the way for snacks, specifically GORP (a bag of pretzels, dried fruit, m&m’s and other goodies), and water breaks.
- Hike for about 3 miles before stopping for a lunch break.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
- Lunch break!
- Find a good spot under the shade of a tree or on a beautiful lookout to eat lunch.
- Lunch might be a peanut/sunbutter and jelly pita, hummus and cheese on pita, or adult lunchables.
- Play games like contact or big booty or stretch out before hitting the trail again.
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
- Finish your hike!
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Arrive at camp!
- Play card games, do arts & crafts, and/or journal.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
- Starting cooking dinner! Dinner might be a FOP classic such as gado gado or backcountry samosas.
- CHOW (you’ll learn what this means soon) and enjoy a long dinner with your trip.
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
- Clean up dinner.
- Brush your teeth and change into comfy clothes.
8:30 PM - 9:30 PM
- Do a processing activity inside or under the stars with your trip. “Processing” activities are facilitated conversations designed to get you thinking about the transition to college, your identity, and help your group bond.
9:30 PM - 10:00 PM
- Bed time! Rest up before a day of service or hiking tomorrow.