Project Peak:
A First Year Seminar with
an Adventure Twist
Susanna Adams
Elizabeth Bernard
The Freshman Center
Student Academic Affairs
George Mason University
Project Peak: An
Overview
► How
does Project Peak fit into The
Freshman Center’s programs?
► Who is involved? How are they trained?
► How does the agenda look?
► Nuts and bolts
► Bringing it into the classroom…
► Future plans?
What is University 100?
►
►
►
1 credit (elective)
Under Provost’s office
Brief history?
 The Freshman Center &
Student Academic Affairs
 When was Project Peak
added?
►
Other sections




LLC
Athletes
Scholars
Undeclared
2005 © photo by Will Ramos
Project Peak Staff
► The
Freshman
Center Staff
 PP Coordinator
► Faculty
(1/class)
► Peer Advisors
(1/class)
► Trip Leaders
(1/class)
2005 © photo by Will Ramos
Project Peak Staff
► Faculty
 Mostly Student Affairs staff
 Masters or equivalent
 Mostly Mason affiliated
► Peer
Advisors
 Mostly upperclassmen
 Responsibilities include
►5
hours/week
► Teaching, meeting
with Faculty, Staff and other Peer
2005 © photo by Will Ramos
Advisors as well as creating programming
for Freshman Students
TFC Staff Selection
Faculty
Selection
► Individual
interview
► Applications
PA Selection
► Info
sessions
► Applications
► Group interview
► Individual
interviews
► Recommendations
Training
Peer Advisor training class
► Faculty training
► 1 day Trip Leader training
►
 Petty cash, locations, tents,
food, emergency procedures
►
2 day Project Peak Retreat
(for all staff)
 Discuss roles, outcomes,
logistics, tone for the week
►
Requires some
certifications/valid driver’s
license
2005 © photo by Will Ramos
The Trip
► Agenda
►5
Pillars
► Outfitters
► Transportation
► Sample budget
► Meal
planning/food
shopping
► Risk
management
► Marketing
► Hemlock
Overlook
Agenda
►
Sunday






►
Arrive at 12 noon and check-in and move into dorms.
Trip introduction
Travel to Hemlock Overlook for the Team Development Course
Get settled into cabins to Hemlock Overlook
Dinner
Community Contact, Menu Planning, Campfire, games,
and stories
Monday
 Breakfast
 On the wall! – rock climbing at Carderock ( MD)
 Set-up camp in the Rocky Gap State Park
 Dinner
 Campfire,5 pillars, Community Notes.
Agenda
►
Tuesday






►
Breakfast
Drive to kayaking location (Harper’s Ferry, WV)
On the water! – kayaking on the Potomac River
Return to camp
Dinner
Campfire,5 pillars, Community Notes
Wednesday
 Breakfast
 Drive to Rafting location (Ohiopyle, PA)
 On the water! – whitewater rafting on the Youghiogheny
River
 Campfire, 5 pillars, Community Notes
Agenda
►
Thursday
 Breakfast
 On the trail! - hiking and swimming at Rocky Gap State
Park
 Return to camp
 Dinner
 Campfire, 5 Pillars, Community Notes
►
Friday




Breakfast and break camp
Clean and store equipment
Wrap up!
Return to campus by 3 pm
Five Pillars
 A trust building activity that helps
create a community.
► It is a time for each person to
reflect and share five core things
that have shaped them into who
they are today.
►They should consist of a
combination of the people, events,
and experiences students have
had that make them who they are.
►All information disclosed is
completely confidential.
Outfitters
► Wilderness
Voyageurs
Ohiopyle, PA
 Whitewater rafting the
Lower Youghiogheny
river
► River
and Trail
Harpers Ferry, WV
 Provides kayaking
instruction and trips
for novices
2005 © photo by Will Ramos
Transportation
► Vans




rented from the university
Cost per day/miles driven
Gas cards
Driver training
Mini and maxi vans
Sample Budget
► Cost
of trip and scholarships
► $410/per student
► Self sufficient program
► Capital equipment
 Tents, stoves, lanterns etc.
Sample 2008 budget
(estimated)
Registration Payment ($410/student for 51 students, with ½
scholarship)
Staff (3 trip leaders, 3 instructors, 3 PAs)
$20,705
$3,900
Training
$300
Equipment and Supplies
$200
Food and Supplies for week x 3 groups
$1,800
Hemlock Overlook (lodging, TDC course, use of lodge)
$1,803.50
Kayaking ($55.58/person/62 people)
$3,445.96
Whitewater rafting ($38person/61 people)
$2,318
Rock-climbing (Instructor and Assistant Instructor x 3 days)
$1,200
Transportation (van rental, mileage, gas)
$5,250
Campsite fees x 3 sites
$190
PATC Annual membership
$35
T-shirt Printing (72 shirts @6.35 a piece)
N/A
TOTAL
Profit
20442.46
$262.54
Meal Planning/Food Shopping
► Students
plan meals and learn
budgeting concepts




$7 for food for the day
Cooking for 20 individuals
Buy food for the week
Coolers, food safety
Marketing
► Registration
► Advertising




Brochures
Webpage
Mailings
Orientation
presentation
s
2005 © photo by Will Ramos
Risk Management
► University
risk
management
► Hemlock Overlook
► Outfitters



River and Trail
Wilderness Voyageurs
R.E.I.
► Medical
2005 © photo by Will Ramos
forms
forms/Liability
Hemlock Overlook
► Joint
relationship with George
Mason University
► Other activities (Team
development Course, Total
Team Challenge ™ ,
Earthquest)
► Staff
► Costs
Classroom
► Incorporating
classroom
PP into the
 Expectations/classroom etiquette
 Tie topics back into trip
► Budgeting
► Time
management
► Communication
► Teamwork
► FUN!
► Textbook
► Tone
Feedback
► Student
surveys
► GPA of University 100 in general
2005 © photo by Will Ramos
Future Plans…
► Expand
number of sections
► Offer more scholarships
► Larger scale national and international trips
► On campus element (low and high ropes)
What questions do you have?
2005 © photo by Will Ramos