The Eagle Adventure (TEA):
A Unique Approach to First-Year
Adjustment and Retention
Dr. Brent Wolfe, Assistant Professor
Dr. Kristi Motter, Association VP for Financial Aid
Ms. Wynde Fitts, Director of the First-Year Experience
The University of Southern Mississippi
Overview
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Adventure orientation programs
TEA goals
Methods for goal attainment
Outcomes
TEA Description
 Administrative
– Office of the First-Year Experience
– Office of Financial Aid
– Academic component
TEA Description
 Programmatic
– Ropes course
– Canoeing
– Camping
– Solo
– 4-mile run
TEA Goals
 Facilitate adjustment to University life
 Encourage emotional, social, and personal
development
 Facilitate development of positive attitudes
toward Southern Miss
 Increase awareness of local and regional
recreational activities
 Provide opportunity for student leadership
Methods for Goal Attainment
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Group discussions
Journaling
Natural consequences
Constant comparisons
Trip experiences
Lessons from the Velveteen Rabbit
 “Last night I learned the significance of the
Velveteen Rabbit. We are all real to our
parents because they love us. Everything
that makes us, us, comes from them. Going
to college is like becoming real because we
get to become individuals. We won’t be
molds of our parents any more…
Lessons from the Velveteen Rabbit
 “We get to develop new traits that will form
us into adults. Our true friends will love us
for who we are no matter what, and only
people who don’t understand us will think
we are strange. I’m excited about going
through the REAL process. It takes your
whole life and it isn’t always fun. It’s difficult
because of the things we all have to learn
and endure before we can be considered
our own people—real people…
Lessons from the Velveteen Rabbit
 “The process involves deciding about your
morals and ethics, what religion you want to
be, what you want out of life and from your
life partner. The road to becoming real is
bumpy but it is also the ride of your life. It’s
also too short to not stop and admire the
sights every once in awhile. So live every
minute like it’s your last. Make choices and
learn from their consequences…
Lessons from the Velveteen Rabbit
 “Don’t judge others simply because they are
different from you. Remembering that the
only reason they seem odd is because you
are too blind to understand their “realness.”
Have an open mind but also concrete ethics.
Know thyself. Don’t let anyone change that
or lure you into a life that contradicts your
morals or who you are. Only by being true to
yourself and discovering who you are can
you ever become truly REAL.”
Lessons from the Velveteen Rabbit
 “In addition to overcoming my physical
fears, I had to overcome social ones. I am
usually so worried about everyone liking me
that I forget to just be myself and “become
real” like the Velveteen Rabbit. This trip has
taught me that it is more important to have a
few people love the real me than to have
everyone love the “stuffed” me.”
Adjustment to University Life
Student Comments—Adjustment to
University Life
 The stuff we’ve been doing has helped us in
other ways that we can apply to college: for
one thing we’re very independent while
we’re out here. Very similarly to life away
from home. We’re free to choose to do the
right thing and are faced with natural
consequences rather than lectures for bad
judgment calls.”
Student Comments—Adjustment to
University Life
 “I really think that by not giving up on these
tasks has helped me build up determination
for not giving up in school. These are some
of the hardest days I have had so if I can
accomplish this, I can do anything…I am
committed and I have the heart to do the
job.”
Student Comments—Adjustment to
University Life
 “I am quite surprised at how educational this
trip was. I have learned so much that even
words can’t describe. Living with all these
people has definitely prepared me for the
dorms.”
Preparation for Southern Miss
Emotional, Social, & Personal
Development
Student Comments—Emotional
Development
 “Sure the pole was a little unstable, but so is
life at times. Sometimes we just have to look
back and see what we put into something in
order to make that final leap toward our
goals.”
Student Comments—Emotional
Development
 “The storm last night taught us a few things
too. Even when stuff goes wrong and you
know it will, the storms will pass and you can
overcome them. Just like life away from
home. Sometimes we’ll be scared, homesick
and feel like just giving up and moving back in
with mom and dad. What we have to realize is
that bad things, even unexpected things,
happen for a reason.”
Student Comments—Emotional
Development
 “Managing through that storm can be
related to college in this way: just like
difficulties, the storm came to pass. And
it shows by our continuance on this
adventure that it takes more than an
obstacle to keep strong-willed,
independent, young adults from finishing
what they start and working til the end to
achieve their goal of success.”
Student Comments—Emotional
Development
 “I am stronger now than I was before. More
seasoned and experienced. I can take on
the world. I feel wonderful knowing that I
have conquered The Eagle Adventure, and I
welcome any new task that is set before me.
I am strong enough.”
Student Comments—Emotional
Development
 “We didn’t finish it [dangle duo], but I’m glad
we tried. I don’t feel like we failed, only that
we set a goal and accomplished it, even if
that goal was different from the rest of the
groups.”
Student Comments—Emotional
Development
 “I accomplished my most desired goal today—my
self-confidence problem. We had to do a number
of activities today (all having to do with weight) and
at first I was very nervous but by the end of the
activities I feel totally comfortable with myself. I
think this is the best I’ve ever felt. I don’t feel like
an outcast at all and that’s really cool too. I am
very happy here and I can’t wait til tomorrow.”
Participant’s Comments—Social
Development
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Day 1—Perseverance
Day 2—Endurance
Day 3—Efficient
Day 4—Tolerance
Day 5—Eclectic
Student Comments—Social
Development
 “I am learning so much about people that
cannot be taught in a classroom.”
Student Comments—Social
Development
 “It just felt so good to work together as a
team and conquer the impossible.”
Social Development
Made New Friends
Taught to Interact with Others
Student Comments—Personal
Development
 “This whole experience is outside of my
comfort zone, but I really want to expand my
boundaries and grow as a person.”
Student Comments—Personal
Development
 “I plan on taking all these lessons with me
and refining them, even adding to them with
my college experience. I hope that when I
graduate I will be the woman I want to be.
The Eagle Adventure has greatly improved
my chances of achieving this goal.”
Student Comments—Personal
Development
 “Today I discovered that the river can represent
your life. In places it was easy to paddle and move
downstream equaling the easy parts in your life.
But there are also calm spots or even back
currents where it seems almost impossible to
move forward—sometimes even getting turned
around and doing circles. These moments
represent the struggles in your life. You have to
remember that by pushing on you prepare yourself
to enjoy the other parts of your life.”
Student Comments—Personal
Development
 “I am standing up for myself better since
TEA.”
Personal Development
Taught About Myself
Beneficial to Me
Positive Attitudes Toward Southern
Miss
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Selection of student leaders
Discussion of traditions
Cheers
Campus activities
Campus organizations
Student Comments—Positive
Attitudes toward Southern Miss
 “Today has been awesome!! Canoeing was
110% better. Having fun with my future
classmates really inspires school spirit.
Dusty and I did Southern Miss cheers while
floating down stream today and everyone
joined in. It was great! We also now have
plans to attend the 1st football game
together.”
Student Comments—Positive
Attitudes toward Southern Miss
 “We had fun on the river singing, joking, and
practicing our USM cheers.”
Attitudes Towards Southern Miss
Student Comments—Future
 “We humans tend to let things like opinion
and ridicule rule what we do. If I have any
wish for the friends I have made here, it is
for them to find who and what they are and
not let matters of opinion and ridicule steer
them into something they have not chosen
for themselves.”
Student Comments—Overall
 “Would I do this trip again? Probably not,
but I would definitely recommend it to some
friends.”
Student Comments—Overall
 “Although I thought I would hate it, it has
been one of the best experiences of my
life.”
Student Comments—Overall
 “TEA changed my life.”