Phone (304) 293-5221 – AdventureWV@mail.wvu.edu – adventurewv.wvu.edu 2001 Rec Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506-6018

IMPORTANT FYT RESOURCES - MOUNTAINEER QUEST

When What Check It Off!

Immediately after registering online

Visit https://adventurefirstyear.wvu.edu/registeredstudents to download the “Required Registration Forms” for your specific trip model. You must complete and submit the forms within 14 days of registering online and signing the billing agreement. If you do not submit the “Required Registration Forms” within 14 days, you will be automatically removed from the trip and will still be responsible for the $95 processing/commitment fee. *AWVFYT will email you at your MIX email address to let you know once we’ve received your forms!

After your registration is confirmed

Visit https://adventurefirstyear.wvu.edu/registeredstudents to access and review the “Important FYT Resources” for your specific trip. This is all very important information! Especially note your program check-in and departure times/places on the Itinerary Page of this packet. There are also links for travel & lodging (including directions), billing & cancellation, FAQs, and a glossary of terms. If you need lodging on-campus before your trip, reserve ASAP. Lodging information can be found at https://housing.wvu.edu/conference/housing

Upon registration Be sure you have your MIX email account set up and that you regularly check this account – all correspondence from AWVFYT will be sent there!

May 2019 You’ll receive an email from AWVFYT reminding you of your program start/end times and places and other important details about your trip.

June 2019 While attending NSO, work with your advisor to register for WVUe 188 (the 1 credit option associated with your FYT). Note that details about the course registration will be emailed to you in advance.

Prepping for your trip

Review all packing list found in the “Important FYT Resources” and gather all the clothes and equipment you’ll need for your trip. Be sure to note which equipment AWVFYT provides.

2 weeks prior to your trip

You’ll receive another email with reminder details for your trip, including parking instructions if you are driving yourself. You may also receive a call from an AWV Staff to discuss any questions or clarifications about your medical or dietary information listed on the Participant Information Form.

Arriving for your trip

Show up on-time to your check-in location and have a great time on your trip! * If you need to cancel for any reason, you MUST do so via the official cancellation process, which isoutlined at https://adventurefirstyear.wvu.edu/registeredstudents/billing

During your trip Adventure WV will post a short update from your trip on the AWV Facebook page. Should any medical or other concerns arise during the trip, an AWV staff member will be in touch with your emergency contact(s) provided on the Participant Information Form. *AWVFYT is a cell-phone free experience. Staff carry cell phones and/or satellite phones in the “off”position to be used in emergencies only. *During your trip, Adventure WV has a designated “On-CallCoordinator” who is available 24/7 to respond to program emergencies. If your parent/guardian must be in touch with you during your trip, they may call this person at 304-290-3734. This number is onlyto be used for emergencies.

Directly following your trip

Your parent/guardian will receive an invitation to complete a survey (students will complete a program evaluation while on the trip) Any additional information will continue to be communicated through your MIX email.

Early July 2019 Charges will be posted to student accounts in early July. Charges are due by August 1. *Students who receive the Pell Grant will receive the $95 charge to their account but will be credited$95 following full participation in the trip; this credit will be applied to the student account prior tothe end of August.* For questions about AWV charges, contact AWV. For questions on how to pay,contact the Office of Student Accounts: studentaccounts.wvu.edu/contact-us

* Look for emails from adventurewv@mail.wvu.edu, kelly.keifer@mail.wvu.edu, or other @mail.wvu.edu addresses

ADVENTURE WV FIRST-YEAR TRIPS Registration & Communication Checklist – Summer 2019

IMPORTANT FYT RESOURCES – MOUNTAINEER QUEST

Phone (304) 293-5221 – AdventureWV@mail.wvu.edu – adventurewv.wvu.edu 2001 Rec Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506-6018

*ITINERARY MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE*

You will receive an email through your MIX account approximately 2 weeks before your trip begins

with confirmed program start and end times, and other important details.

Day One —Arrival, Get-to-know-you activities and initiatives, & Day Hike

• 11:00am: Program Start – Camp Muffly (for non-EMI Quest A, B, & C models)o EMI trips only: EMI trips have modified trip days (Tuesday through Saturday) and modified start times:

1:00pm, with no lunch provided. Students will have the option of meeting at Camp Muffly or taking abus from the Student Rec Center for EMI trips only. An email will be sent with more information.

• We’ll be meeting at Camp Muffly. Drive into the parking lot and look for the Adventure WV signs. Please eatbreakfast before arriving! The first meal Adventure WV will provide is lunch.

• Welcome, Equipment Check, Introductions, Games, & Review Expectations for the Trip

• Lunch

• Day hike at Coopers Rock State Forest: www.coopersrockstateforest.com

• Stay overnight at Camp Muffly

Day Two or Three - Service Projects & Rock Climbing

(Day Two itinerary for Quest A & B, Day Three itinerary for Quest C & D)

• Participate in service work with Friends of the Cheat organization: www.cheat.org

• Try out Rock Climbing with your group and AWV staff and leaders at Coopers Rock State Forest

• Time permitting: Explore Coopers Rock State Forest

• Hang out and stay overnight at Camp Muffly

Day Three or Two - A Day at the Outdoor Education Center with Low and High Challenge Course Elements

(Day Three itinerary for Quest A & B, Day Two itinerary for Quest C & D)

• Challenge yourself on the low elements of Adventure WV’s Outdoor Education Center:https://adventurechallenge.wvu.edu/our-facilities/challenge-course

• Reach new heights with your group on Adventure WV’s high challenge course elements:

• Hang out and stay overnight at Camp Muffly

Day Four- A Day in Ohiopyle, PA and Rafting on the Lower Youghiogheny River! (for all Quest models - A, B, C, & D)

• Head to the whitewater destination of Ohiopyle, PA for a whitewater raft on the Youghiogheny River (Pleasebring $10-$15 for guide gratuity)

• Time permitting: Participate in a fun and challenging hike in the Laurel Highlands, at your choice of difficulty

• Hang out and stay overnight at Camp Mufflyo Engineering Trip only (Quest 3C): Engineering trips will travel to the New River Gorge for day four

instead of Ohiopyle. These trips will whitewater raft the Lower New River and experience the BridgeWalk.

Day Five —Final Day

• Final closing ceremony and activities

• Estimated end of program 11:00am (for non-EMI Quest A, B, & C models) at Camp Muffly

o EMI trips only: EMI Students will be dropped off at either the Evansdale or Downtown campus directly at

the end of the program. Estimated program end time for EMI trips is 10:30am.

*Please note that Mountaineer Quest (Statler/Engineering) will have a different itinerary, which includes

whitewater rafting on the Lower New River and completing the Bridge Walk*

ADVENTURE WV FIRST-YEAR TRIPS

Sample Itinerary – Mountaineer Quest

IMPORTANT FYT RESOURCES – MOUNTAINEER QUEST

Phone (304) 293-5221 – AdventureWV@mail.wvu.edu – adventurewv.wvu.edu 2001 Rec Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506-6018

Please visit adventurefirstyear.wvu.edu/registeredstudents for more equipment information. There you will find information on the best types of gear, why we require certain items, and details about equipment such as boots, fabrics, and raingear.

➢ BRING WARMER CLOTHING: It will be colder than you expect and you’ll end up dressing in layers! The weather in

our area can vary greatly and be chillier than expected, even in the summer.

➢ AVOID COTTON: Avoid cotton clothing as much as possible. Cotton does not keep you warm once it gets wet, which

is a big deal when you’re in the outdoors. Please bring SYNTHETIC (polyester, fleece, wool, nylon, etc.) as much as is

possible. Visit our registered students website (address above) for more specifics on this.

➢ CONSIDER BUYING USED OR BORROWING: When beginning to prepare for your trip, consider that not everything

needs to be purchased new, nor do things have to have the latest and greatest brand names. Use what you have,

borrow from a friend or family member, or visit a local thrift store or discount store!

➢ Please be thorough but economical in your packing. Try to pack all or most of your things in a large duffel bag and

a handy “day pack” - you will be staying in rustic cabins for the entire program.

FEET 1 pair of sturdy sneakers or boots- for day hiking and service work

1 pair of closed-toe shoes- for wearing around camp during down-time *Note: Students will be required to wear closed-toe shoes for the majority of the program (except the water activities!)

1 pair of athletic sandals WITH A BACKSTRAP, water shoes, or old sneakers- for wearing during water activities

Socks- multiple pairs

HEAD Sunglasses (optional)

Brimmed hat for sun protection (optional)

Warm synthetic hat for chilly mornings/evenings

UPPER BODY 3-4 T-shirts and/or tank-tops. At least 1 should be synthetic. (bring WVU shirts if you have them!)

2-3 long-sleeved shirts for warmth and sun protection.

Warm long-sleeved synthetic fleece, jacket, or sweater

Waterproof/Water resistant rain jacket (see online for details)

LOWER BODY Underwear and sports bras, as needed.

2-3 pairs athletic shorts

Compression shorts/spandex shorts (for use with a harness) (optional)

1-2 pairs long pants- ideally loose-fitting, comfortable for service work, hiking, etc.

1 pair of long tights/spandex/long underwear (optional but recommended)

Bathing Suit (or use athletic shorts/sports bra)

(continued on the next page)

ADVENTURE WV FIRST-YEAR TRIPS

Packing List- Mountaineer Quest

IMPORTANT FYT RESOURCES – MOUNTAINEER QUEST

Phone (304) 293-5221 – AdventureWV@mail.wvu.edu – adventurewv.wvu.edu 2001 Rec Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506-6018

HYGIENE Lip Balm (preferably with SPF)

Sunscreen & bug spray (optional- we also carry some with each trip)

Feminine hygiene supplies (as needed)

Shower supplies + Towel (microfiber/quick-drying towel is strongly recommended)

Toothbrush & toothpaste

Hand sanitizer (travel-sized)

(If applicable) Glasses, contacts, contact solution, contacts case, travel mirror

Medications: If you regularly take any medications, you MUST bring them on the trip (be sure to list them on

your form also)

MISCELLANEOUS Notebook/journal with pen to be used as your trip journal. Will be used for graded assignments.

Money ($10-$15) for tipping your raft guide (optional, but encouraged!) and ($10-$20) for possible souvenirs

Watch with alarm

Camera – digital or disposable (optional) - you will not be able to use a phone or ipod for photos on your trip!

Pajamas (though wearing the other clothing items you bring is a useful alternative)

Snacks- AWV provides all food and snacks, but feel free to bring a small amount of something you really like

DO NOT BRING (REALLY- DON’T):

➢ Students are not allowed cell phones or any other electronics (including ipods, tablets, etc.) on First-Year Trips.

The exception is a digital camera. Students will have the option to leave their cell phone with Adventure WV in a

locked, secure space during the trip and will retrieve at the end of their trip. To better understand why cell

phones are prohibited on trip, please read the “Cell Phone Letter”, found in the “Important FYT Resources”

documents. You may be surprised to learn that the majority of students who have completed a First-Year Trip

are overwhelmingly in favor of the “No Cell Phone” policy!

➢ Drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. Bringing these items is grounds for dismissal from the trip with no refund, with

possible university sanctions.

➢ Anything not on the packing list! We will do a thorough gear check- simplicity and space saving is important with

our programs! When you arrive, you may be asked to leave extraneous items behind in our locked, secure

spaces.

➢ Adventure WV will be providing other necessary group items, including food, transportation, and gear needed

for each specific activity.

➢ Bringing a phone, electronic, or other prohibited items on this program could result in a dismissal from the

program.

EQUIPMENT Sleeping bag or sheets/blankets for cabin cots. Don’t forget a pillow!

Day pack- small book bag or backpack to carry essential items during the day.

2 (1-quart) Water bottles or canteens (durable, Nalgene-style bottles work best).

Headlamp with fresh batteries and extra batteries.

(optional) Crazy Creek portable chair (or similar) - must be without legs

IMPORTANT FYT RESOURCES - MOUNTAINEER QUEST

Dear Adventure WV First-Year Trip Students, Parents, Guardians, and other stakeholders:

We are excited for your interest in our Adventure WV First-Year Trips (AWVFYT) program! We have been successfully

providing meaningful and effective pre-college experiences for incoming WVU students for over 16 years. While you

will find a myriad of information about our trips all over our website, we’d like to take a moment to address what we

consider as one of our most important policies about cell phones.

At AWVFYT we work constantly to improve our programs. We seek to respond to the changing needs and interests of

our students and their families, adhere to current research and standard practices within our industry, and strengthen

the core features that make our programs so successful- challenges in novel environments, small group interactions,

and peer leadership. As Generation Z enters WVU, we are more aware than ever of the tension that can exist

between these three areas.

Recent years have seen a rise in feedback about our “No Cell Phones” policy: AWVFYT prohibits the use of student cell

phones on our trips. Students choose between leaving their cell phones at home/with family, or storing their phone

with Adventure WV in a locked, secure area for the duration of the trip. For safety and communication reasons, our

staff carry cell phones in the “off” position as well as satellite phones where cell service is not available. At the

initiation of this policy in 2004, many students did not own cell phones, cell phones did not have the “smart”

capabilities available today, and service was not reliable; thus making this policy a non-issue.

As smartphones have become more essential to our lives, we receive more pushback about this policy than any other:

Students and families question this policy, ask for exceptions, and express frustration upon giving up their phones at

check in. While we also see many parents and students enthusiastic about the opportunity to disconnect, It is clear to

us that spending a week without cell and social media communication raises eyebrows and becomes increasingly

challenging for many.

But here’s the catch- Despite increasing apprehension, students have shown themselves overwhelmingly in favor of

the “No Cell Phone” policy. Students reflected that the lack of phones was an essential part of the trip and forced

them to communicate and with each other in meaningful ways. Students instruct us to keep the policy. Our program

evaluation form and reflection papers do not contain prompts specifically asking about phones; students consistently

reference the topic of their own accord and voice overwhelming support for it.

We invite you to read some of this striking student feedback, pulled from the Participant Evaluation Forms and on

Post-Trip Reflection Papers:

“Not having my phone the whole week was not my favorite part of the trip rules but it wasn’t my least favorite either. I do admit, I spend too many hours switching between apps and texting on my phone but I am glad I did not have access to it the week of the trip. I believe that if I had my phone at any point during the trip that I would immediately revert back to my original way of thinking when I started the trip. I wouldn’t have seen any good reason to have to communicate and reach out let alone make friends with the people I was surrounded by. I can’t say whether or not I will decide to spend less time on my phone as I make the full transition into college but I know that I will most definitely seek more opportunities to make more friends and meet new people. Without a phone, I was able to discover things about myself and also make decisions for myself without texting my friends first for their opinions.” – Student on 2017 First-Year Trip

Back at Adventure WV we are pleased to see students echoing our beliefs; that intensive time in novel and

challenging environments, without the distraction of phones, is core to our program success.

(Continued on next page)

ADVENTURE WV FIRST-YEAR TRIPS

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ADVENTURE WV FIRST-YEAR TRIPS

Cell Phone Letter

IMPORTANT FYT RESOURCES - MOUNTAINEER QUEST

(Cell phone letter con’t)

We also set out to explore more about this topic: why has positive feedback about the No Cell Phone policy increased

so noticeably in recent years? An emerging body of research on Generation Z links increased mental health concerns

and cell phone use. There is a paradox in constant connectivity: always being connected, but not physically together

or sharing experiences, leaves many feeling isolated. The research is well summarized by these two articles:

Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? - The Atlantic, September 2017

The Real Campus Scourge – The New York Times, September 2017

Both articles describe one major reason our students tell us to keep the “No Cell Phone” policy: As our phones keep

us connected, they also isolate us. The Adventure WV “No Cell Phone” policy seeks to address this rising issue.

For these reasons- the feedback of our students combined with research surrounding Generation Z- we have decided

to keep our No Cell Phone policy for the foreseeable future. We find there is a need, now more than ever; it is

because of the prevalence of phones that our policy is essential.

Once again, we look forward very much to the summer and to working with you. As always you can contact us with

questions about our No Cell Phone policy or anything else. We absolutely love our WVU community of students and

are happy to answer further questions!

Very Sincerely,

The Adventure WV Team

adventurewv@mail.wvu.edu / 304-293-5221

IMPORTANT FYT RESOURCES - MOUNTAINEER QUEST

Phone (304) 293-5221 – AdventureWV@mail.wvu.edu – adventurewv.wvu.edu 2001 Rec Center Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506-6018

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ADVENTURE WV FIRST-YEAR TRIPS

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