DOC First-Year Trips / About the Program

About the Program

Mission

DOC First-year Trips seeks to provide a safe and positive outdoor experience for all incoming students, so that they may be warmly welcomed to the Dartmouth community and have the opportunity to learn about our natural surroundings, bond with classmates, and connect with dedicated upperclassmen that act as role models and mentors.

History and Structure

Trips started way back in 1935 when a bunch of upperclass DOC members invited a few first year students to go on a hike before classes started. Since then, the program has improved (and grown) dramatically. In the late ’80s, the DOC decided that Trips should be for all incoming students, even those without any outdoor experience, and last year 85% of the incoming class went on a Trip. Trips is the largest outdoor orientation program in the country! Every year, we work to make the Trips program a little better, and this year is no exception. We’ve come a long way in 70 years, and this year is your chance to experience it for yourself!

The primary goal of DOC Trips is to enable current students to welcome the incoming class to Dartmouth while providing them an introduction to their classmates and the outdoors. We provide Trips of many different levels from beginner to advanced and many different types from canoeing to hiking. Each trip consists of six to twelve new students and two student leaders. Trips all last for five days, starting in Hanover and ending at Moosilauke Ravine Lodge. DOC Trips are open to all interested students and therefore, the Trips program is staggered over ten sections, each arriving on its own day then heading out into the wilderness.

Trips have become a Dartmouth tradition for all incoming students and are ingrained in Dartmouth culture. The program is also entirely student-run between over 250 trip leaders, 50 support crew members, and a student Director. There are also 4 EMTs on call at all times during Trips to ensure the program runs smoothly and stays safe.

Please look through the other sections of our website for more information or email us at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you on a DOC Trip and again, welcome to Dartmouth!