Hi there!! My name is Martin, and I'm from a small town in Maine called Veazie. I'm thrilled to be a '27 blogger for People Places Pines! Carving the slopes in the winter, hiking through woods in autumn, or basking in the Green in spring and summer, that's where you'll find me! Stay tuned for everything Big Green!
At Dartmouth, our First-Year Trips (or FYTs for short) are an integral part of Dartmouth culture and student life. When you arrive as an incoming first-year, you'll have the opportunity to choose to go on an outdoor adventure trip with approximately 8-10 other incoming students in the various beautiful areas surrounding Dartmouth. Each trip is led by current Dartmouth students (who are thoroughly trained!), exploring anything from whitewater kayaking to organic farming or fly fishing to even cabin camping (and more)!
My First-Year Trip was rock climbing and hiking, and it was some of the best memories I've had at Dartmouth. I'm still in touch with many of my own "trippees"—the term we use at Dartmouth to refer to the fellow classmates on your trip, and many of them were some of the first friends I made at Dartmouth!
This fall, I had the chance to lead a First-Year Trip. I decided to apply last spring to be a "trip-leader," one of the upperclassmen that lead the groups of incoming students on their trip, and was happy to be informed I had been accepted! FYT are almost a completely student-run program, involving hundreds of current Dartmouth students many of which work year-round to make it happen, so I was honored to be a part of it!
That being said, what does it mean to be a part of "First-Year Trips" family, and is it important?
Before I go any further, let me emphasize: Trips are completely optional but highly encouraged, so if this doesn't sound like it's for you, that's totally fine! I'd just like to discuss my experience, and why I think you should go on a FYT yourself and (maybe someday) lead one!
A picture of my trip and I as we lead them up Mt. Cardigan, the mountain we hiked for our trip!
First-year trips create a powerful bond between yourself and the other first-year students on your trip. Spending a week in the woods, in a cabin, or on some other adventure brings you really close, so it provides you a close group of friends to enter Dartmouth with!
Much of trips is spent chatting–getting to know your "trippees" and asking your "trip leaders" about their Dartmouth experiences and advice.
First-year trips extend far beyond the one-week adventure you take before classes start. Not only do your "trippees" and "trip-leaders" become your good friends, but often trips groups stay in touch and together after trips. For the trip I lead—a hiking trip—we have dinner every week on Wednesday nights and sometimes go hiking on the weekends. We always catch up and talk about how everyone's school year is going!
My trippees and I stacked in a human pyramid–which fell a second after this photo was taken.
Finally, the First-Year Trips community is incredibly special. With so many students working to make it happen, trips has tons of unique traditions and an incredibly warm community behind it. I became closer to my upperclassmen friends who were leading trips, as well as had the opportunity to meet new incoming students!
This is a photo of me when I was on my own first-year trip! I'm still close with many of my fellow "trippees."
Oftentimes, incoming students I speak to are surprised to hear that 100% of Dartmouth trip leaders are volunteers, meaning they're unpaid. It's true! Dartmouth students are so excited to lead trips that most years there are far more volunteers than needed! This is because of the amazing experience of leading (and being on) a first-year trip, and the community that comes with it! Someday, as a student at Dartmouth, perhaps you can lead a First-Year Trip too!
Three years ago today, I received an email that would shape my entire Dartmouth experience in a way I never could have predicted. It's funny to think that it all started because I was a prospective student obsessively reading this very blog.
The River Cluster (the group of residence halls closest to the Connecticut River, including French and Judge Hall) has a reputation…and some of it is warranted. But there's more to living in the River than you might expect!
