First-Year Outdoor Trips | Recreational Sports Outdoor Program

Jump-start Your UMD Experience!

August 24-27, 2026

First-Year Outdoor Trips are a great way for Freshman and Transfer students to transition to UMD through meeting friends and having fun! Each trip is well planned, has great leaders, and gets you out to explore wild places. Safety and fun are top priorities. These trips are led by experienced Outdoor Program student leaders from throughout the UMD campus. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! ALL ACTIVITY EQUIPMENT IS PROVIDED!

What’s Included:

› A fantastic trip with awesome leaders
› All transportation from campus
› Instruction
› Group and activity equipment
› Food on the trip
› Early on-campus housing move-in on August 16
› T-shirt

What past participants had to say!

“I think First-Year Outdoor Trips is one of the best things I have done since coming to UMD. I met so many new people and tried new things. When we came back to Welcome Week, I felt like I was ahead of most of my classmates because I knew people. Then when classes started I didn’t feel so out of place. I knew I had people I could talk to and go to events with. Most of the close friendships I have made this year started from that trip.”

“Going on a First-Year Outdoor Trip will forever be one of my favorite college experiences! Getting to hike, canoe and rock climb in Northern Minnesota with people who also have a love for the outdoors is a great way to start your first year at UMD. One obstacle many freshmen face is making new friends, but on the trip it was so easy. Everyone was incredibly warm and welcoming, and I made several friends. I highly recommend First-Year Outdoor Trips for any and all incoming students!”

Scholarships

Available are three complete scholarships ($500 each) to participate in the First-Year Outdoor Trips. Please complete the First-Year Outdoor Trips Scholarship Application by June 10, 2026 to apply. If you are going to receive a scholarship, we will notify you by June 15 and you will need to pay for the trip in full by July 24, 2026. The full amount of money will then be put into your UMD student account in week 2 of fall semester (to be used for any school related expenses). Recipients must be undergraduate degree-seeking students, and demonstrate a financial need, as indicated on their completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application.

Registration Process

REGISTRATION BEGINS JULY 6, 9AM! These trips fill up quickly, so you will want to make sure that you have a working account prior to July 6. Use these Instructions For Creating An Account to create your account. Then go to our REGISTRATION SITE ahead of time to create your account. If you are having difficulty creating your account, please call us at 218-726-7128 for assistance.

These are the First-Year Student trip choices for 2026.

Sea Kayaking the Apostle Islands

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a beautiful string of islands on Lake Superior’s South Shore. Our experienced leaders will introduce you to equipment, safety and paddling techniques. They will also share stories about voyagers, shipwrecks and island living. Explore sea caves and secluded beaches in double sea kayaks. We will load our gear into sea kayaks and paddle out to camp on islands with sand beaches, stargaze, swim and hike with new friends.

Information Sheet
Register Online

Rock Climbing Lake Superior's North Shore

Excitement. Friendships. Challenge. All these and more are included in this trip. You will experience some of the most amazing rock climbing locations in the Midwest. When we are not rock climbing Lake Superior’s North Shore, we will be hiking along the area’s beautiful trails. Whether you have always wanted to try rock climbing or are a seasoned veteran, you will experience fun challenges in a safe and supportive atmosphere. Our trained leaders will cover safety, equipment and technique. In the evening, listen for night sounds and share stories around the campfire with new friends.
Information Sheet
Register Online

Northwoods Adventure Sampler

In this, our most popular trip, you can sample canoeing, hiking, stargazing, nature based arts, rock climbing, and swimming all within the same four day stretch. Your group will travel to the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with our experienced and enthusiastic leaders. We will lodge in rustic cabins, eat s’mores, and enjoy lively conversation with new friends around a campfire under the stars. If you are interested in experiencing what each of the Freshmen Trips has to offer, the Northwoods Sampler is for you.
Information Sheet
Register Online

Duluth Adventure Sampler

Jump-start your Duluth experience and make new friends! We have added local day trips to our lineup this year to take advantage of the amazing outdoor activities that can be done right here in Duluth! You get to check into your room early, and sleep in the comfort of your own bed each night of the adventure. Each of the four day-long outings will explore a unique area of Duluth utilizing a different mode of adventure travel. The trips include Stand-Up Paddleboarding Lake Superior, Hiking the Superior Hiking Trail, Fat-Biking the Duluth Traverse and Rock Climbing Duluth. In the evenings you will play camp games, hammock, roast marshmallows and more!
Information Sheet
Register Online

Canoeing the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area Adventure

New friends and fun will be launched as we paddle into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Explore the beauty and wonder of this wilderness with our experienced and enthusiastic leaders. Stargazing, stories and listening for hooting owls and howling wolves are included on this trips itinerary. We will paddle across lakes near the Gunflint Trail and carry our gear over portage trails to remote and primitive campsites.
Information Sheet
Register Online

Registration:

Online registration begins at 9am, Monday, July 6, 2026.
Space is limited so sign up early!
Registration Deadline is 4pm, July 24, 2026
REGISTRATION SITE

Cost: $500 per person for each trip. Includes all group gear, transportation from campus, food, lodging, and leaders. You are only responsible for your personal clothing/gear (see "Information Sheet" for details).

Cancellation Policy

A full refund will be given if a written cancellation is received by July 10, 2026 (or we can fill your spot with someone from the waiting list). A 50% refund will be given if a written cancellation is received by July 24, 2026. Due to the logistics involved with programming these trips, refunds will not be available after July 24, 2026. Early housing check-in is available only for those students participating in a First-Year Outdoor Trip.

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First-Year Outdoor Trips Office
218.726.7128
[email protected]

UMD Admissions Office
218.726.7171
[email protected]

UMD Housing Office
218.726.8178