Mason Recreation

Project Peak

Project Peak will be from Sunday 8/18/2024 - Wednesday 8/21/2024

Project Peak is a great way to help ease the transition from high school to college through an outdoor setting. Project Peak is a four-day, three-night outdoor adventure-based orientation trip offered to incoming students of all experience levels.  Project Peak challenges students and builds community through immersive outdoor programs.  Enjoy the outdoors, have fun, and meet Mason students and staff on this one-of-a-kind adventure.

2024’s trip will feature standup paddle boarding, a day hike to a scenic overlook in the Blue Ridge Mountains, intentionally designed activities designed to foster team-building and personal growth, and 3 nights of tent camping (sleeping in a tent) at a regional state park along the banks of the Shenandoah River.  There is a bathhouse with restrooms and shower facilities 50-100 yards from the campsite.

All trips include: round trip transportation to and from the destination, all outdoor equipment, and food. Dietary restrictions will be taken into consideration when planning the menu.

Registration Information

  • Register online here.
  • Registration
    • Opens on 4/15/2024
    • Closes on 7/30/2024
  • Pricing
    • Pricing per student is $300 per student.

GOALS OF PROJECT PEAK:

The purpose of Project Peak is to help ease the transition from high school to college through an outdoor setting by achieving these goals:

  1. Help students develop social connections: By meeting and engaging with fellow incoming first-year students on the trip, participants will develop supportive relationships with peers, develop a network of support with new students, current upper-class students, faculty, and staff, and gain a sense of community and trust with others.
  2. Help incoming students feel welcome in the GMU community and understand more about university life: This enhanced orientation experience will help students develop a positive connection to Mason before starting classes, to learn about campus resources, and important life issues applicable to freshman life.
  3. Help students develop confidence in themselves and grow personal leadership skills: The inherently challenging nature of outdoor programing will help students challenge themselves in a new setting to increase self-confidence and resiliency, enhance communication and decision-making skills, learn to manage themselves and their needs, and learn to lead others through teaching and role-modeling.
  4. To have fun!

ITINERARY & DETAILS

Itinerary:

Sunday

  • 9:00 – 10:00 am: Resident hall move-in
  • 10:00 – 10:30 am: Check-in at Skyline Fitness Center
  • 10:30 am – 12:00 pm: Meet trip leaders and pack up
  • 12:00 pm: Lunch
  • 2:00 pm: EDGE – Getting out of your comfort zone
  • 5:00 pm: Depart for state park
  • 6:00 pm: Set camp
  • 7:00 pm: Dinner
  • 9:00 pm: Evening Circle – Review getting out of comfort zone and get to know each other time

Monday

  • Breakfast
  • Morning Activity/Discussion
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon: Stand-Up Paddleboarding – 3.7 miles
  • Dinner
  • Evening Circle/Answer Questions – Trip Leaders facilitate discussion and answer questions about campus life and campus resources

Tuesday

  • Breakfast in camp
  • Group discussion – Self-leadership
  • Day Hike Duncan Knob – 3-4 miles
  • Lunch on Trail
  • Complete hike and return to campsite
  • Dinner
  • Evening Circle – reflection on hike and transferable personal skills/growth from hike to beginning college

Wednesday

  • Return to campus

EQUIPMENT AND PACKING LIST

Outdoor Adventures can provide all technical and camping specific equipment (i.e. tents, sleeping bags, stoves, etc.) at no additional cost.  Participants are welcome to use their own equipment if desired, provided it meets minimum safety standards.  Outdoor Adventures staff will inspect any personal equipment during the check-in and packing process.  Please note that due to the teambuilding aspects of Project Peak, participants will be expected to share tents with other participants.

A sample packing list for Project Peak can be found here

POLICIES AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Cancellation: Refunds will be given for any cancellations or withdrawals made prior to July 1, 2024.

Early Move-In: Participants in Project Peak are eligible for early move-in to their residence halls on Sunday August 18th.  Early move-in details will be sent by GMU Housing in early August.  It is important to note that this early move in is limited to dropping items off in the residence hall.  There will not be time to fully unpack/arrange rooms, which will occur after the conclusion of Project Peak.

Parental and Non-Participant Visitation: Due to the unique teambuilding nature of Project Peak, no visitors will be permitted while the group is in the field.

 

Interested?  Register here

Please contact us at outdoor@gmu.edu with any questions.