Dear Participant,

Congratulations! On behalf of all the trip leaders and support staff, I would like to personally welcome you to ORION—Penn State's Wilderness Orientation Program. This letter serves as your official acceptance into the ORION program (Kinesiology 089). We are pleased that you have signed up for this course and so glad that you will be joining us for ORION, beginning July 26 and ending July 31.

Summer 2009 marks the thirteenth season of ORION, a national award-winning program designed to ease your transition into Penn State life by helping you to develop connections with other incoming students, as well as introducing you to the natural areas of central Pennsylvania. The ORION program offers a wonderful challenge with a fulfilling reward. The friendships made during ORION are commonly solid friendships that will last throughout your years at Penn State and beyond. To quote a past participant: "ORION was a great experience. It helped me meet a group of amazing people and taught me a lot about myself, others, and the environment."

Included in this welcome packet is some very valuable information; please be sure to take the time to read through all of it. This information will provide you with a detailed trip description, a general information page, trip expectations, a gear list, ORION rules, a campus map, an assumption of risk form, and a health form. In order for us to be best prepared, we require you to complete and RETURN your medical form and assumption of risk form before July 17.

Visit our Web site to get more specific information about the ORION program and to find answers to frequently asked questions as well as photos from last year's trips and other important information: www.shaverscreek.org (click "students," then "ORION").

An added benefit for ORION participants is the opportunity to move your belongings (not electronics) into your fall housing assignment early. You should receive your fall housing assignment by the end of July. If you would like to move your belongings into storage, you will need to contact your assigned housing area. Storage availability is at the discretion of each housing office and may be available as early as August 8. ALL questions related to storage must be directed to the appropriate Housing Office listed below.

Pollock Halls: 814-865-4321
North Halls: 814-865-9521
South Halls: 814-865-2391
East Halls: 814-865-1791
West Halls: 814-865-9526

Again, welcome and congratulations! We are looking forward to another great season of ORION, and we are excited that you will be joining us. If you have questions regarding any of this information, please e-mail Susanne Dubrouillet at susanne1@psu.edu or call Shaver's Creek at 814-863-2000.

Sincerely yours,

Susanne Dubrouillet
Program Director