Outdoor Introductions for New Kids (2011)
A Middlebury Mountain Club Program designed to introduce new students to each other and the landscape
A Middlebury Mountain Club Program designed to introduce new students to each other and the landscape
OINK (Outdoor Introductions for New Kids) is our student-run orientation trips program designed to introduce new students to one another and to our beautiful surrounding landscape. Middlebury has a 24-year tradition of orientation trips and we're excited to make this year the best yet.
Every year, our awesome, experienced, fun-loving, knowledgeable, student leaders take small groups of new students out on two-day wilderness, cultural exploration, and service trips all over west-centralVermont and across the lake in northeastern New York
OINK will take place the first weekend after classes start, September 17-18. In order to maximize fun and safety, there will be 6-10 new students and 2-3 student leaders per group. The trips will vary in difficulty, accommodating all levels of experience. You do NOT need previous experience to participate; the only prerequisite for OINK is an enthusiasm for meeting other new students and a willingness to have fun and try something new!
Every year, our awesome, experienced, fun-loving, knowledgeable, student leaders take small groups of new students out on two-day wilderness, cultural exploration, and service trips all over west-central
OINK will take place the first weekend after classes start, September 17-18. In order to maximize fun and safety, there will be 6-10 new students and 2-3 student leaders per group. The trips will vary in difficulty, accommodating all levels of experience. You do NOT need previous experience to participate; the only prerequisite for OINK is an enthusiasm for meeting other new students and a willingness to have fun and try something new!
This year's lineup includes backpacking, organic farming, rock climbing, contemplative practices, canoeing, whitewater kayaking, local natural history and ecology, trail maintenance, and human services trips.
Our hope is that we can give a spot to everyone who would like to participate. However, if there is more interest than we can accommodate, we will use a random lottery system to select participants from those applications received by the deadline (July 29th).
You can find all the information you need about OINK here on our website, including the application, application instructions, and answers to frequently asked questions. If you have any further questions regarding OINK please feel free to contact us at OINK@middlebury.edu. We can't wait to welcome you to campus and to the Mountain Club in the fall!
See you soon!
Janet Gehrmann ’12 and Trina Thornburgh ’13
Your OINK 2011 Coordinators
Application instructions
All applicants must submit a complete OINK application form and payment by July 29th, 2011 to be considered. Download a PDF application here! This PDF file can be printed, completed by hand, and then either scanned and emailed back to us or sent via snail-mail! Alternately, a fully editable MS Word version may be downloaded here. You can save it to your harddrive, enter your information directly in to the document, and email it back.
OINK Application form:
Option 1: Download and fill out the application (.doc format), save it as "Lastname_Firstname.doc", and send an email with the subject line "OINK app from [your name]" to oink@middlebury.edu with the file attached.
Option 2: Print the application, fill it out, and mail it with a check to the address below.
Payment: To complete your application, please pay your $125 OINK fee at http://boxoffice.middlebury.edu/index.php . If you believe you are eligible (see below) for OINK financial aid, and would like to apply, you may do so on the application form. If you choose to apply for aid, make no payment now. Should you be found eligible, you may pay the reduced fee when you come to campus.
Financial Aid Eligibility: We are committed to making sure that OINK is available to all first-years, regardless of their financial situation. Financial aid is available to any student receiving more than $5,000 in grant aid from the college per semester. Eligible applicants will pay a reduced program fee of $25.
Email is our preferred method for receiving applications. If for some reason you'd rather submit yours by mail, please send it to:
CCAL, Attn: OINK!
McCullough Hall
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT 05753
OINK Applications and payment must be received by July 29th. Only complete applications (including your course fee, or your aid request) will be considered!
Applicant Selection and Notification
Applications are due on July 29th. At this point, if there are more applications than spaces on trips applicants will be randomly selected via lottery. You will learn if you have been accepted to the program by August 5th. Accepted applicants will receive an Acceptance Packet via email to your Middlebury email account in early August that will include trip assignment, medical forms, and gear request forms to be completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I will be away and out of contact between when the application becomes available (mid June) and when it is due (July 29th). Can I have a family member fill out and submit the application for me?
A: Yes! Just keep in mind that the acceptance packet, which will go out in August, includes some forms that will require your own signature.
Q: Do I need to be in top physical condition to participate in OINK?
A: OINK trips are designed to accommodate a wide range of physical fitness and experience levels. However, participants will get the most out of their trip if they arrive on campus in reasonably good shape. Backpacking participants should be prepared to comfortably hike at least 5 miles while carrying a 35 lb (16 kg) backpack. Canoeing and whitewater kayaking participants must be able to swim.
Q: I am trying out for / have been recruited for a varsity team in the fall. Can I still go on OINK?
A: That is the coach's decision, and unfortunately in some cases involvement with a varsity team does preclude a student's participation in OINK. OINK takes place during the first weekend of the semester, which is also when many teams have their first matches of the season. Some coaches allow first years to go on an OINK trip, and some request that they attend the matches. If you have a question about this, we suggest you contact your coach.
Q: What gear do I need, and what do I do if I don't have it?
A: Yes! Just keep in mind that the acceptance packet, which will go out in August, includes some forms that will require your own signature.
Q: Do I need to be in top physical condition to participate in OINK?
A: OINK trips are designed to accommodate a wide range of physical fitness and experience levels. However, participants will get the most out of their trip if they arrive on campus in reasonably good shape. Backpacking participants should be prepared to comfortably hike at least 5 miles while carrying a 35 lb (16 kg) backpack. Canoeing and whitewater kayaking participants must be able to swim.
Q: I am trying out for / have been recruited for a varsity team in the fall. Can I still go on OINK?
A: That is the coach's decision, and unfortunately in some cases involvement with a varsity team does preclude a student's participation in OINK. OINK takes place during the first weekend of the semester, which is also when many teams have their first matches of the season. Some coaches allow first years to go on an OINK trip, and some request that they attend the matches. If you have a question about this, we suggest you contact your coach.
Q: What gear do I need, and what do I do if I don't have it?
A: Have no fear! The Mountain Club has a limited supply of important gear such as backpacks and sleeping bags that can be borrowed at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis. The acceptance packet will include a packing list as well as a form where OINK participants can request to borrow gear. The two most important items that we do not have are hiking boots and water bottles. However, please don't let any concerns about gear deter you from applying; we can work out equipment issues with you. All group gear (e.g. tents, stoves, food, climbing gear, canoes) will be provided by the Mountain Club.
Q: When will I find out who my leaders are and who else is on my trip?
A: You can expect to hear from your leaders as soon as you arrive on campus, and you'll meet your group during the first week of classes!
Q: What kind of training do leaders get?
A: After hand picking our leaders from a highly competitive applicant pool, we all gather for a week of intensive training. Our wilderness leaders are certified in Wilderness First Aid, CPR, anaphylaxis, and Leave No Trace backcountry ethics. Our cultural exploration and service leaders are certified in First Aid and CPR. All of our leaders have completed a defensive driving course, hold Middlebury College van licenses, undergo training in group management, and go out on practice trips.
Q: Is anyone on call in case of emergency?
A: Yes, absolutely. While OINK trips are in the field, we have a team of Wilderness First Responders and Emergency Medical Technicians on call 24 hours a day. In the case of mild incidents such as a sprained ankle, this team of Experienced Individuals for Emergency Incidents on OINK (EIEIO) will work together with the trip leaders to facilitate any evacuation that may be necessary. In the case of a more serious incident, leaders will activate the local E911 system.
Q: I have a serious allergy. Can I still go on an OINK trip?
A: OF COURSE! Each participant will fill out a medical form in which they can list any allergies they have. If a participant has a food allergy or intolerance, we take special care to supply his or her group with other delicious foods that everyone can eat. Before the trip, leaders talk one-on-one with participants who have allergies so that they are all on the same page and have a plan for how to prevent exposure and how to treat it if a reaction does take place. Participants who have allergies and their own medications or epi-pens are urged to bring them on the trip.
Q: I have a serious allergy. Can I still go on an OINK trip?
A: OF COURSE! Each participant will fill out a medical form in which they can list any allergies they have. If a participant has a food allergy or intolerance, we take special care to supply his or her group with other delicious foods that everyone can eat. Before the trip, leaders talk one-on-one with participants who have allergies so that they are all on the same page and have a plan for how to prevent exposure and how to treat it if a reaction does take place. Participants who have allergies and their own medications or epi-pens are urged to bring them on the trip.
Q: I went on an OINK trip and had an AMAZING time. How can I get more involved with the MMC?
A: That's awesome! Anyone and everyone can get involved in the MMC. You can sign up for one of our weekend trips throughout the year, become an MMC guide, become an OINK leader, and become an MMC board member! Our weekly board meetings take place on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 in the Adirondack House attic (or outside if the weather's nice)--all are welcome!
Posts
