Preparation for entering college will take on new elements this August as incoming freshmen and transfer students of The University of Alabama will have the opportunity to attend Camp 1831, a three-day event that will incorporate features of both traditional orientation and summer camp.
Named after the University’s founding in 1831, the camp will be held at Camp McDowell in the Bankhead National Forest near Nauvoo, Ala. The First Year Experience division of the Office of Student Affairs is planning the program to host two different sessions in August for the first year, each serving about 150 students. The program will focus on four main themes: adventure, tradition, service and leadership.
Sara Hartley, the director of First Year Experience, said the program should easily mold students into the lifestyle at the University.
“By introducing these students to the history, traditions, resources, opportunities and people at UA, we hope to ease their academic and social transition to the institution,” Hartley said.
David Wilson, a senior majoring in economics, sits on the advisory committee for the planning of Camp 1831. According to Wilson, many of the days’ events will go beyond normal camp activities and will revolve around the University. They may include activities such as breakout sessions with faculty members, panels from different people on campus and presentations by various organizations on campus.
“It’s like a few-day-long crash course of the University on what you can do as a freshman,” Wilson said.
According to Hartley, a smoother transition leads to increased student retention.
“We know from our benchmark research that students who participate in a program such as Camp 1831 are more likely to feel connected to campus earlier in their college career and are therefore more likely to be successful and to return their second year,” Hartley said.
The First Year Experience office hopes students will leave confident, equipped with new friends and proud of being a UA student. Wilson expects the experience to be a memorable one for participants.
“The kind of students that come to this want to be involved, so we’re hoping even the learning part will be fun for them,” he said.
Wilson believes the experience will be successful and cited successes in similar programs in other schools.
“They’ve kind of built it into the culture, where, like, a majority of the freshmen class all go to their camp, so we would love to see that,” he said.
Elijah Sells, a freshman majoring in biology, said he would have enjoyed more bonding opportunities before the semester began.
“When I came to orientation during the summer, some of the people I met, I’m friends with now,” Sells said.
Camp 1831 will be led by the A-Team, a crew of 24 current students who will share personal insight and advice for an enjoyable and successful first year at the Capstone. Pairs of A-Team students will each lead a small group of 10 to 15 students. Students interested in joining the A-Team will be able to apply online at the First Year Experience website in January.
“I would love for Camp 1831 to become a new tradition for first-year students entering the Capstone and something that our incoming students look forward to each year,” Hartley said.
