Skidmore College Outdoor Orientation Program (SCOOP)
If you have any questions, check out the meet your Peer Leaders page and reach out to your peers!
Registration opens June 1st and closes July 6th
Jump-In! (All programs are listed below.)
SCOOP is an optional program that precedes the mandatory New Student Orientation. It is designed to offer new students the opportunity to meet fellow first-year classmates and upper-class student peer leaders while spending quality time in the majestic Adirondack Mountains.
The program offers a wonderful beginning to the first-year student experience at Skidmore College.
Last year 458 students participated
The price includes everything, food, housing, transportation, activities, licensed guides and gear (tents, rock climbing shoes, harnesses, mountain bikes etc...)
Dates:
- August 29th through September 1st.
Move in Time:
- Students participating in off-campus programs will check in between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
- Students participating in on-campus programs will check in between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m
- First-Years are not permitted on campus prior to August 29th.
Program start time:
- Students participating in off-campus (SCOOP)programs will check in at 12:30 pm at Porter Plaza.
- Students participating in on-campus programs will check in at 1:00 pm on the 2nd floor of Case Center
Cost:
- Off-campus (SCOOP)programs are $600
- On-campus programs are $500
Billing:
- All programs are direct billed to your tuition.
Need based Scholarships:
- Fill out this scholarship request form and if you are awarded you will recieve an email letting you know what your award is (either 50% or 100%) and then you will be refunded on your next billing cycle.
Parent Orientation:
- Parent Orientation starts shortly after you say goodbye to your student and they depart with their program. You can check the FYE page for more details (Parent Orientation for students doing Pre-O is on August 29th, it is not necessary to return on Sunday for Orientation because your student will be busy and the orientation programs are the same)
Packing Lists:
- All program packing list are at the bottom of this page
There is also a FAQ page with answers to additional frequently asked questions.
HOW TO REGISTER: Beginning June 1st through July 6th
Please read the following information before you attempt to register for Pre-Orientation
- Preferred browsers: Chrome or Internet Explorer.
- Student system quick reference: This general guide should help you navigate the registration process more easily (It is not specifically a guide to Pre-Orientation registration)
Student System https://bannerxe.skidmore.edu/StudentRegistrationSsb/ssb/registration
Guide - https://www.skidmore.edu/registrar/documents/student_self_service_guide_xe.pdf
Find the CRN# of the course you want to register for next to the course title on the On-Campus and Off-Campus program pages
- Log into the Student System (have your username and password ready)
- Click register for classes
- Select "Summer 2024"
- Skip down directly to the CRN#
- Enter the CRN# of your program which are listed beneath each program name above the description on this page
- Click “Search”
- Click “Add”
- Click on "submit" (lower right hand corner of screen)
- If the status says "REGISTERED," you do not need to do anything else
Required Forms
All forms are required to participate on any of the SCOOP programs
- Medical Form and Dietary Restrictions
(make sure you only use your user name not your full email address when logging in) - Assumption of Risk
(make sure you only use your user name not your full email address when logging in) - Skidmore Code of Conduct
(make sure you only use your user name not your full email address when logging in)
Meet some of the most imperative people:
Your Peer leaders and see what they have to say about SCOOP
All SCOOP programs take place off-campus in the Adirondacks, which means it's about 10 degrees colder at night. Please pack layers!!!!!
SCOOP Paddles & Paths
Lodging at Camp Fowler
CRN#
This trip has everyone experience a day of hiking and a day of canoeing or a combination of both in and on the beautiful Adirondack Mountains and waterways. You will have awesome bonfires, gaze at the stars, go swimming, paddleboarding and make smores.You will stay at Camp Fowler which is in a more remote part of the Adirondacks so it has a very rustic feel. You will sleep in a cabin with bunks. You will need a sleeping bag and pillow. It gets cold in the Adirondacks at night pack layers!!
Cost: $600
SCOOP Hiking/Backpacking
Tenting (journey begins at Camp Fowler)
CRN#
Wilderness hiking and backpacking is an all-time favorite, covering approximately 20 miles in four days in the Adirondacks. You will begin and end your journey at our Camp Fowler base camp. Tents and meals provided. Each group is limited to 8 first-years and 2 peer leaders with 1 licensed guide due to permit restrictions in the Adirondacks. We have a total of 4 groups (trying for a fifth due to the popularity) If you are interested in this program do not wait to sign up. It gets cold in the Adirondacks at night pack layers!!
Cost: $600
SCOOP Hiking/Backpacking and Canoeing Combo
Tenting (journey begins at Camp Fowler)
CRN#
Hiking, canoeing and backpacking in the northern Adirondacks. The ultimate combo trip covers roughly six miles of hiking and plenty of waterways. You will begin and end your journey at Camp Fowler base camp. Tents, meals and canoes provided. It gets cold in the Adirondacks at night pack layers!!
Cost: $600
SCOOP Canoeing
Tenting(journey begins at Camp Fowler)
CRN #
Spend the days paddling the Adirondack waterways and set camp at a different site each night. You will begin and end your journey at Camp Fowler base camp. Tents, meals and canoes provided. (Please see packing list.) It gets cold in the Adirondacks at night pack layers!!
Cost: $600
SCOOP H2O
Tenting at Camp Fowler
CRN#
Water, water and more water! This is a long standing very popular trip so if it looks interesting to you do not wait to register. Enjoy whitewater rafting down the Hudson River with experienced guides, and a day of paddling in pristine waters on Speculator Lake. You will be spending your nights in tents, lean-tos or hammocks at Camp Fowler which is in a more remote part of the Adirondacks with a rustic feel but still all the amenities. You will need a WARM sleeping bag and pillow. It gets cold in the Adirondacks at night pack layers!!
Cost: $600
SCOOP Rock and River
Tenting at Camp Fowler
CRN#
Go rock climbing with experienced guides and whitewater rafting down the Hudson River. Experience the stars and bonfires with your new classmates. You will be spending your nights under the stars in tents, lean-to's or hammocks so you will need to bring a WARM sleeping bag and pillow. It gets cold in the Adirondacks at night pack layers!!
Cost: $600
SCOOP Adventure Challenge
Lodging at Skye Farm Camp
CRN#
Experience high ropes courses at Adirondack Extreme as well as white water rafting down the Hudson River with experienced, licensed guides. You will be spending your nights around the camp fire asking your peer leaders any questions you have about Skidmore and college. You will stay in cabins at the beautiful Skye Farm Camp. Everything is included. You will need to bring a sleeping bag and pillow. It gets cold in the Adirondacks at night pack layers!!
Cost: $600
SCOOP NAHUNA (Nature Human Nature)
Lodging at Skye Farm Camp
CRN#
Yoga/meditation experiences. You will experience yoga with a certified student teacher, canoeing, paddling, hiking, meditation, bon fires, smores and white water rafting! You will be spending your nights at Skye Farm Camp which is nestled in the woods on a beautiful lake. Everything is included (even yoga mats, you are welcome to bring your own); you will need to bring a sleeping bag and pillow, this program is a fan favorite! It gets cold in the Adirondacks at night pack layers!!
Cost: $600
SCOOP Trek, Track & Paddle
Lodging at Skye Farm Camp
CRN#
Come experience the Adirondacks. You will "Ride the Rails" through the Adirondacks, followed by an afternoon of kayaking/canoeing down the Hudson river, hiking, swimming, canoeing and "peace" canoe trips while enjoying the outdoors. Spend your evenings around the campfire asking your peer leaders any questions you have about Skidmore while watching the stars. You will be spending your nights in cabins at the beautiful Skye Farm Camp . It gets cold in the Adirondacks at night pack layers!!
Cost: $600
SCOOP Transfer Trek
Lodging at Skye Farm Camp
CRN#
Come up to the Adirondacks with other transfer students and get to know Skidmore from
your Peer Leaders who were also transfer students at one point! You will go canoeing
on their lake and white water rafting. You can challenge each other on the "peace"
canoes and try your hand at good ole log rolling in the lake you will stay in a cabin
so you will need a sleeping bag and a pillow. It gets cold in the Adirondacks at night
pack layers!!
Cost $600
SCOOP Art (in nature) & Adventure
Lodging at Skye Farm Camp
CRN#
Come join us in the Adirondacks and try your hand at some art while being in nature(no
experience necessary). You will go to Adirondack Extreme for a 1/2 day of High Ropes
Courses (challenge by choice) and go white water rafting. Sit around the campfire
where the stars are like no other and ask your peer leaders anything you want to know
about Skidmore. Bring a sleeping bag and pillow. It gets cold in the Adirondacks at
night pack layers!!
SCOOP BaseCamp Adventure
Lodging at Skye Farm Camp
CRN#
Come to the beautiful Adirondacks and meet new friends while participating in lots of adventures like, white water rafting (no experience necessary we use licensed guides and it's super fun), water front activities and rail biking along the Sacandaga River. Sit around the campfire at night and ask your peer leaders anything you want to know about Skidmore. Bring a sleeping bag and pillow. It gets cold in the Adirondacks at night pack layers!!
SCOOP Music & Adventure
Lodging at Skye Farm Camp
Come to the beautiful Adirondacks and meet new friends while participating in daily adventures like high ropes courses, whitewater rafting and jam around the campfire at night. This is a no experience necessary program just bring your love of adventure and music. Even if you like to listen to others jam that is all you need!!
SCOOP Hiking & Biking (Mountain biking)
Lodging at Skye Farm Camp
Come meet your new classmates and get into the Adirondacks. You will be going Mountain Biking and Hiking with licensed guides. You will sit around the campfire at night getting to know your leaders and new friends. You will be staying in a bunk and will need a sleeping bag and a pillow. There are plenty of trails and waters to explore!!
- Paddles & Paths, Transfer Trek & Track-Trek & Paddle, Basecamp Adventure. and Art & Adventure, Adventure Challenge, Music & Adventure and NAHUNA,Hiking & Biking
- Packing list for Rock & River and H2O (tenting at Camp Fowler)
- Packing list for wilderness hiking, canoeing and hiking and canoeing (tenting wilderness)
If you are registered for one of the wilderness programs and are in need of gear, we have a good amount of loaner gear (ie: sleeping bags, backpacks, hiking boots) you would need to email the Pre-Orientation office and, there is a local Eastern Mountain Sports shop in Saratoga that rents gear for a very low price.
Peer Advisor schedule 2024