- A 5-day, 4-night adventure trip for new UNC Charlotte students (first-year and transfer students).
- Incorporates:
- Hiking 6 to 9 miles per day while carrying everything we need in our backpacks
- Sleeping in tents/ tarps at night
- A day of rock climbing
- Daily reflection/ discussion about your experience.
- You will face and overcome the challenges presented by these activities, building community and your own self-confidence along the way.
- No previous experience with backpacking or rock climbing is required.
- Any new UNC Charlotte student (first years and transfers alike).
- Any new student who is open to making new friends and accepting the opportunities and challenges of a five day wilderness trip.
On Venture Bound you will have the opportunity to:
- Learn to overcome physical, mental, and emotional challenges inherent in new environments
- Build self-confidence and learn new skills, including backpacking and rock climbing
- Build new relationships with friends and student mentors
- Learn more about what life will be like as a UNC Charlotte student by hearing from current UNC Charlotte students
- Earn two academic credits (KNES 2230: Wilderness Experience)
- Experience the beauty of nature
- Set goals for what you hope to accomplish during your time at UNC Charlotte
- Trained Venture Outdoor Leadership student leaders (or recent alumni).
- Leaders are trained in technical skills, group management/ dynamics, and risk management.
- At least 1 leader will have a Wilderness First Aid certification or be a Wilderness First Responder.
- Student leaders are also experts in their personal experience of making a successful transition to UNC Charlotte.
- These student leaders are looking forward to helping new students feel welcome and connected to UNC Charlotte!
- We typically backpack in Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina.
- The specific area within Pisgah is determined by a number of factors, such as weather, so we do not provide details until close to the trip dates.
- Out of state travel is not expected for the program. If you have concerns about out of state travel, please contact our office.
- You will meet us at UNC Charlotte's main campus on the first day of the trip.
- Your trip leaders will drive you and the rest of the group to the hiking area in our University van.
- You will all return to main campus on the last day in that same van.
- You do not have to be an athlete or expert backpacker to do well on Venture Bound!
- There are two kinds of strength you will use on your course: Mental and Physical.
- You may find that being open minded, being compassionate, and having a teamwork mentality will be more important than your physical strength alone.
- We will provide some tips for getting ready, both physically and mentally, in your welcome packet.
- You will be carrying a backpack that will weigh between 40lbs and 60lbs (dependent on your body/ ability) for up to 8 hours a day (typically less). There will be frequent breaks while traveling.
- On the rock climbing portion, you will be climbing up vertical cliffs while secured to a rope and belayer.
- Climbing typically uses your legs and arms to lift your body and balance yourself, respectively.
- Expect trails that are at times:
- Steep (both uphill and downhill)
- Rocky with exposed roots
- We will travel as a group at all times - setting a pace that works for everyone.
- Your registration packet will include information on preparing for the trip, both physically and mentally.
- If you have any concerns about being able to physically complete this trip, please speak with your health care provider.
- The health form you submit during registration will be reviewed by the University health center.
- However, this does not replace the recommendations of your personal physician/ health care provider(s).
- Please be in touch if we can make accommodations that may make this trip accessible to you. We welcome that conversation and would like to make this experience available to as many students as we can.
Every day will be about building our community. We will hike together, set up camp together, cook and eat together, and have conversations together. Your Venture leaders will teach you the various skills for these tasks along the way. Our goal is that you feel (more) confident in your ability to go on your own overnight trip by the end of the week.
- Morning -
- Wake up in the wilderness after a night of sleeping in a tent or tarp
- Use a camp stove to cook a hot breakfast
- Take down camp in preparation for traveling to the next camping location
- During the Day -
- Hike 6 to 9 miles of trail in Pisgah National Forest, working with your team to successfully navigate the route.
- Along the way, get to know your group members, play trail games, and take in the mountain views.
- Lunch on the trail.
- Evening
- Arrive at and set up camp.
- Eat a tasty dinner.
- Reflect on the day, guided by your leaders.
- Evening conversation may include recognizing those who supported you; discussing how to make your group even more effective; writing a letter to your future self; practice goal setting for the trip; or a variety of other topics relevant to your group.
- Leaders will also make time to answer your questions about the school year ahead and making the transition to life as a UNC Charlotte student.
- Overnight - Settle into your sleeping bag and enjoy a well-earned sleep!
- You will sleep in tent or tarp each night. We will not sleep in a cabin or other type of shelter.
- You will share the tent/ tarp with other students on the trip (following COVID-19 best practices).
- We will provide the equipment and the knowledge on how to sleep safely in a tent/ tarp.
Since you will typically sleep in small groups of 2 or 3, the registration form will provide you the option to share with us your preferred sleeping arrangements (e.g. if you prefer same gender or gender-inclusive sleeping arrangements). We will use this information to begin planning tent/ tarp sleeping arrangements. No sleeping arrangements will be confirmed without your input.
- We will provide you all of the technical equipment, such as a backpack, sleeping bag, tent/ tarp, cooking supplies, and rock climbing equipment.
- You can borrow, at no additional cost, technical clothing you may need, such as rain jacket, rain pants, and warm layers like thermal underwear and fleece jackets.
- You must provide:
- Your base layer clothing, including shirts, pants and underwear
- Backpacking boots that fully cover and support your ankles
- You will receive a packing list and guidance on getting boots when you register.
- We design meals and snacks to meet the needs of long days on the trail.
- You will have enough food to meet your energy needs, though you may not eat to the fullness you are used to when at home. Remember that we have to carry everything with us - so it all has to fit in our backpacks.
- Typical breakfast - Instant oatmeal/ grits; or Bagel with peanut butter/ sunbutter
- Typical lunch - Wrap or sandwich with options for: pepperoni, cheese, spinach, hummus, bell pepper, peanut butter/ sunbutter, and jelly
- Typical dinner -
- Base of rice, quinoa or pasta
- A few fresh veggies (e.g. onion, bell pepper, squash)
- Protein source such as beans, canned chicken/ tuna, pepperoni
- Flavored with our amazing spice kit!
- Generally, yes, we can manage many food restrictions and dietary needs
- Common dietary needs we accommodate include: food intolerances (such as dairy and gluten), vegan/ vegetarian diets, and halal and kosher diets.
- If you have a food allergy or condition such as celiac, we will have a conversation about its severity, your reaction when exposed, and how/ if we can avoid cross-contamination. Be sure to include this information on your medical form.
- This might be the most common question for people new to trips like this one.
- Your leaders will teach you how to manage human waste and periods before you leave for the trip.
- You will also receive information on period and vulva care in your welcome packet.
- We follow the guidelines of Leave-No-Trace and the wilderness area we are in to determine how to manage human waste.
- Generally, we will use 1 or more of 3 practices:
- Pit toilet - Use a compositing toilet that is typically built near campsites.
- Cat hole - Create your own composting "toilet" by burying your waste in the ground.
- Pack it out - In high impact areas, we may use specially designed products to carry out our waste.
- Generally, we will use 1 or more of 3 practices:
- People who have periods and/or vulvas have a few more steps to take than others when it comes to backcountry hygiene, but it will quickly become part of your daily routine.
- You will receive a detailed list of items to pack to create a "bathroom kit".
- This kit will make sure you have items to help you stay clean, dry and ready for a day of hiking.
- UNC Charlotte is following CDC recommendations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Before participating in Venture Bound, we encourage students to get the vaccine and may require masks during the program.
- We will update participants as we get closer to the program with what our specific protocols will be surrounding COVID-mitigation practices.
Complete the 4 steps listed here: https://venture.charlotte.edu/venture-bound-registration-and-payment
Please note that in the summer we are often on our challenge course, so it may take a few days to respond to emails and voicemails. Thank you in advance for your patience!
- Email: venturedept@charlotte.edu
- Phone: 704-687-0697