Off-Campus Orientation Experiences

Denison includes a wide variety of off-campus orientations that provide a unique and enjoyable transition to life.

Off-Campus Orientation Experiences provide a positive start to life at Denison through a memorable shared experience with your new peers. You will leave campus for three days and two nights in order to connect with a smaller group of peers, faculty, staff, and student leaders.

Explore our 17 offerings for 2025! You will rank your top five favorite off-campus experiences in your admitted student portal starting in May. A notification will be sent to you in late June with your trip assignment.

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Choose Your Adventure

To help you find the perfect fit, off-campus experiences are grouped by the type of accommodations — cabin, tent, or hotel — so you can choose the adventure style that feels just right for you.

Tent Experiences

Cabin Experiences

Hotel Experiences

Tent Experiences

Cabin Experiences

Hotel Experiences

Why do we take you off campus as part of your orientation?

To form enduring friendships. Find your people before classes begin by forming meaningful relationships with fellow Denisonians who share your interests and passions.
To start your Denison experience with a network of support. Whether it’s a faculty member you can ask for academic advice, an upperclassman who can tell you what is happening on campus this weekend, or a fellow first-year student you can eat lunch with on the first day of classes, the bonds you form with your group will help you to flourish academically and socially in your first semester and beyond.
To gain the confidence to tackle your first year on The Hill. Focus on living in a community with fellow students from different backgrounds before you shift your focus to academics. Share your hopes, fears, and goals for your time at Denison with faculty, staff, and upperclass students who can then answer your questions about life at Denison.

See more FAQs

Tent Experiences

From sleeping under the stars to tackling thrilling outdoor challenges like hiking, rock climbing, or kayaking, these programs are made for those who crave adventure and love connecting with nature. Get ready to embrace the wild and create unforgettable memories.

You will sleep on the ground in tents. All belongings and equipment are carried with you in backpacks or dry bags. Denison will provide tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, dry bags, and backpacks if you do not have your own.

Denison Canoeing Orientation

Paddle canoes down the Mohican River during this unforgettable wilderness, paddling, and camping experience!

Physical Activity Level: Difficult
Focus: canoeing, camping, nature, scenic views
Location: Mohican River, Perrysville to Coshocton, Ohio

Denison Canoeing Orientation (DCO) is a wonderful welcome to Denison that takes you out into the wilderness of Ohio for an unforgettable adventure. Students will take part in a wilderness, paddling, and camping experience. DCO is also an outdoor learning experience, designed to help students develop safe paddling skills, practice valuable skills in “Leave No Trace” camping, and learn about Ohio’s natural history and geography. The team will paddle canoes down the Mohican River and sleep at primitive campsites along its banks. DCO is a physically demanding trip that entails sustained paddling for most of each day. Previous canoeing experience is preferred.

2024 Denison Canoeing Orientation Schedule

Denison Outdoor Orientation

Take part in a unique and challenging backpack hike through the wilds of the Otter Creek Wilderness Area of the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia.

Physical Activity Level: Difficult
Focus: hiking, nature, camping, backpacking, scenic views
Location: Monongahela National Forest, Otter Creek Wilderness Area, West Virginia

Take part in a unique and challenging backpack hike through the wilds of the Otter Creek Wilderness Area of the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. You will gather in groups of eight, each led by a faculty-student staff team, as you explore a beautiful and inspiring landscape of hills and forests. Spending time together during the multi-day hike is a great opportunity to make new friends, learn more about Denison, and have a lot of fun.

2024 Denison Outdoor Orientation

Denison Whitewater Orientation

Led by professional rafting guides, you’ll adventure through the whitewater rapids of the New River in West Virginia and camp along the river bank with your classmates.

Physical Activity Level: Difficult
Focus: rafting, nature, camping, scenic views
Location: New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, West Virginia

Adventure through our nation’s newest national park by floating down the whitewater rapids of the New River in West Virginia! Find the balance of serene and extreme as you are guided down the Upper and Lower sections of the New River by professional rafting guides. Camp with your classmates along the banks of the river and enjoy the beautiful starscape that the Mountain State provides. This trip will range from beginner-level whitewater rapids in inflatable kayaks and more intermediate rapids in an 8-person raft. If you love outdoor adventure and are a thrill seeker, this trip is for you.

2024 Denison Whitewater Orientation

Cabin Experiences

These programs are ideal for students who want to connect with nature while bonding with peers over campfires, group activities, and shared meals. It’s the perfect balance of outdoor exploration and a warm place to call home at the end of the day!

Cabin experiences take place at summer camps in Ohio. You will sleep in twin-sized bunk beds in cabins made for 10-14 people. Restrooms and showers are located in another building a short walk from sleeping quarters. Meals will be eaten in each camp’s main dining hall. Dining Halls will prepare food that accommodates all dietary requirements of our participants.

Ancient Ohio

Explore some of the world’s most amazing archeological sites here in Ohio! Learn to throw atlatls, explore a recreation of an 800-year-old village, and more.

Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Focus: archaeology, Ohio history, Indigenous peoples, artifacts, summer camp
Location: Camp Kern, Oregonia, Ohio

Ohio is home to some of the world’s most amazing archaeological sites. Eight were just added to the World Heritage List as examples of human creative genius. This program explores a thousand-foot-long serpent that points to the summer solstice, earthworks where people buried artifacts carried to Ohio from Colorado and Wyoming 2000 years ago, and other extraordinary places indigenous peoples created. We will get hands-on experience with some ancient lifeways, such as throwing atlatls, making stone tools, and learning how to find food in forests.

This trip shares a location with Exordium, Session Zero, and Written in the Stars.

2024 Dig Ohio Schedule

Campfire Connect

Conquer new heights on a high-ropes course, make a splash swimming and canoeing in Pleasant Hill Lake, explore the great outdoors on area hiking trails, and spend the evenings connecting around the campfire.

Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Focus: nature, summer camp, outdoor recreation, self-reflection, mindfulness
Location: Camp Nuhop, Butler, Ohio

Get outside with Campfire Connect! Head to Camp Nuhop to immerse yourself in nature with your new peers. Conquer new heights with their high-ropes course, make a splash swimming and canoeing in Pleasant Hill Lake, explore the great outdoors on area hiking trails, and spend the evenings connecting around the campfire. Embark on an adventure where you will make new friends and prepare for an incredible Denison experience!

New in 2025!

Denison Service Orientation

Engage in direct, meaningful service within the community you will call home for the next four years.

Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Focus: community service, exploring the local community
Location: Camp O’Bannon, Newark, Ohio

Engage in direct, meaningful service within the community you will call home for the next four years. Connect with service-minded students, staff, and faculty on projects related to a range of social issues, including food insecurity, homelessness/affordable housing, sustainability, aging, and intellectual/developmental disability. Following service opportunities during the day, engage in fun, social activities in the evening! Develop connections with others while engaging in conversations about how our collective impact can create positive social change on The Hill and beyond.

Sponsored by the Alford Community Leadership & Involvement Center (CLIC)

Mammoth Cave Orientation

Experience the surface and subterranean environments of the longest cave system in the world!

Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Focus: caves, exploring, hiking, geology, biology
Location: Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Experience the surface and subterranean environments of the longest cave system in the world with Mammoth Cave Orientation. Spend time underground learning about the history, geology, and biology of this amazing place while also exploring surface ecosystems, including the beautiful forests and streams of Kentucky. Along the way, we will also soak up some of the quirky and fun local culture in cave country. After active days, connect with your peers and relax in somewhat rustic cabins right inside the Mammoth Cave National Park. If you like hiking and exploring, this trip is for you!

New in 2025!

Session Zero

Enter the “theater of the mind” in a series of table-top gaming sessions led by expert game masters.

Physical Activity Level: Low
Focus: Dungeons & Dragons, tabletop gaming, fantasy, role-playing, nature, summer camp
Location: Camp Kern, Oregonia, Ohio

Explore a new world with your new peers through Session Zero. Enter the “theater of the mind” in a series of Dungeons & Dragons sessions led by expert Game Masters. While your fictional adventuring party completes their quests, you will make lifelong connections with fellow gamers, sharing fellowship as well as characters and strategies. Whether you are an experienced tabletop RPG player or trying it for the first time, all are welcome at the table!

2024 Session Zero Schedule

This trip shares a location with Ancient Ohio, Exordium, and Written in the Stars.

Written in the Stars

Engage with the art of writing, storytelling, and poetry while immersed in the tranquility of nature.

Physical Activity Level: Low
Focus: writing, nature, summer camp, outdoor recreation, self-reflection.
Location: Camp Kern, Oregonia, Ohio

Engage with the art of writing, storytelling, and poetry while immersed in the tranquility of nature. Participate in peer writing circles to refine your creative writing skills while also enjoying outdoor adventure activities and cozy camp cabins. Each night under the stars, you will share stories around the campfire and build meaningful relationships with your fellow Denisonians. Through the power of written and spoken word, reflect on the experiences that brought you to Denison and your Denison journey ahead.

2024 Written in the Stars Schedule

This trip shares a location with Ancient Ohio, Exordium, and Session Zero.

By Invitation of the Lisska Center for Scholarly Engagement

Exordium

Designed for students joining the Lisska Center’s invitation-only Scholar-Leader program, Exordium (the Beginning) provides team-building, leadership development, and outdoor fun with your new peers.

Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Focus: leadership development, team-building, outdoor recreation, summer camp
Location: Camp Kern, Oregonia, Ohio

The Lisska Center for Intellectual Engagement sponsors an invitation-only Scholar-Leader program that helps students develop academic, research, leadership, and career skills. The first-year cohort will participate in the off-campus orientation experience Exordium (the Beginning), which is led by Scholar-Leader upperclassmen and faculty from the Lisska Center. Enjoy fun team-building and leadership development activities along with swimming, an optional ropes course, and other outdoor fun. You’ll enjoy s’mores around the campfire, arts & crafts, and games with your new peers as you prepare for your Denison experience.

This trip shares a location with Ancient Ohio, Session Zero, and Written in the Stars.

Hotel Experiences

Dive into city adventures, connect with Denison alumni, and explore vibrant communities. Perfect for those who love engaging experiences with the convenience and comfort of a hotel stay.

You will sleep in a hotel room with two queen-sized beds with one other student. The two of you will share the bathroom. Breakfast will be provided at your hotel, and other meals will be at take-out or sit-down restaurants in your area. All hotel trips will include quite a bit of city walking.

Big Red Connections

Choose your path — Pre-Business or Pre-Health — and network with Denison alumni, explore career opportunities in Columbus, and have fun as you kick off your college journey!

Physical Activity Level: Low
Focus: networking, career exploration, alumni connections, Columbus employers
Location: Hampton Inn & Suites Columbus Downtown, Columbus, Ohio

Choose your path — Pre-Business or Pre-Health — and explore career opportunities in Columbus! You will build relationships with fellow new Denisonians, visit local organizations, and network with alumni eager to share how they maximized their time on The Hill. There will also be plenty of fun activities to kick off your journey at Denison.

2024 Big Red Connections Schedule

Sponsored by the Knowlton Center for Career Exploration

This trip shares a location with Denison by Design and Denison Art Orientation.

Cleveland Rocks!

Explore the sights and sounds of Cleveland, then spend a day at Cedar Point!

Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Focus: alumni connections, exploring Cleveland, amusement parks
Location: Holiday Inn Express Cleveland Downtown, Cleveland, Ohio

Explore some of Ohio’s most interesting destinations with Cleveland Rocks! Whether we are exploring the city of Cleveland or spending the day at the Cedar Point amusement park, you will explore the sights and sounds of the city and connect with fellow students. Hear from alumni about their Denison experience and post-college journeys and ask their advice for maximizing your time on The Hill. Through it all, this trip will expedite your engagement with peers, alumni, and staff at Denison.

2024 Cleveland Rocks! Schedule

Denison Art Orientation

Work with artists in dance, art, music, and theatre as you explore Columbus, Ohio’s vibrant urban arts culture!

Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Focus: arts, visual art, music, theatre, dance, exploring Columbus
Location: Hampton Inn & Suites Columbus Downtown, Columbus, Ohio

Explore the vibrant urban arts culture that only a big city can generate with Denison Art Orientation (DAO). Travel to Columbus, Ohio, with faculty, staff, and student leaders to work with local artists in dance, art, music, and theatre. Some time will also be spent touring museums, public art, and the city. DAO is not just for arts people — students energized by city life, interested in multicultural experiences, or who like to think about how art can capture or change our experiences will have a great time.

2024 Denison Art Orientation Schedule

This trip shares a location with Big Red Connections and Denison by Design.

Denison by Design

Explore Columbus and learn how to make the most of your Denison experience “by design”

Physical Activity Level: Low
Focus: design thinking, exploring Columbus, entrepreneurship, Red Frame Lab
Location: Hampton Inn & Suites Columbus Downtown, Columbus, Ohio

Explore Columbus. Meet fellow Denisonians. Learn how to make the best of your Denison experience “by design.” Centered in downtown Columbus, you will experience the possibilities our nearby metropolitan city offers. Sketch your many possible futures through design thinking workshops. Explore the entrepreneur inside of you and design experiences for others that will serve you well as you start to get involved on campus. The Red Frame Lab staff will prepare you to make the most of your Denison journey… by design.

2024 Denison by Design Schedule

Sponsored by the Knowlton Center for Career Exploration’s Red Frame Lab

This trip shares a location with Big Red Connections and Denison Art Orientation.

Engage Cincinnati

From team-building activities along the Cincinnati riverfront to shared moments of discovery, this trip promises a perfect blend of fun, learning, and community building.

Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Focus: exploring Cincinnati, alumni connections, Ohio River
Location: Hampton Inn & Suites Cincinnati Downtown, Cincinnati, Ohio

Kick off your college adventure by exploring the vibrant city of Cincinnati, Ohio! Nestled along the banks of the Ohio River, this city blends rich history with modern style, offering an ideal backdrop for connecting with Denison Alumni, exploring some of the region’s best cultural landmarks. Engage Cincinnati promises a perfect blend of fun, learning, and community building.

2024 Engage Cincinnati Schedule

Taste of Denison

Whether you are new to cooking or a pro in the kitchen, take your food knowledge to the next level!

Physical Activity Level: Low
Focus: cooking, food, local community, farm-to-table
Location: Columbus, Ohio

Take your culinary skills to the next level with Taste of Denison. You will pick out fresh ingredients, expand your palette at local area restaurants, and learn about the local food industry. The group will learn cooking techniques, including proper cutting skills and food preparation, and we will share a feast we prepare for ourselves! Whether you are new to cooking or a pro in the kitchen, we hope you join us.

2024 Taste of Denison Schedule

World of Sports

Embrace your passion for sports, tour Columbus stadiums, watch games, and more!

Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Focus: recreational sports, professional sports, exploring Columbus, broadcasting, data analytics
Location: Hampton Inn & Suites University Area, Columbus, Ohio

Embrace your passion for sports during the World of Sports Orientation! Visit Columbus to tour local stadiums, watch games, discover the rich history of DU athletics, play some recreational sports, and even get a chance to test out your broadcasting skills! This trip will open your eyes to how sports can be a part of your life even if you are not the athlete making the clutch play on the field. Join fellow Denisonians who share these interests as you gain a new perspective on the wide world of sports and this new phase of your life.

2024 World of Sports Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

There is no cost for participating in one of these experiences as part of your orientation.

Student-athletes moving in early for football, cross country, field hockey, soccer, volleyball, and golf don’t participate in these orientations. However, student-athletes gain all the benefits of the off-campus orientations as they live on campus with their team during their pre-season practices. Your coach will provide information about your special move-in day.

You will rank your top five off-campus experiences in your Enrollment Checklist starting in May. We will give preference to your first choice, but space on each trip is limited. You could be assigned any of your five choices, so be sure to consider which experiences would most excite you carefully. A notification will be sent to you in late June with your trip assignment.

New students coming from abroad will move in on Monday, Aug. 18.
New students from the United States will move in on Wednesday, Aug. 20, followed by afternoon programming and the Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2029.
On Friday, Aug. 24, participants will travel to the location of their off-campus experiences, returning on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

You will receive a detailed packing list for your off-campus orientation experience in the summer months. Plan to pack a separate bag for your trip so you don’t have to unpack all your bags! All programs include considerable walking; comfortable closed-toe walking shoes are required.

Meals are included, but students participating in a city-based program may want to bring an additional $50-$100 to help cover the cost of other food or shopping.

Our physically challenging off-campus orientation experiences are for students who are ready to be active throughout their trip.

Denison Outdoor Orientation: You will walk 2-6 miles per day on mixed terrain while carrying packs. You have to be able to carry more than 40 pounds, walk more than 10,000 steps on uneven ground, sleep on the ground, and be comfortable while being wet.
Denison Canoeing Orientation: You will need the ability to sit upright in a canoe and paddle for several hours a day. Canoeing experience is preferred, and swimming ability is required.
Denison Whitewater Orientation: You will need the ability to sit upright in a kayak or raft and paddle for an extended period of time. Kayaking experience is preferred, and swimming ability is required. You will spend a considerable amount of time in the river and should be comfortable while being wet.

Denison University is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible environment.

If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact Accessibility & Disability Services at 740-587-6666 or disabilityservices@denison.edu. While advance notice is appreciated, we will do our best to accommodate requests even with short notice.

Accessibility Guide

Need More Info?

The Office of First-Year Experience is here to help!

Email firstyear@denison.edu

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Off-Campus Orientation Experiences

Choose Your Adventure

Why do we take you off campus as part of your orientation?

Tent Experiences

Denison Canoeing Orientation

Denison Outdoor Orientation

Denison Whitewater Orientation

Cabin Experiences

Cabin Experiences

Ancient Ohio

Campfire Connect

Denison Service Orientation

Mammoth Cave Orientation

Session Zero

Written in the Stars

Exordium

Hotel Experiences

Big Red Connections

Cleveland Rocks!

Denison Art Orientation

Denison by Design

Engage Cincinnati

Taste of Denison

World of Sports

Frequently Asked Questions

Need More Info?

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