<p>I know that Princeton has two types of freshman orientations. Outdoor Action is the camping trip and Community Action is the community service projects. Does anyone have any recommendations of which to choose? Any stories? Advice?</p>
<p>I'm kind of leaning towards Community Action because I'm extremely reluctant to give up showers and toilets... :p</p>
<p>Not showering is not that bad. Your brain ignores the smell after a while.</p>
<p>Both CA and OA lead to a lot of student bonding. It's just the activities that are different. CA is based around community service and Habitat-type projects, whereas OA offers hiking, climbing, and canoeing (and combo trips as well).</p>
<p>is it true that they offer different versions of OA for people of different "levels" of outdoorsiness?</p>
<p>Yes. They offer trips at different levels of difficulty and also some trips that actually aren't trips but camping at campgrounds. With bathrooms....</p>
<p>in general, if you're not in good physical shape, I recommend you stick to CA. </p>
<p>If you do OA (unprepared for the physical rigor), you will most likely be injured/suffer bruises. You will see ppl who did OA the first week of schools forced to use crutches because they overestimated their ability to hang with the big boys</p>
<p>Really? From what I heard, unless you applied for and got into rock-climbing or something, OA was not especially challenging, just a matter of trudging along and doing without showers. And if you were really a klutz you could sign up for the OA at the camp in Blairstown, which sounds pretty tame.</p>
<p>OA trips offer multiple levels:
-Summer camp style (showers! yay!)
-low distance (4-6 miles per day, easy terrain)
-medium (6-10 miles)
-hard (10+miles, difficult terrain)</p>
<p>I got placed on a medium trip, never did hiking in my life, and survived just fine.</p>
<p>One of my friends on my trip was not at all happy when she found out she was placed on a level 4 trip when she had signed up for a level 2 (next-to-easiest). Nevertheless, she had an amazing time and said she wouldn't have traded her level 4 for a level 2. It's tough, but that makes the nights all the more wonderful :)</p>
<p>Do OA!!!!!! It's so much fun (I'm a leader).</p>
<p>OMG NO INTERNET ACCESS FOR 5 DAYS?</p>
<p>definitely not going.</p>
<p>I'd recommend outdoor action!! not that i dont wanna do community service but i like the woods!!</p>