<p>I'm sure this has already been asked, but how much do the outdoor trips cost? Also, I like the idea of the organic farming one; does anyone who participated in this one have any praise/criticism for it?</p>
<p>You will be sent information about the first year trips later this summer. Don't worry, they make the trip affordable for every one. If you are receiving any kind of FA from Dartmouth, the cost will be reduced. Even then, if you are having financial hardships, they will work with you to make certain you are able to attend.</p>
<p>My D went on the organic farming one. First of all her experience was that there is very little apparent rhyme or reason on how they decide who goes on which trip. At the time, she was inclined to think someone was having a joke at her expense because we're from the deep South - organic farming was not on her list at all, she wanted moderate hiking or kayaking. We all laughed and said the yankees didn't understand that we do wear shoes now!
Anyway, organic farming was fun. She got to ride in the war canoe, eat fresh veggies, sleep in a very primitive tent/lean-to. they even had a run-in with a critter coming up from the riverbank. Not what she had expected, but still fun.</p>
<p>Last year the trips were $95. S applied online the first day and recieved his first choice trip. (His choice was kayaking, perhaps bcos the powers that be thought it would be safer to put a Californian on the river over someone from 'Bama.) :) </p>
<p>DON'T miss the trips, they're a blast and great bonding experience. ~90+% of frosh participate -- the only ones who miss out are those with late travel plans and fall athletes who have practice.</p>
<p>Which trip you get doesn't matter. Just go - even if its your last choice trip and at an inconvenient time. It will be one of your best experiences ever, and if you don't go, you really will be quite out of the loop from the start. I can't stress enough how important it is that everyone go. Last year out of a class of 1080, I think there were only 40 who didn't.</p>
<p>There is an apocryphal story that one year all the girls on one trip were named Emily, so I'm not sure about what all goes on while the upperclassmen in the DOC are sitting around dividing people up for the trips - maybe they get "tired"????</p>
<p>Story true, and the virtually all of boys on the trip all had same or similar names. All of them had stated a preference for the trip type, but still... makes you wonder. Regardless, as bulldogbull states, go, no matter what choice you get. Take a look at this link to get a little more idea, read the quotes, etc. <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Edoc/firstyeartrips/%5B/url%5D">http://www.dartmouth.edu/~doc/firstyeartrips/</a></p>