OUTBACK ADVENTURES
Wilderness Orientation | FAQ’s
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Q: What is Wilderness Orientation (WO) all about? Who can attend these trips?
A: WO is a great opportunity for incoming students to get oriented to campus, learn some life skills, make lasting friendships, and unplug before starting school at UCSD. All non-specified WO trips are open to incoming first years and incoming transfer students. Transfer students are also able to sign up for our transfer specific program. Incoming medical students are welcome on our Pre-Op Outdoor Experience.
Q: Does Wilderness Orientation take the place of College Orientation?
A: No, Wilderness Orientation is a supplemental program that will help you learn life skills and facilitate you meeting new friends, but it does not replace your mandatory college orientation.
REGISTRATION QUESTIONS
Q: Can I sign up for these trips as a minor?
A: Minors are welcome to sign up for any of our trips. Since we require a waiver signature, a minor cannot sign up using their own Recreation account. Here is an outline of the process to register through a parent/guardian:
1. Parent/guardian must sign up for a recreation.ucsd.edu community account. Please fill out all required fields when signing up. This will trigger an email confirmation. Follow the link to confirm your account.
2. Sign into your account and click your name on the top right corner, then click profile. Scroll to the bottom and click on “add dependent”
3. Fill out the dependent’s information – this should be the incoming student currently under 18 years old. Please include their email address and phone number.
4. Once your dependent is saved, you should also create a payment method. This will make the check-out process easier. On the left of the profile page, click on the last link, “saved payment info” and select “save a new card,” then save your info.
5. Now you can sign up for a trip! Make your selection on the website, click register, and be sure to select “register” next to the incoming student’s name.
6. Complete the remaining information and process your payment. Congratulations! We can’t wait to see you on a WO trip soon!
Q: I’m a student and I tried to log in with my UCSD email, but I keep getting an error. What should I do?
A: When you sign up for classes, our system automatically recognizes you and imports your information into our system. If you haven’t signed up for classes yet, or are unable to, you will need to create a community account to sign up for WO. Eventually your student and community accounts will be merged, and you will use your student account to sign up for recreation events in the future. Simply click “Sign Up” at the top right of the Recreation website and fill out the form. For best results, please use a personal email address for your community account. You will need to confirm your account before registering for your trip.
Q: I’m still having trouble signing up online, who should I ask for help?
A: If you are still unable to complete the process online, please call the Recreation Customer Service line at 858-534-3557.
LOGISTICAL QUESTIONS
Q: My class registration time is during the WO trip I would like to attend. Will I have access to the internet during the trip?
A: Unless your registration is on the first or last day of the trip, when your group is on campus*, there is no opportunity to gain cell or internet service while you are on your trip. We recommend either giving your login information to a trusted person (i.e. your parent) to make your selections for you; otherwise, we would be happy to have you join one of our other WO trips. We think they are all amazing!
*Please call us at 858-534-8211 to confirm you will be on campus during your registration time.
Q: I see that your trips are “technology free” – what does this mean? What if there is an emergency in the field or back home?
A: Our WO trips take place in fairly remote areas where there is often no cell service. We like to take advantage of being “away from it all” and connecting with our group members in the present moment. All participants will leave cell phones and other communication devices behind (and secured) at Outback, but trip leaders will carry multiple forms of communication to contact our office in case of emergencies or other incidents. These devices are mostly used in one direction, so there is rarely an opportunity to hear updates from us while you are on your trip.
Q: My flight home is in the afternoon; will I be able to get a ride to the airport?
A: Outback guides will provide one airport shuttle at 10am on the last day of your WO trip. Please do not plan flights earlier than noon to ensure you have enough time at the airport before your flight.
Q: My trip is right before my move-in date. Will there be a place for me to store my things? And can someone help me move in?
A: Yes, we have space at Outback for you to store some items during your trip. If you have many items, please contact us to ensure we have enough space. If your trip ends on your move-in date, your Outback guides will help move items across campus to your dorm. If you are moving in at a later date, please arrange to store your belongings elsewhere after 10am on the last day of your trip.
Q: My college orientation conflicts with the WO trip I want to sign up for, what should I do?
A: We aim to have our trips wrapped up before college orientations, but occasionally there is some overlap. Outback Adventures cannot excuse you from your Orientation. If you need to request a change, you must contact your college directly. Please do not sign up for a WO trip that conflicts with your orientation time.
FINANCIAL QUESTIONS
Q: Why are trips priced differently? What is included with the cost?
A: Our prices cover the cost of transportation, food, camping permits, staff, and more– these will vary depending on the location, activity, and duration of the trip. This cost does not cover your personal gear, although you will be able to rent specific items from our rental shop at a reduced cost. We keep our prices as low as we can to stay accessible to as many students as possible. Keep in mind, our prices increase on July 1st and August 1st so be sure to sign up soon.
Q: Is there an opportunity to receive financial assistance for a WO trip?
A: Yes, we have financial assistance available for first generation college students, students from low income families, non-resident/out of state students, and international students (F1/J1). If you believe you qualify for any of these categories, please fill out a WO Financial Assistance Application. Financial assistance is limited and awarded on a first come first served basis. Please apply accordingly. Students who apply for financial assistance but are not awarded it, can cancel program enrollment and receive a 100% refund if cancellation within 7 days of notification. The WO refund policy applies to cancellations made after this 7 day grace period.
*If the cost of this trip is prohibitive to you please reach out to us. We do not want financial barriers to stop anyone from participating in our programs.
CHOOSING YOUR TRIP
Q: How do I know which trip to sign up for? They all look so different! And so fun!
A: We pride ourselves on the variety of activities and locations that we offer for our WO programs. As an incoming undergraduate student, you have several different options to choose from. Please read through the descriptions on our WO website: recreation.ucsd.edu/adventures/wilderness-orientation.
If you still have questions, feel free to call or email us. We are always happy to talk about Wilderness Orientation.
Q: Can I sign up for more than one WO trip?
A: No, unfortunately you can only sign up for one trip. This is to make sure that we can serve the most number of incoming students as possible. We know it is hard to choose, but please pick just one!
Q: I am excited to sign up with a friend, are we guaranteed to be on the same trip?
A: Wilderness Orientation is the best way to make new friends at UCSD. If you know someone else who is interested in signing up for WO, we encourage you to sign up for different trips so that you can double the amount of friends you make! Additionally, sometimes we run simultaneous trips, so you are not guaranteed to be placed with a friend even if you register for the same program.
We hope you found the answer to your questions. Still need more information?
Email us: wo@ucsd.edu | Call us: 858-534-8211