Yes! It's mandatory for Outdoor Summer Experience participants to attend a Community Hike to help you prepare for your summer. This is for a few reasons.

• You'll get a sense of what things might be like on your Summer Experience, both socially and physically. You'll be meeting new Summer Searchers and can get a jump start at building friendships with peers that might be on your trip.

• This is also a great opportunity to assess your physical preparedness. Many of our Summer Searchers haven't hiked or backpacked much before, and that's totally okay! But this is a great chance to self-assess how your body responds to hiking several miles and gives you plenty of time to do any additional prep so you feel more comfortable going into your trip.

• You will also be receiving a couple of pieces of gear that you will be taking on your Summer Experience. In particular, you'll receive your hiking boots! You'll have a lot of support this day finding the perfect boots for you. It's super important to break your boots in before you leave and walk or hike in them. They'll be more comfortable and you'll have less blisters. It's not fun to hike with blisters!

This event is intended for our Outdoor Summer Experience participants. We do not invite families on to the event, but families are more than welcome to stay for student arrival and can go on their own adventure in the park, if they'd like.

They will most likely be there, but you can ask them to be sure!

Quite possibly! During the event, you'll be placed in a group that will include participants that either are going on a trip with your same Program Partner OR are actually on the same trip as you. A few of our Program Partners are offering multiple trips, so you may have the same Program Partner as someone but not be on the same trip, such as Environmental Traveling Companions or Deer Hill.

Since this is an outdoor event, we suggest bringing sunscreen, water, and a hat with a brim. May can be pretty sunny, so having a hat (and/or sunglasses) is key!

You should also bring a backpack to hold these items. Your backpack will also hold your boots, lunch, snacks, and extra water that we'll be providing you. This backpack can be your school bag, or something of a similar size.

You'll also want to wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty and sweaty in (e.g. activewear or gym clothes). Don't forget to check the weather to see if it'll be a hot or cooler day, so you can dress accordingly. A tip is to dress in layers, such as wearing a short sleeve shirt and bringing a sweatshirt.

If you have allergies, we recommend taking in the morning or bringing allergy medication with you. (Non-drowsy medication preferred so you don't fall asleep!) May is springtime, so flowers will be blooming, and the ground may be dusty. The staff member leading your group will have spare allergy medication, in case you need it.

Yes. On the survey, we check in about what transportation options you may need.

If you know you can't make it because of work, travel or another commitment, please let your mentor know by March 25th. They will work with you to create or find another opportunity for you to hike or get outside.