First Tracks Pre-Orientation Trip

Join us for First Tracks and get a taste of the outdoor recreation opportunities Colorado has to offer while getting to know other incoming students! Activities will include hiking, white water rafting and more! First Tracks is open to all incoming first-year and transfer students.

First Tracks allowed me to meet a ton of other incoming students. You all made my transition into college much smoother.  Max, First Tracks participant

Join us for the 2024 First Tracks Pre-Orientation Trip

This year's trip will begin Saturday, August 17, and conclude Wednesday, August 21. Registration opens May 15th to July 30. If the trip is full, we encourage you to join the waitlist in case others drop out.

Camping scene with tent at sunset

Trip Cost

$575, which includes:

- All food and lodging
- All program activities
- Transportation during the program
- Equipment rental if needed (e.g. sleeping bag, sleeping pad)

Itinerary

Saturday, Aug. 17 - Day 1:
Participants arriving via Denver International Airport: A shuttle will pick you up from the airport. The last shuttle will depart at 11 a.m. MT, followed by check-in at Clarke Hall and move-in at DeSmet.
Participants driving to campus: Check in for First Tracks at Clarke Hall between 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. You will have the option to move into your dorms at this time, or on Wednesday when we return. We will depart from campus at 3 p.m. for camping at Genesee Park outside of Golden, CO.

Sunday, Aug. 18 - Day 2: High and low ropes course at Genesee Park. Depart to Grandy, CO for our new campsite.

Monday, Aug. 19 - Day 3: Group 1 Hiking, Group 2 Rafting

Tuesday, Aug. 20 - Day 4: Group 1 Rafting, Group 2 Hiking

Wednesday, Aug. 21 - Day 5: Pack up camp and head back to campus. We will arrive by Noon as other students are moving into their dorms. Parents and families will have the option to help move into the dorms this afternoon however, SOAR Welcome Week Activities start at 2 p.m.

Camping scene with tent at sunset
Camping scene with tent at sunset

What to Bring

We recommend wearing active clothes that you don’t mind getting wet, especially when we’re at the lake! We’d also recommend bringing a day-pack for snacks, extra layers and water.

First Tracks adventure program group photo
Students taking selfie at lake
student smiling with large camping backpack
Students hiking up a trail

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! There are scholarships available for those in financial need. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must write a one-page essay answering the questions below and send an email with a PDF attachment to Gretchen Weber Goode at gweber001@regis.edu. All scholarship essays are due June 15.

-Why do you want to attend First Tracks?
-What leadership and/or interpersonal skills do you hope to gain while attending First Tracks?
-What does community look like to you?
-How will attending First Tracks support you as a student at Regis?

Adventure activities are physically demanding. We do our best to design our program to meet the needs of individuals who have minimal experience in the outdoors. However, if you are usually inactive we would encourage you to begin a moderate level of exercise in preparation of the program, such as walking, jumping jacks, or bike riding on a daily basis.

If you have any allergies or special needs, please indicate them on the registration form. We do our best to accommodate all needs and requests.

We will be sleeping in a tent shared with others with a mat and sleeping bag.

Denver is the Mile-High City, and we will be leaving it and heading into the mountains, at an even higher altitude. At this high of an altitude, the sun shines very directly and harshly - sunscreen is an absolute necessity. Additionally, it is easy to become dehydrated so you need to be careful to drink a lot of water. Some people can feel sick when adjusting to a high altitude, but most people who hydrate should feel fine. If you have more questions about this, just contact us!

If you’re a First Tracks participant who will live in the residence halls, you are considered an early arrival and will receive your residence hall key when you arrive on campus to check in for the First Tracks program. You can move in on Sunday, August 13, from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., and your parents and families can help you during this time. When you return to campus from the First Tracks experience you can unpack more and settle in.

We will return to campus on Wednesday, August 16, at 3 p.m. We will be back with enough time to shower and be ready for SOAR Welcome Week Activities starting at 5 p.m.

Your first time signing up for an OAP trip on ActiveNet can sometimes give you an error. In this case, please put in your Regis email address and click 'Forgot Password?' This will send an email to your Regis email address and follow the email prompt and then you will be able to sign into ActiveNet and sign up for First Tracks!

Withdrawal and Refund Policy

All withdrawals from the trip must be emailed to oap@regis.edu

Cancellation Policy:
The following is our refund policy and we strictly adhere to this policy no matter when you register and submit payment. Please make your travel plans to arrive in advance of the course start in order to avoid weather complications, ensuring you are on time on the first day of the course. NO refunds are given due to weather.

Registration is non-transferable. If a student chooses to withdraw from a course:

  • Greater than or equal to 30 days prior to the course start date, Regis University will retain a $35 administrative fee
  • Between 21 and 30 days of the course start, sponsor will retain $200
  • Between 14 and 21 days of the course start, sponsor will retain $350
  • Less than 14 days before course start, sponsor will retain entire tuition
  • After the course has begun, the tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable

If you have questions regarding the payment process or refund policy, please email oap@regis.edu prior to registering for the course.

  • Should a participant withdraw, the participant is responsible for any airfare cancellation, change fees, or other personal expenses made in preparation for the trip
  • Should a participant violate the Student Code of Conduct, outlined in the Student Handbook, while traveling with the program and should be determined by the program directors that the participant should be sent back, the participant will bear all costs associated with his or her early return. Refunds will not be issued under these circumstances.

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