# Harvard First-Year Outdoor Program

**Source**: https://fop.fas.harvard.edu/
**Parent**: https://dso.college.harvard.edu/pre-orientation

## Welcome to FOP!

### 2026 Leader Applications Open!

Do you want to lead a First-Year Outdoor Program trip? Since 1979, FOP has worked to provide fun, inspiring, and safe pre-orientation trips for incoming first-year students using the lakes, mountains, and trails all over the Native Northeast. We owe most of our success to our wonderful leader community.

### Welcome to FOP!

The First-Year Outdoor Program (FOP) is Harvard’s largest and oldest pre-orientation program. Since 1979, thousands of students have started their Harvard college experience by going on a FOP trip. In 2025, over 300 participants explored the Native Northeast's finest forests, mountains, and lakes in small groups. But FOP is not just an outdoors trip; it is an opportunity to build a sense of community, reflect on your hopes for college, and enter with both confidence and a network of close friends. **No outdoor experience is required!**

Our variety of week-long hiking, site-based, service, and switch (part hiking, part canoeing) provide an excellent learning environment where cooperation, initiative, and reflection lead to the development of a strong community and to personal insights that are helpful even in the urban setting of Harvard. Trips are designed for all levels of experience and fitness **(including accessible outdoor experiences)** and are led by Wilderness First Aid trained and experienced upperclassmen students. FOP is run by an undergraduate steering committee and a director, and is administratively operated through Harvard College's Dean of Students Office.

### Mission Statement

The mission of FOP is to provide group adventure-based experiences that promote the development of social support and self-awareness for first-year students, and leadership development for members of the Harvard community. FOP should be a resource and support system throughout freshman year. FOP also maintains the following as central values:

- Compassion
- The equality and intrinsic worth of all people regardless of gender, age, race, sexual Orientation, religion, ethnic or socioeconomic background
- Responsibility to community
- Care and responsibility to the environment

### Goals of the Program

The goals of FOP for each participant are as follows:

- Improve the transition from high school to Harvard
- Make friends with fellow first-years and upperclassmen who can support and encourage each other
- Learn about cooperation, initiative, and endurance in a wilderness setting, leading to insights which may transfer to life at Harvard
- Develop a sense of community and a positive connection with Harvard as a whole

### FOP 2026! Coming Soon...

Hey Class of 2030! We can't wait for you to join us on FOP this year! Official dates will be announced soon. Last year, move-in was August 18th and trips ran from August 20th to August 25!

Until then, as always, please feel free to reach out to us by email at [fop@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:fop@fas.harvard.edu) with any questions, concerns, or cookies :)

## Latest News

[### FOP 2026 Leader Applications Are Open!](/news/2025/12/fop-2026-leader-applications-are-open)

December 08, 2025

[### Announcing the FOP 2025 Training Class!](/news/2025/02/announcing-fop-2025-training-class)

February 12, 2025

[### Thank You to SC '24 and Announcing SC '25](/news/thank-you-sc-24-and-announcing-sc-25)

November 04, 2024