The First-Year Outdoor Program is Harvard’s largest and oldest
pre-orientation program. Since 1979, thousands of students have started their
college experience with us. FOP is a great way to meet new classmates and to
ease the adjustment from high school to college. The variety of week-long
hiking, hiking/service and hiking/canoeing trips we offer 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.

Our trips are led by second-, third-, and fourth-year Harvard students from
all walks of life who represent the vibrancy and diversity of Harvard and have
been trained in outdoor leadership and certified in Wilderness First Aid. FOP is
run by a student steering committee and a director, and is administratively
operated through Harvard’s Freshman Dean’s Office.