Whether you have never slept in a tent before or you're already comfortable navigating by map and compass through wilderness areas, there is a place for you in the Phoenix Outdoor Program (POP).
While there are many programs on campus designed to welcome new students to the UChicago community, POP is unique in its setting and in the demands that students must face while cooking meals, sleeping in tents, and spending full days outdoors with one another. This outdoor program is a one-of-a-kind chance for students to have experiences that are not possible on campus while also forming small group bonds with their new classmates and upperclass mentors.
There are three trip options: POP Base Camp, POP Expedition North, and POP Expedition South, each with a different level of difficulty. Learn more about each available trip below.
Details for All Trips
Dates: 2023 Dates TBD
Spaces Available: 105
Cost: $500 - POP is a need-blind program and we are committed to ensuring everyone who wants to participate is able to do so. Financial assistance is available for qualifying students and there is gear to borrow, free of charge. There will be a section of the application form where you can request financial aid and gear.
Inclusions: Housing, meals, and transportation are included in the cost of the program. Students will be responsible for incidental/personal expenses as well as transportation to campus prior to the start of the program.
Gear: Participants will need all items on the gear checklist (each program has a gear checklist, which you can find below), but there's no need to purchase any items that you do not expect to use after the POP Trip. Group gear will be provided by POP and there is plenty of extra gear for participants to borrow, free of charge. There will be multiple opportunities to request to borrow gear, the first of which will be on the POP application.
Please note that students may apply for and participate in multiple Pre-Orientation or Summer Experience programs, provided the dates of the program do not overlap.
TBA for 2023
Backpacking and camping can be an expensive activity, but the Phoenix Outdoor Program is committed to ensuring all students who are interested can participate in this opportunity. In order to assist students with the cost of participating in the program, you can request financial assistance as part of your application. POP is a need-blind program, and a request for financial assistance will have no impact on how your application is reviewed. If accepted into the program, you will receive a notice of the financial assistance available to you before you need to make a decision about whether to participate in the POP Pre-O or not.
All students participating in a Pre-Orientation program will stay in one residence hall for the duration of their program. For the Phoenix Outdoor Program, POP Base Camp and POP Expedition North participants will be on campus for two nights before being bussed to their trip locations. POP Expedition South participants will be on campus for one night.
Upon arriving on campus, students will be given a chance to briefly put their term-time items into their permanent room before checking in for their program at the Pre-Orientation residence hall. Participants may bring all of your belongings for the academic year with you, though you will be responsible for getting those items into your term-time rooms upon arrival, so we recommend limiting how much you bring with you. All items you bring should be labeled with your name and phone number. Students should pack a separate bag with all of their camping gear for the week to bring to the Pre-Orientation residence hall.
The campground we have reserved for POP Base Camp has accessible lodging designed for campers with disabilities. We also have hiking poles available for those who require them and can discuss other accessible gear - please feel free to reach out to Katie at kwelch@uchicago.edu if you have any concerns around accessibility!
POP Base Camp Trip
POP Base Camp takes place at an established campground in Southern Illinois. During the program, groups of ten incoming first year students will be paired with two upperclass student leaders who will lead them through outdoor skill development, different forms of outdoor recreation, and preparation for the first year at UChicago and beyond. Students on this trip will be in the front country with access to washrooms, but will still sleep in tents for the duration of the program.
- Recall and understand hazards and risks previously explained by group leaders or support staff.
- Warn other participants and/or leaders about impending dangers.
- Effectively signal or notify group leaders or other POP participants of personal distress, injury, or need for assistance.
- Understand and follow the direction given by others to avoid hazards and/or manage risks, including in an emergency and/or under stress.
- Be able to stay alert and to focus attention for up to several hours at a time while traveling in wilderness terrain, being taught by group leaders, or receiving instructions.
- If taking prescription medications, maintain proper dosage by self-administering without assistance from group leaders or others (except possibly in emergency situations).
- Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially challenging conditions. You will be living closely with your tent partners and with all members of your group in close quarters. There may be limited personal time. POP will require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
- Contribute to a safe learning environment—no verbal or physical abuse will be tolerated.
- Be able to willingly and equally share responsibility with your group in daily camp chores. Each participant may not do an equal share each day, but over a period of several days each participants should do a proportionate share.
- Effectively communicate ideas and concerns on an individual and group level.
- Learn and then practice Leave No Trace camping and travel techniques.
- Remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed so as to remain generally healthy and strive to protect themselves from environmental injuries such as hypothermia, heat illness, or sunburn.
- Be able to move about the campsite in order to participate in group activities, attend to toileting needs, and contribute to camping tasks as necessary.
- Live in a sometimes physically demanding, wilderness environment for the five days of the POP trip. Conditions of this environment may vary from 40 to 90 degrees and may include, but not be limited to, rain, thunderstorms or hail, uninterrupted sun and/or wind.
- Be able to travel over diverse terrains or alert your leaders if you are unable to do so.
The Phoenix Outdoor Program (POP) is designed to introduce new students to the UChicago community and to develop outdoor skills through wilderness exploration. In order to do so, we must take steps to ensure the health and well-being of all participants. In order to do so, we must ensure all participants are able to successfully meet the demands of camping in an outdoor environment where outside assistance is not immediately available.
All POP Base Camp participants must meet the following Essential Eligibility Criteria:
Safety and Judgment
Each participant must be able to…
Leadership and Trip Behavior
Each participant must…
Outdoor Skills
Each participant must…
Open the packing list below for a list of items all participants need for their POP Base Camp trip. At the end of the gear list, there is helpful information about why you need certain pieces of gear and any additional guidelines, as well as information on how to obtain the gear you need.
If you have any questions around what type of gear we're asking you to bring, just ask! You can contact the POP Coordinator at kwelch@uchicago.edu
To be completed only by those going on the POP Base Camp trip:
POP Expedition Trips
POP Expeditions take place in Manistee National Forest in Michigan. Similar to POP Base Camp, participants will be placed in groups of eight and paired with two upperclass student leaders. Expedition Campers, however, will go on a backpacking trip, carrying everything they need for themselves and their group on their back, and will learn outdoor skills that they will immediately put into practice. Students on this trip will be in the backcountry with no access to washrooms except on the first and last day.
There are two Expedition trips - one hiking 5-8 miles per day over 3 days (Expedition North) and one hiking 8-12 miles per day over 4 days (Expedition South). There is a place on the application form to indicate your preference.
- Recall and understand hazards and risks previously explained by group leaders or support staff.
- Warn other participants and/or leaders about impending dangers.
- Effectively signal or notify group leaders or other POP participants of personal distress, injury, or need for assistance.
- Understand and follow the direction given by others to avoid hazards and/or manage risks, including in an emergency and/or under stress.
- Be able to stay alert and to focus attention for up to several hours at a time while traveling in wilderness terrain, being taught by group leaders, or receiving instructions.
- If taking prescription medications, maintain proper dosage by self-administering without assistance from group leaders or others (except possibly in emergency situations).
- Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially challenging conditions. You will be living closely with your tent partners and with all members of your group in close quarters. There may be limited personal time. POP will require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
- Contribute to a safe learning environment—no verbal or physical abuse will be tolerated.
- Be able to willingly and equally share responsibility with your group in daily camp chores. Each participant may not do an equal share each day, but over a period of several days each participants should do a proportionate share.
- Effectively communicate ideas and concerns on an individual and group level.
- Learn and then practice Leave No Trace camping and travel techniques.
- Learn and competently perform the fundamental camping skills of finding a campsite, setting up tents, and cooking with a camp stove.
- Remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed so as to remain generally healthy and strive to protect themselves from environmental injuries such as hypothermia, heat illness, or sunburn.
- Be able to move about the campsite in order to participate in group activities, attend to toileting needs, and contribute to camping tasks as necessary.
- Live in a sometimes physically demanding, wilderness environment for the five days of the POP trip. Conditions of this environment may vary from 40 to 90 degrees and may include, but not be limited to, rain, thunderstorms or hail, uninterrupted sun and/or wind.
- At minimum, be able to travel over and negotiate through varied wilderness terrain with a backpack weighing up to 40 pounds.
- Be able to traverse rough, uneven, sloping terrain and human made trails; to cross small streams without the aid of a bridge; and be comfortable with extensive sun exposure. Any and all travel can occur during periods of inclement weather or nighttime hours.
- Be able to travel distances that can range from three miles to ten miles in one day, depending on your group placement.
The Phoenix Outdoor Program (POP) is designed to introduce new students to the UChicago community and to develop outdoor skills through wilderness exploration. In order to do so, we must take steps to ensure the health and well-being of all participants. In order to do so, we must ensure all participants are able to successfully meet the demands of hiking through a wilderness environment where outside assistance is not immediately available.
All POP Expedition participants must meet the following Essential Eligibility Criteria:
Safety and Judgment
Each participant must be able to…
Leadership and Trip Behavior
Each participant must…
Outdoor Skills: Camping
Each participant must…
Outdoor Skills: Hiking
Each participant must…
Open the packing list below for a list of items all participants need for their POP Expedition trip. At the end of the gear list, there is helpful information about why you need certain pieces of gear and any additional guidelines, as well as information on how to obtain the gear you need.
If you have any questions around what type of gear we're asking you to bring, just ask! You can contact the POP Coordinator at kwelch@uchicago.edu
To be completed only by those going on the POP Expedition trips: