For over 50 years, most incoming Dartmouth freshmen have received their first taste of the College and its environs during their freshman trips. Organized by the Dartmouth Outing Club, the showerless outdoor introductory experience for the freshmen is only the beginning of the organization's many offerings. The DOC offers enough opportunities -- for both the hardcore and not-so-hardcore -- to keep any Dartmouth student busy for all four years at the College.
Freshman Trips
In recent years this introductory experience has become increasingly popular, with upwards of 80 to 90 percent of incoming students signing up for a trip. Approximately 950 freshmen of the Class of 2004 have registered to participate in this year's trips, DOC Trips Coordinator Ben Miller '01 said.
When the '04s arrive on campus this September, the boisterous Hanover Crew -- or "H Crew" as they are more commonly known -- will greet them with games of "ass boxing" and give them lessons in dancing to the Salty Dog Rag, a time-honored tradition.
Other preliminary activities include getting-to-know-you games on the Bema and the 50-yard swim test in Alumni Gymnasium, an actual graduation requirement.
Bright and early the next morning, students set off to bond in the woods as they carry bulging frame packs, sleep under tarps and eat pounds of cheese and cous-cous. Trips include several levels of hiking, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing and organic farming. New this year, Miller said, is an outdoor photography trip in the works.
"Regardless of what trip you go on," Miller said, "it's a worthwhile and fun experience, a chance to relax and make a few acquaintances before getting thrown into the regular crazy college life."
200 upper-class students trained in leadership skills and First Aid will lead the trips, while 40 more will work for one of the crews.
Other opportunities
Your first contact with the DOC may be through your freshman trip, but it by no means needs to be your last.
The DOC, the oldest college outing club in the nation, was founded in 1909 by a small group of students who wanted to take advantage of the New Hampshire's wilderness and liven up the cold winter months.
Early on, the DOC created Winter Carnival and encouraged skiing and hiking in the White and Green Mountains that surround the College.
Today's DOC, with a membership of about 1200 students, has grown into an umbrella organization of 11 affiliate clubs. Thus there is a wealth of outdoor activity for students of all interests and abilities.
"The DOC offers something for everybody," said DOC President Eli Diament '02, "whether you're hard-core, crunchy or just want to go for a walk outdoors and have fun in New Hampshire."
Cabin and Trail sponsors all levels of hiking trips as well as the forestry team, which competes in lumberjacking events. The club maintains over 100 miles of trails, including more than 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail, which runs through Hanover. Cabin and Trail also cares for 10 shelters and nine cabins. With a DOC membership, students receive discounts on cabin rentals.
Graced with the College's close proximity to the Connecticut River, the Ledyard Canoe Club offers canoeing and kayaking instruction and houses a student-initiated program in white-water and flat-water competition.
A Ledyard membership allows students to take out kayaks and canoes for free. The club also offers annual trips.
The Cycling Club's members include both mountain bikers and road bikers. In addition to organizing regular rides on the many trails around Hanover, the Cycling Club also offers trips, a mountain-biking Physical Education Class, and other events.
The DOC's Environmental Studies Division emphasizes education about environment issues in the Dartmouth community. It also works closely with the Organic Farm -- a mere 5 minute drive from campus and a place where students can learn about agriculture, work in the fields or just enjoy the beautiful landscape.
As the historic foundation of the DOC, the Winter Sports Club continues the tradition, promoting winter outdoor activities like ski trips and sledding on the golf course.
The Snowboarding Club sponsors frequent trips to local mountains and leads clinics at the Dartmouth Skiway. Ski Patrol members are certified to monitor the Skiway's slopes.
The Dartmouth Mountaineering Club offers introductory and advanced instruction, taking advantage of the College's own indoor climbing gym located in the basement of Maxwell residence hall.
Bait and Bullet stays active year-round with fly fishing, hunting and ice fishing trips.
The Boots and Saddles Club offers activities such as horseback riding competitions, riding lessons and recreational horseback riding.
Active in all the DOC clubs, Women in the Wilderness is a group intended to encourage women to participate in outdoor activities and to become leaders both within the DOC and outside of it.
GO OUT -- Group Organized OUTings -- is open to all groups on campus. "[A group] just comes to the DOC," Diament explained. "We give them a leader and plan a trip for them."
For those who do not wish to join the smaller, more specific DOC clubs, the Directorate is also an option. The Directorate is the "DOC in general" according to Diament. This part of the DOC sponsors activities such as Morbid Madness, a haunted forest for Halloween, WWF -- Winter Weekend Fun and sophomore trips during sophomore summer along with other member and non-member events.
