Campus Currents

Freshmen Find Their Footing PAWs introduces students to college, and one another By Suki Casanave '86G

Easy to print version

George Barker

In a late summer day in the middle of the New Hampshire woods, nine freshmen stand in a wobbling line along a giant log, desperate to keep their balance. Feet shift and twist. Arms flail. Occasional yelps escape as some lose their footing and topple off momentarily. Together, they keep at it until all nine have arranged themselves in alphabetical order by middle name—without stepping off the log.

As soon as it's over, they're on to Challenge No. 2: the giant spider web. Dave Zamansky '93, '97G, UNH's assistant director of student leadership, describes the rules, the team gathers in a quick huddle, and soon they're passing each other, hand over hand, through the barely-big-enough spaces in the web. Their goal? Get everyone to the other side without touching any of the ropes. "Don't drop me, guys," says one student. She is suspended mid-air as the team pauses to adjust their hold. "Watch the nose—the nose!" someone shouts. Once she's safely through, they start again, transferring the next person. Finally, the entire team is on the other side, celebrating with high-fives and fist-bumps, followed by a few moments of philosophical ponderings.

"So what's the takeaway, guys?" asks Zamansky. "What did you learn about college life?" Answers come quickly, as students pick up on the metaphors: We need to help each other. Have a strategy, be organized, follow through. Ask for help when you're stuck. Be patient. Have a victory mindset. Have fun. Communicate.

Welcome to college life—PAWs style. The Pre-Orientation Adventure for Wildcats program was launched four years ago as a three-day program with 19 students. Today the program, a collaboration between Campus Recreation and the Memorial Union Building, has 90 students who live in tents at Mendums Pond and spend six days together orienteering, canoeing, swimming, hiking, playing silly games—and transforming their attitudes and expectations about college.

"PAWs changed me from being totally self-conscious and worried about what others were thinking to being OK with just being myself and having fun," says Georgia Elgar '14. "When I got to my freshman dorm after PAWs, everyone else had spent the week being nervous and trying to get ready for college. But I was excited almost to the point of being obnoxious." Today, as a student leader for the orientation program, Elgar is happy to share her expertise and encourage change and growth in others.

"It's a good opportunity for kids to challenge themselves with a group of their peers," says Cary Rhodes, UNH's outdoor programs coordinator and PAWs director, who notes that the benefits of the program don't stop when it's over. Once they get to campus, PAWsies stay in touch, having dinner together and checking up on each other.

At the end of the week, when everyone gathers round the campfire, each student takes a turn to cast a pinecone into the flames and say a few words about what they learned. It takes a long time, but everyone stays put and listens. All those pinecones, like the week's activities, are tangible metaphors. Once they burn, their seeds remain—each one the promise of a new beginning.