• 4 days of travel & exploration

• 3 days of hiking/backpacking/camping in Grayson Highlands State Park

*This is a Bucknell OEL Level 3 Backpacking Trip

Pre-Trip Meeting

Tuesday, September 30th from 8pm-9:30pm at Basecamp (Tustin Building, on campus). This will be a chance for trip leaders and participants to get to know each other and review the trip logistics.

Dinner will be provided. This meeting is mandatory.

Day 1, Friday 10/10/2025

• 6:00pm - Final gear checks, dinner, and and last minute prep for our departure on Saturday morning. Pack gear into the vehicle so we can leave early Saturday morning!

• 8:30pm - Return to residence halls to sleep.

Day 2, Saturday 10/11/2025

• 6:00am - Meet at OEL Basecamp to pack gear and eat breakfast

• 6:30am - Depart Bucknell and head for the Grayson Highlands State Park!

• 2:00pm - Arrive at the trailhead (Near Mouth of Wison, VA). Double check packs.

• 3:30pm - Backpack in to first campsite.

• 6:30pm - Arrive at the campsite! Set up and make dinner.

• 9:00pm - Clean up camp and go to bed

Day 3, Sunday 10/12/2025

• 6:00am - Wake up and make breakfast, pack lunches

• 7:00am - Hike all day!

• 5:00pm - Get back to camp and start making dinner

• 8:00pm - Campfire fun and head to bed.

Day 4, Monday 10/13/2025

• 6:00am - Wake up and start making breakfast, pack lunches

• 7:00am - Hike all day!

• 5:00pm - Get back to camp and make dinner

• 8:00pm - Campfire fun and heading to bed.

Day 5, Tuesday 10/14/2024

• 6:00am - Wake up, make breakfast, pack up.

• 7:00am - Hike back to the trailhead

• 10:00am - Get back to the van. Begin driving back to campus. Stop for lunch on the way.

• 5:00pm - Return to campus and pack in all gear

• 6:00pm - The end of an awesome fall break trip!

• Instruction and assistance from Bucknell Outdoor Education & Leadership (OEL) student trip leaders before and throughout this trip

• Transportation between Bucknell University and the Adirondack Park

• 3 nights stay at Johns Brook Lodge

• 3 main meals and snacks per day once on trip

• Pre-trip (Friday, 10/10/2025) dinner* subject to change

• All group and most personal backpacking gear (large capacity pack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove, etc.)

• Additional clothing available (puffy warm jacket, base layer clothing, shell pants and jacket, etc.)

• Park fees and permit expenses

• Personal gear and items (footwear, socks, base and mid clothing layers, toiletries, etc.)

• Any food purchased separately from group meals (e.g. gas station snacks, additional meals beyond pre-planned group meals, etc.)

• Any souvenirs, shopping, or optional, non-predetermined experiences

• Trip cancellation insurance

• Medical and evacuation insurance

• All expenses incurred in the event of early or late independent (not as a group) departure (evacuation fees, transportation, extra hotel night, etc.)

• Full Cost = $275.00 per person

• Deposit = $125.00*

*Deposits are non-refundable but are transferable per below policy

Payment Schedule & Expectations**

• Deposit payments are due within 7 days from initial registration.

• Remaining Balance payments ($150.00) are due no later than Monday, September 22.

• Payments can be made by check (written to Bucknell University) or cash only.

• If a check is mailed, an e-mail message should be sent by the student and/or parent/legal guardian verifying that the check has been mailed and explaining their acknowledgement and responsibility of mailed payment. This e-mail must be received within the payment schedule listed above and can act in place of actual payment temporarily. This e-mail should be sent to OELINFO@BUCKNELL.EDU.

• Please make your trip payments to the CAP Center front desk, located on the first floor of the Elaine Langone Center. Payment can be accepted Monday through Friday from 9:00am - 3:30pm.

Payment Transferability Policy**

All payments received specific to this trip are subject to the cancellation policy listed in the adjacent section. In the event that a trip participant is no longer able to attend, all non-refundable fees paid can be transferred to another non-enrolled participant and yield a full refund. In simple terms, if someone is able to fill the spot of an already enrolled participant, non-refundable fees paid become refundable in full. The OEL professional staff will make attempts to fill any vacant spots by servicing an associated waitlist, marketing the availability, etc. There is no guarantee that a vacancy will be filled. If a participant cancels their spot on this trip, and it cannot be replaced by another participant, all non-refundable fees remain non-refundable.

**Exceptions to above expectations and/or policies may be considered for adjustment on a case by case basis as determined by the OEL professional staff.

Mandatory Registration Consideration / Trip Pre-Requisite

Trip participants should come with prior experience hiking and the ability to hike for multiple days on uneven, rugged established trails while carrying a backpack of 30-40lbs (14-18kg) for up to 10 miles (16km) at a time with up to 1,000ft (330m) of vertical gain/descent. Please note that the statistics shared represent the longer of possible hikes planned during this trip.

Trip participants are encouraged, but not required to show record of participating in a minimum amount of representative hikes with Bucknell's OEL (OEL) program (or equivalent) prior to the start of this trip.

Registration

Registration for this trip will open on Friday, September 5th at noon. All trip capacity (7 spaces) will be available during regular registration. If the trip reaches capacity (7 spaces), an option to join a waitlist will generate. Students interested in joining the trip who do not obtain a spot should join the waitlist. Waitlist students will be contacted if a vacancy becomes available.

Registration Policies

• Registration for this trip is available on a first come, first serve basis.

• An option to join a waitlist is provided at the time of registration if spots are no longer available.

• A full deposit ($100.00) is due by September 13, and full payment (additional $150.00 for a total of $250.00) is due by September 23 to confirm placement on this trip.

• Payments can be made by check (written to Bucknell University) or cash only.

• If a check is mailed, an e-mail message should be sent by the student and/or parent/legal guardian verifying that the check has been mailed and explaining their acknowledgement and responsibility of mailed payment. This e-mail must be received within the payment schedule listed above and can act in place of actual payment temporarily. This e-mail should be sent to OELINFO@BUCKNELL.EDU.

• Registration and associated payments are subject to the applicable expectations and policies shared in the adjacent sections.

• The Bucknell Outdoor Education & Leadership Program (OEL) may adjust aspects of the pre-proposed itinerary associated with this trip.

• If participating in this OEL Extended Break Trip, you will be required to attend pre-trip meetings. Failure to participate in these meetings may affect your eligibility to attend the trip.

OEL Adventure Trips, including Extended Break Trips, provided to Bucknell students have limited capacity. If a student signs up and doesn’t show for the program, it’s disruptive for everyone involved and takes away from other student’s experience. We understand that things come up and life happens. We get it. We simply ask that you notify us as soon as possible and let us know of your cancellation. You can do this by communicating directly with us through the CONTACT US portion of our web portal.

Cancellation Policy*

Trip payment, including deposits, are non refundable (except by the Payment Transferability Policy - see below).

Payment Transferability Policy*

All payments received specific to this trip are subject to the cancellation policy listed above in this section. In the event that a trip participant is no longer able to attend, all non-refundable fees paid can be transferred to another non-enrolled participant and yield a full refund. In simple terms, if someone is able to fill the spot of an already enrolled participant, non-refundable fees paid become refundable in full. The OEL professional staff will make attempts to fill any vacant spots by servicing an associated waitlist, marketing the availability, etc. There is no guarantee that a vacancy will be filled. If a participant cancels their spot on this trip, and it cannot be replaced by another participant, all non-refundable fees remain non-refundable.

No Show Policy*

Students who miss a trip's preplanned departure from campus will not be allowed to join the trip at a later time. Students who miss a trip's preplanned departure will forfeit all fees paid associated with this trip (no refund of any amount provided).

*Exceptions to above expectations and/or policies may be considered for adjustment on a case by case basis as determined by the OEL professional staff.