Class of 2027 UVM-Med Outdoor Orientation
Proudly sponsored by the Larner College of Medicine Office of Medical Education,
UVM Medical Alumni Association, and the Wellness Committee
About U-MOO
Welcome to the Larner College of Medicine! We know you are eager to begin your medical training. A great way to begin your medical school journey is with your fellow classmates and current students on an outdoor adventure! The Orientation Committee, Alumni Association, Wellness
Committee, and Wilderness Medicine Student Interest Group have joined forces to provide you with a fun outdoor retreat for all experience and comfort levels.
This optional pre-Orientation event is an overnight outdoor experience open to all first-year students that will take place just prior to Orientation (Thursday, August 3rd, 10:00AM to Friday, August 4th, 6:00PM). It will be located
at Underhill State Park in Underhill, VT. Current students will be present to facilitate groups. There will be a wide range of activities including hiking, nature walks, bird watching, lawn games, reading, crafts, and campfire stories
- all with an emphasis on FUN and WELLNESS!
Essential Details
- Dates: Thursday, August 3rd at 10am to Friday August 4th at 6:00pm
- Location: Underhill State Park, 352 Mountain RD, Underhill, VT 05490
All are welcome, no outdoor experience necessary!
Why is this trip being offered?
Orientation week is an amazing experience, but it is still a formal course, jam-packed with important information! So, we offer this optional trip to facilitate friendships and introduce you to the Vermont outdoors, rain or shine!
Camping Sites
The entire campground at
Underhill State Park is reserved for our trip. Accommodations will be in tents
or Lean-tos. There is running water, flush and composting toilets. There is no
electricity or showers. Please see the Underhill State Park website
for a complete list of amenities. We will try our
best to provide any accommodations you may require. Meals are provided, but you can bring extra snacks if you wish. A map of the campsite is below.
Activities
From the campsite we will have access to some of the best hiking in Vermont, including Mount Mansfield. There will be group lead hikes and walks, time to explore on your own, and wilderness medicine scenarios, if you wish! This is your trip and can be as challenging or relaxing as you want it to be.
Cost and Equipment
Participating in this event will require an online non-refundable deposit of $20.00. Registration and deposit link coming soon. (Last year's information: Please submit your non-refundable trip deposit now, via UVM's Utix Service, or via the "Pay Deposit" button, located under the registration button.)
You are encouraged to bring your own equipment or borrow from a friend, but we recognize that many participants will not have everything they need to be comfortable (see packing list link to the right). If you need guidance acquiring equipment through
purchasing or borrowing, please contact us and our emails are below. We encourage using the Class of 2027 Facebook Groupfor sharing gear.
If you feel you have a unique financial hardship that makes the $20 fee difficult and/or prohibitive to a trip commitment, we provide the opportunity to notify us by emailing us; with a kind donation from our Larner College of Medicine Wellness Committee,
we are able to provide funding support to those in need.
*SLEEPING PAD AND SLEEPING BAG ARE REQUIRED*
This is a University-sponsored event; thus, this is a drug and alcohol-free event.
Accessibility & Accommodation
U-MOO and the Larner College of Medicine are firmly committed to including all interested first-year medical students in our student programs. Students with any type of disability are encouraged to apply and participate. We provide reasonable and
appropriate accommodations, in consultation with Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Students who are seeking accommodations should contact SAS well in advance of your matriculation, as some accommodations take time to implement. We also provide space in registration to provide us with any accommodations
requests.