Before most new University of Redlands students arrive for orientation, a group of incoming Bulldogs will get an early start on college life through an experience designed around adventure, friendship and the transition to a new community.
The University's First Year Journey, or FYJ, begins Friday, August 21, 2026, when participating students arrive on campus. Students who will live at the university can check into their residence halls early, giving them an opportunity to settle into their new surroundings before the broader incoming class arrives. Participants, student trip leaders and staff will gather that evening for dinner and introductory activities.
The following day is devoted to preparing for the journeys ahead. Students meet their groups, participate in pre-trip meetings, check equipment and spend time getting to know the classmates who will share their experience. On Sunday, August 23, groups depart Redlands for their respective journeys. Students remain on their courses through August 26 before returning to campus August 27 for reflection and a celebration dinner. New Student Orientation begins the next morning, August 28.
The program is intended to do something particularly valuable for first-year students: make a large and unfamiliar college community feel smaller before classes begin.
University of Redlands Outdoor Programs describes First Year Journey as an opportunity for new students to build connections with their peers and the university while experiencing activities ranging from hiking and camping to rock climbing, surfing and indoor adventures. No previous outdoor experience is required for participation.
The 2026 offerings provide a remarkably broad range of experiences. Students can choose adventures involving destinations such as Zion National Park, the Central Coast, the Kern River, Malibu, Mammoth Lakes and the High Sierra. Other options include Southern California excursions and indoor programs centered around mountain, desert and city-to-coast experiences.
Some journeys combine recreation with education and service. The Kern River Adventure, for example, includes a service project with the Kern River Conservancy before participants explore the region and take part in a guided whitewater experience. The Desert Home Adventure includes volunteering at Best Friends Animal Shelter in Utah, while other trips expose students to California's mountains, beaches, wilderness areas and natural landmarks.
Accessibility and affordability are also incorporated into the program. The university lists indoor alternatives, including a wheelchair-accessible Mountain Cabin Adventure. The standard trip price is $500, but the university states that a student's actual fee is based on financial aid information. Qualifying students automatically receive full or partial fee waivers, and the university reports that many students participate at no cost.
Participating students can also rent needed outdoor equipment through the university. Gear rentals are free for FYJ participants, helping reduce the need for families to purchase specialized equipment that may only be needed for the trip.
For Redlands, the program represents another way the university introduces newcomers not simply to a campus, but to a community. Students arriving August 21 will begin unpacking residence hall rooms, meeting classmates and learning their way around Redlands before thousands of other students return for the academic year.
Starting college can bring excitement alongside uncertainty. Students may be living away from family for the first time, navigating an unfamiliar campus and wondering where they will fit into their new environment. First Year Journey is structured to replace some of that uncertainty with shared experiences.
By the time participants return to Redlands on August 27, they will have spent nearly a week learning together, traveling together and facing new challenges together. The next morning, when New Student Orientation begins, the campus may still be new, but many of the faces will no longer be strangers.
For those students, becoming a Bulldog will begin before the first lecture or textbook assignment. It will begin with a journey.