Gettysburg College
ER-3: Sustainability in New Student Orientation

GIV(Gettysburg Is Volunteering) Day is the first opportunity during orientation week for first-year students to join their new classmates, upperclass students, faculty, and staff in a morning of service in the local community. This program includes participation in the campus's student-run organic garden, the Recycling program, and with issues of food justice in the community. Field Day: Gettysburg Orientation tradition in which the six first-year residence halls compete against one another. There is a Recycling game that is now an activity included with this day, including an activity that requires first year students to be hands-on with recyclable material on campus. FYE (First Year Experience) Elective Session: Recycling interns, in conjunction with Environmental Studies Department Chair, present information to first-year students on: how to be sustainable (i.e. Recycling), ES courses, and environmentally/sustainability-related organizations on campus. A representative from each organization during these sessions (Farmhouse, Gettysburg Environmental Concerns Org., Sustainability Program Coordinator)is present to say a quick blurb about what they do, how to join, etc. Activities Fair: In conjunction with the Campus Activities Board, part of student activities and first-year programs include an Activities Fair at the beginning of each academic year so that all clubs and organizations can advertize their group and endorse issues that the organization deals to promote or make awareness/change about. The Recycling Interns, the Center for Public Service (including the Sustainability Program Coordinator, student clubs like Gettysburg Environmental Concerns Organization and Biosphere all have tables set up at the fair with information about each program. This provides an opportunity for first-year students to sign up to receive e-mails regarding meeting times and information notifications. Ascent: The ascent trips have become very popular among incoming first-year students. Ascent takes students on trips, usually sustainability-themed, which encourage bonding and foster leadership skills. Trips include climbing in Michaux State Forest, backpacking in Blue Ridge, Kayaking in the Chesapeake, and many others.