The S.O.A.R. (Sophomore Outdoor Adventure Reorientation) Program is an experiential based 3-credit course designed for students who have just finished their freshman years. The course will help students reflect on their freshman year and learn about themselves, develop leadership and healthy living skills, discuss and prepare for sophomore year expectations, and form lasting friendships with other students.

This course begins at the end of the student’s freshman year with a 14-day camping and backpacking trip to the Rocky Mountains and the Desert Southwest. The students will then reunite in the fall semester for four classroom meetings, focusing on trip reflections, continuation of preparing for sophomore year, exploring careers of interest, and making connections with WVU faculty and staff that will aid students throughout their college years.

Mission

The SOAR program was developed to ease the transition from freshman to sophomore years, teach leadership and healthy living skills, facilitate self-growth, stimulate environmental awareness, foster social connections, and promote holistic student wellness and success.

Goals

• Ease transition to the sophomore year

• Create a safe and exciting environment that students find challenging and fun

• Provide opportunities for leadership and teamwork

• Enhance interpersonal skills such as trust, communication, conflict resolution, and cooperation

• Facilitate increased self-awareness, confidence, resilience, goal-directedness, and congruence with personal values

• Develop wilderness skills

• Improve student retention