Welcome

Welcome Class of 2028! 

Congratulations on your acceptance to Yale! We are so excited to meet all of you next August on your FOOT trips. Feel free to explore our website to learn more about what to expect on FOOT as an incoming first-year at Yale! 

2024 FOOT leader applications are now open!

All members of the classes of 2025.5, 2026, 2026.5, and 2027 are encouraged to apply! You can find more information here

What is FOOT? First-Year Outdoor Orientation Trips!

First-Year Outdoor Orientation Trips (FOOT) is an orientation program of backpacking trips for entering Yale students led by two upper level students. 

We invite you to join us for an experience that many students say is one of the most formative and important of their time at Yale. On FOOT, you will sleep under the stars, share stories and songs around the campfire, create a new tight-knit community of friends, enjoy discovering the Northeastern landscape, and spend time discussing what life at Yale will be like.

FOOT offers a unique wilderness experience to more than 600 incoming Yale first-years and transfer students each year!  In late August, trained juniors and seniors lead pre-orientation backpacking trips to five scenic locations throughout the Northeast. It doesn’t really matter where you go–as long as you do FOOT you will have tons of fun. We will cure all those nervous jitters about going off to college. You will return to Yale with friends that often last a lifetime!

You do NOT need to be an experienced backpacker to participate in FOOT.  FOOT is for everyone and is an appropriate (and exciting!) choice for students from all backgrounds.  The trips are designed to all levels of experience – both novices and skilled mountaineers will find them rewarding.  The primary goal of FOOT is to help ease the transition into life at Yale. You will find the hike both exciting and rewarding!

Follow FOOT on Instagram and Tiktok at @yalefoot!