The Stockton Outdoor Adventure Retreat is held every year three days prior to Welcome Week. The S.O.A.R program is run by Jen Radwanski with the help of the The Activity Leaders of New Students also known as the T.A.LO.N.S. S.O.A.R is held at Camp Ockanickon in Medford New Jersey, 45 minutes from the University. This year the students attending S.O.A.R moved into their dorms the morning of Tuesday, August 25th and left for camp Tuesday night. They spent all day Wednesday and Thursday at camp and returned home the night of the 27th.

S.O.A.R is the greatest opportunity for incoming freshman. New students get 2 nights and 3 days to bond with each other at Camp Okacnicion. Students are assigned to specific tribes that they remain with for the duration of their trip. The tribes participate in team building activities including various group games. There is a rope course at the camp which includes rock climbing walls where students can push their boundaries and learn to trust themselves as well as each other. There is also a beautiful lake where students can go kayaking and canoeing during free time. Everyone on the trip eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner together which allows everyone to mingle between the tribes. The Camp Staff is friendly and encouraging to Stockton Students and really adds to their experience on S.O.A.R.

S.O.A.R wouldn’t be the amazing experience it is without the T.A.L.O.N.S. The student leaders are exciting and down to earth. They are so thrilled to be on S.O.A.R and make the new students feel comfortable. The T.A.L.O.N.S play a key role in the leadership development in each of the students that attend. From sunup until sundown the T.A.L.O.N.S mingle in games such as the Newspaper Interviewer in which everyone is essentially “speed introducing eachother” and goes to as many people as possible in a minute. Additional games include the leadership training which entails the entire group to go through team-building experiences such as balancing on a log and attempting to move into birthday order, or approaching a “spider web” and having to lift people to get through each opening. Through it all, the T.A.L.O.N.S always smiled and pushed each student to chase their lion. The sense of community they brought into the S.O.A.R program truly made it an exceptional experience.

Overall, S.O.A.R is an unforgettable experience for all who attend. Every incoming freshman should apply. For those who didn’t have a chance to attend as a freshman you can always apply to become a T.A.L.O.N.S. S.O.A.R allowed me to feel comfortable in my new home at Stockton. I met amazing leaders and made friends that I will have for a lifetime. I thank everyone who played a part in putting together S.O.A.R and recommend it to every incoming freshman.