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Support Teams & Command Center Team

Frosh Trip Support Team & Command Center Teams

Frosh Trip 2023 Update & Overview

We are looking forward to getting back outdoors for Frosh Trip 2023. The basic structure for Frosh Trip 2023 will be similar to past years: groups will consist of 8-12 participants and 2-3 OA leaders who build connections and explore the natural world together over 4 days. There will be a combination of basecamp trips and backcountry trips all staying off campus with hiking, canoeing, biking, trail maintenance and rock climbing.

Positions for Frosh Trip

Frosh Trip is a massive logistical enterprise, and this new day-trip format introduces a new layer of complexity! In order to be able to meet the needs of the 750+ students involved; we will rely on a strong backbone of Support Team staff & Command Center staff. When you apply to be part of FT 2023, are joining part of a great team with all of us working towards one goal, providing the very best entering experience for incoming first-year students.

We are still figuring out some of the exact details for these positions this year and will do our best to provide additional information as we move forward. You can apply for either of the following positions (or both-- some people may end up serving in a hybrid between the two roles).

Frosh Trip Dates 2023 - PENDING

  • Saturday, August 26: Command Center & Support Teams return to campus and move in to their dorm rooms. OA Check-in at 5:00 PM
  • Sunday, August 27 - Tuesday: August 29: Pre-Trip - logistical planning, instruction and prep
  • Wednesday, August 30 - Saturday, September 2: OA Frosh Trip!!

Support Team Staff

We couldn't operate the Frosh Trip without Support! Support Teams are pairs of students acting as our mobile response team for groups out on the trail. You will be based on campus (sleeping in your dorm room, and spend the day driving an OA minivan to various locations in the Princeton area as needs arise. You may have some scheduled rendezvous with groups, and will also respond live based on evolving needs; if someone sprains an ankle and needs to return to campus early or other mild medical evacuations. Being on Support creates opportunities to interact with entire OA groups, as well as more extended indvidual interactions with First Years that you transport. OA provides the vehicle and all transportation expenses, as well as all of your meals for the week!  Typically Support Teams are pairs of students, so we invite you to apply for this position with a friend!

In order to drive a Support mini-van you need to have a valid US and complete the University's Van Driver Training program (which includes both an online an in-person component). For details go to (https://finance.princeton.edu/risk-management-tax-rents-mortgages/risk-management-and-insurance/fleet-safety-and-university) and scroll down to Become an Authorized University Driver.

Command Center Staff

Command Center operates as the "brain' behind the entire Frosh Trip program and is an essential resource for making everything run smoothly. As part of Command, you can anticipate staying on campus throughout the week performing a variety of roles that help us keep track of where everyone is and solve any real-time problems. Time is spent both in "the Command Center", answering phones, tracking locations, and dispatching Support Teams to respond to situations. Command stays in constant communication with both Leaders and Support Teams and helps make decisions about how to allocate resources and make logistical plans. Command may also interact directly with Leaders and Frosh through daily check-outs/check-ins as groups depart and return to campus.

You will be staying in your room on campus and OA provides food for all meals.

I am ready to apply! - Rolling Application Process

To get to know you a little bit and your interest in being part of the OA Orientation team, we have included several brief essays in our application. If you have served on Support or Command in a previous year, you do NOT need to complete the essays. We recommend that you write them all first and then cut and paste them into your application to avoid any technical issues.

  • Why are you interested in being a Command Center or Support Team member? (up to 4000 characters)
  • What should the goals of the OA portion of Orientation be? (150 - 300 words)
  • Why do you think you will be a good addition to the OA Orientation Team? (200 - 300 words)
  • Being either a Command Center or Support Team member requires that you be part of a team working closely together. Describe your experiences in working as part of a team.
  • Describe your organizational skills for handling multiple tasks simultaneously.

Apply Now

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