Prefrosh events gain popularity

New faces could be seen wandering around campus long before freshmen were scheduled to arrive, headed for trails in the Poconos or to community projects around Philadelphia.

This year, 204 incoming freshmen moved in early to participate in one of the three pre-freshman programs that the University offers. Although the number is only about eight percent of the class of 2009, it is an increase from last year's group.

As much fun as the pre-freshman programs may have been for those chosen to join, they still require an application which cuts a handful of students from participating in them. This year, PennCORP -- a community service program -- took less than half of the students who applied, because there was a restraint on the number of upperclassmen the Civic House could hire to lead the programs.

"We like the idea of keeping things at an intimate level at the Civic House," said Alison LaLond, coordinator of the PennCorp program. She explained that one way to expand would be to offer separate programs for students who have not yet been exposed to volunteer work.

Recently there have been efforts on behalf of different organizations, including the Undergraduate Assembly, to increase the number of available spots in pre-freshman events, and organizers are still working to increase the accessibility of the programs.

The largest of the three programs is PennQuest -- which lasts for four days -- two and a half of which are spent on a hiking and camping trip.

The goal of PennQuest is for students to develop friendships, personal skills and an appreciation for the natural environment. Before going mountaineering on the Appalachian Trail, students spent time working on group initiatives that cultivated confidence, like an astronomy night hike and training on camping skills.

"It's a really nice way to get to know people off-campus; I think [pre-freshman programs] are all a great way to start your experience at Penn," said Laurie McCall of the Office of Student Life and organizer of PennQuest.

While PennQuest participants were hiking and camping, 34 freshmen stayed closer to campus and got involved in community work with PennCORP.

This group of students is lured onto campus early by the idea of bringing social justice to their new community. The Civic House, which organizes the program, also gave fifteen upperclassmen that had been on PennCORP before another chance to improve the streets of Philadelphia.

"It has been an eye-opening experience because it gives us an opportunity to look at a world that is so close and yet so different," said College freshman Katelyn Leader.

The participants of PennCORP could be found painting the houses of people who were formerly homeless, helping teachers at the local Drew Elementary School to prepare and decorate their classrooms for the upcoming school-year, working in kitchens and doing food-deliveries all over the Kensington section of Philadelphia.

"I am really impressed with the freshmen. ‹¨« It is a self-selecting group because they decide to come early to Penn and have their first experience at college be of community service; it says a lot about their attitude," College junior and PennCORP volunteer Sam Reznik said. Another option for incoming freshmen was PENNacle. This three-day retreat -- which included games, structured experiences and formal and informal discussions -- was led by upperclassmen who participated in it in past years. This year, fifty students of the Class of 2009 went to Fellowship Farm, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, to talk and learn about group dynamics, leadership styles, team-building, campus resources and Penn traditions.

"I got to know a good group of people before school even started, and to adjust to the atmosphere before getting to Penn," said Wharton sophomore Julian Astley, who participated in PENNacle last year.

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