With the arrival of many members of the Class of 2004 ready and rearing to go on their freshmen trips barely one month away, arrangements for leaders, Hanover crew and Lodge crew are quickly falling into place.
So far, 964 freshmen -- an unusually high number -- have registered to take part in a Dartmouth Outing Club trip, with a few more still expected to trickle in.
"I'm really excited about [the trips], especially with the number of people that are signed up, the people who are volunteered to lead trips and all the people who have voluntered to be on the crew," Trips Coordinator Benton Miller '02 said.
"That combination of those three groups are going to make it another incredible year," he added.
The assignments for trips were just completed, and are being mailed out.
However, one of the most exciting components of the trip experience, the Hanover and Lodge crew ensembles, is being kept secret, even though the composition of the crews were decided at the beginning of Spring term.
"There are only four people who know who [the crew members] are," Miller said. "It's kept quiet because it's better for the crew -- it creates a better dynamic."
Miller said he did not want members of the crews to assemble and plan things in advance, preferring that they show up as scheduled on August 27th, with a mere three days to make signs, decorate spaces and create dramatic routines.
"It's real short notice," Miller admits. "They'll probably be up late a couple of nights."
The first trip section will arrive on August 30th, which is earlier than past years because of Labor Day.
For the first time ever, a nature photography trip will be offered to freshmen this year, which is the only significant difference between the trips of years past, Miller said.
Director of Student Activities Linda Kennedy gave the idea to him.
One possible reason for the increase in the number of freshmen registered to go on a trip is that Miller changed the wording of the packets sent out to freshmen to make it sound more "inviting."
Currently, Miller is training the trip leaders, ordering food and buses and preparing the Lodge for its waves of visitors.
From the 386 applications recieved, he selected 200 to become trip leaders, after reading all of them. 52 members of the Class of 2002 will lead trips.
He said he chose the leaders on the basis of experience, ability and the quality of the application.
