6 Day Multi-Element in the Finger Lakes (Basecamping)
Explore the Ithaca area through a variety of fun and diverse activities! Hike through the Finger Lakes, canoe on Beebe Lake, rock climb on the largest rock wall east of the Mississippi and enjoy the high-flying activities of the Hoffman Challenge Course (just to name a few). You'll start your Cornell career with more unique experiences than many students have by graduation. Possible activities include canoeing, low and high elements at the Hoffman Challenge Course, tree climbing, rock climbing, and day hiking. Most nights of the trip* will be spent in a cabin with access to toilets and showers.
Please be aware that multi-element trips tend to have a high demand, and spots are extremely limited. Participants are strongly encouraged to consider listing other trip options when registering, and keep an open mind!
*During the trip, some nights are spent in a cabin, and some nights are spent in a yurt. Additionally, there are two traditional outdoor sleeping experiences on the night before trips depart and the night before move-in. The night before trips depart, participants sleep on campus with access to flush toilets and sinks. The final night of Outdoor Odyssey, all participants sleep at a recreation park with access to portable toilets. If these experiences are a barrier to your participation, please contact coe.odyssey@gmail.com, as we may be able to make accommodations.
| Trip Dates | August 10, 2026: Move in begins, time slots TBD August 11, 2026: Arrive in on campus between 11am-1pm (Day 0) August 12, 2026: Trip departs (Day 1) August 17, 2026: Trip returns to Ithaca for Camp-o-rama (Day 6) August 18, 2026: Trips return to campus |
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| Trip Fee | $495 Financial Assistance available |
| Location | Finger Lakes Region, NY |
| Activity Level | This trip entails involves some hikes around the Finger Lakes, averaging about 3-5 miles per day on rolling terrain. The other activities aren't particularly demanding, but all require energy and involve active participation (but no prior experience!) This trip can be adjusted to accommodate various physical abilities. Please inform us of your needs, so we can make the trip as accessible as possible. |
| Basecamping | Yes |
| Access to showers or restrooms | Yes for restrooms, no for showers |
| Day -1 | Move in begins. Times will be announced soon. You can stay in your dorms tonight. |
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| Day 0 | Trip participants arrive between 11:00AM and 1:00PM at Cornell, trip participants and their guides meet and begin to get to know each other, prepare their belongings for the trip and have a trip dinner (usually at one of the restaurants in Collegetown). Trip participants and their guides sleep on the Arts Quad. |
| Day 1 | The trip wakes up bright and early and heads off to the starting point of their backpacking trip. |
| Days 2-5 | The itinerary for multi-element trips change each year. The trip will consist of base-camping in one spot and enjoying the different activities in the Ithaca area without moving camp each day. |
| Day 6 | All trips return to Ithaca for Camp-O-Rama, a closing ceremony and celebration of the Outdoor Odyssey trips. Trip participants clean their gear, share a meal with other trips, and get the chance to meet some of the ~200 other participants. |
| Aug. 18th | The trip will backpack to Bartels Hall on the morning of August 18th, where the participants return their rented gear as a group. Once all gear is returned, trip participants are free to return to their dorms. |
Testimonial
"Thanks for such a tremendous experience. My son started Cornell with a fantastic bonding experience. This gave him immediate good friends and helped to calm those Freshman nerves. Thanks!!"