8 Day Multi-Element - Finger Lakes (Cabin/Yurt Basecamping)
Explore the Ithaca area through a variety of fun 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 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 the Arts Quad 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 9, 2026: Arrive in Ithaca, move in begins (time TBD), meet on campus between 11am-1pm (Day 0 August 10, 2026: Trip departs (Day 1) August 17, 2026: Trip returns to Ithaca for Camp-o-rama (Day 8) August 18, 2026: Trippers return to campus |
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| Trip Fee | $720 (Financial Assistance available) |
| Location | Finger Lakes Region, NY |
| Activity Level | This trip involves some hikes around the Finger Lakes region, 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, except no showers on the evening before trips depart and the evening of camp-o-rama. |
| Day 0 | Trip participants arrive and move in (times TBD), and then gather at Bartels between 11:00AM and 1:00PM; 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. |
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| Day 1 | The trip wakes up bright and early and heads off to the starting point of their backpacking trip. |
| Days 2-7 | The itinerary for multi-element trips change each year. The non-backpacking part of the trip will consist of base-camping in one spot and enjoying the different activities in the Ithaca area without moving camp each day. Trip participants will backpack for four nights and stay in a cabin/yurt during the other four nights. |
| Day 8 | 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 | Trip is shuttled back 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!!"