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AESOP

Annual Entering Student Outdoor Program

August 27th–September 1st, 2012

Welcome Class of 2016!

Hello and welcome to the AESOP page!

This site is meant to provide you with all the information you need to know about the AESOP program. Feel free to roam around the site, look up what trips we have to offer, read their descriptions, learn about the history of AESOP and even apply to go on a trip! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at aesop.bates@gmail.com.

Here is a tentative Fall 2012 schedule (just in case you need to start planning your arrival!):

  • August 27th: AESOP arrival day, registration from 8am-3pm
  • August 28th: Trips depart in the morning
  • August 31st: Trips return
  • September 1st: Student Orientation

A more detailed Orientation schedule will be available soon!

AESOP 2011/2012 Blog

Hello AESOPers!
As you may know, we kept a blog throughout the summer last year to post some stories from us coordinators and our student leaders to share a bit about what we’ve been up to on our end.
With the new year upon us, our goal is to begin blogging again to keep you updated on where we are in the AESOP planning process. Believe it or not, we are currently in the process of interviewing our student leaders for this coming fall! If you’d like to follow what we’ve been up to, check in on our blog as we’ll be posting to it as often as we can in the coming months.



AESOP is a completely student run (the only one of its size left in the country!) pre-orientation program that takes place prior to the “official” orientation program during the first week of September. These trips, adventures, excursions, and voyages allow you to arrive at Bates a few days earlier to relax, take a deep breath, and meet new friends before the beginning of your first year of college. AESOP offers four day trips that are led by current students from all class years.

There is no better way to get to know your new home than to spend some time outside in the area and have some fun! From the White Mountains to the Moose River, AESOP offers a variety of trips that get you out in Maine, New Hampshire, and even just into Canada for the last few days of summer. You can backpack on the Appalachian Trail, float on the Saco River, pass the time “Chillin” in Acadia, or even surf or sail along Maine’s famous coastline. There are trips for all levels of experience, from the “never held a paddle or climbed a peak before” to advanced “paddled many a rapid and summated many a peak” levels (note: all Base Camping and Community Service trips simply require an advanced level of enthusiasm). Many of our leaders participated in AESOP as first-year students and have come back to share their good times with you.

Take a look through this website and see what sparks you interest, then be sure to head over the Garnet Gateway and fill out your application. We hope you can find something of interest; there is more variety than ever this year- our great group of leaders, ranging from sophomores to seniors, have put together some fantastic trips and are all very excited about this year’s program.