About
Every August during First Days, more than half of all incoming students participate in the largest and oldest EPHventure Williams has to offer: WOOLF (Williams Outdoor Orientation for Living as First-years). Founded in 1978 and sponsored by the Williams Outing Club (WOC), WOOLF brings together groups of 8-10 new students along with 2 trained student leaders to have fun, make friends, and explore the Berkshires. WOOLF encourages each student to expand their comfort zones by developing new skills and overcoming challenges all while surrounded by spectacular natural beauty and supportive new friends.
WOOLF offers great options for outdoor enthusiasts (or future enthusiasts!) of every level, and is pleased to welcome all new students, regardless of outdoor experience. All trips are three-day, two night outdoor adventures, and while most are backpacking trips of varying distances and difficulties, we also offer canoeing, rock climbing, trail crew, and art in nature. Or, sign up for Base Campus which features daily adventures while allowing students to sleep in their dorms at night. For more information, see below for more detailed descriptions.
-
The following trips move campsites each night and carry everything they need either in their backpack or a canoe. Only some campsites will have outhouses, other’s will have no facilities at all.
-
Backpacking (27 trips)
Backpacking is a combination of camping and hiking. Pack up everything you need to live and sleep outside for two nights into a backpack and hit the trail! Most of WOOLF's backpacking trips traverse stretches of the storied Appalachian Trail anywhere from northern Connecticut to central Vermont. Others travel in adjacent areas such as the Taconic Ridge or the Mount Greylock State Reserve. Regardless of where you are, all the backpacking trips include getting to know your new peers, cooking tasty meals on a camp stove, sleeping under the stars (or tarps), and having fun!
Backpacking trips are rated based on how many hours per day you can expect to hike with your backpack (typically 35-45 lbs). All backpacking trips including hiking uphill with your backpack on.
- Mild: 2-5 hours/day hiking with your backpack. No experience necessary!
- Medium: 3-7 hours/day hiking with your backpack. Experience recommended but not necessary.
- Spicy: 4-9 hours/day hiking with your backpack. Experience recommended.
-
Canoeing (limited space - one trip)
The WOOLF canoe trip paddles south on the Connecticut river while meeting new friends, cooking tasty meals on a camp stove, camping in tents, and having fun! No experience necessary!
The following trips stay at the same campsite for both nights, and have a range of facilities. Some have outhouses and running water, others have porta-potties, a few have not facilities.
-
Day Hike (limited space - four trips)
WOOLF Day Hike trips stay at the same campsite both nights, go for day excursions around the Berkshires with a small backpack during the day, and cook yummy meals on a two burner stove in the evening! You can expect a short hike in and out of your campsite the first and last day with all of your camping equipment. No experience necessary!
-
Trail Crew (limited space - two trips)
The WOOLF trail crew trips spend their days helping local stewardship organizations to build and/or improve the condition of hiking or mountain biking trails in the Berkshires! Each night, you’ll return to your campsite where you’ll hang out, prepare dinner on a camp stove, and go to sleep under the stars (or tarps). No experience necessary!
-
Art in Nature (limited space - one trip)
Enjoy nature but don’t love to backpack? The WOOLF Art & Nature trip introduces you to the outdoors through art! With relaxed day hikes carrying only a water bottle, snacks and an extra layer, you may do anything from sketching, to sculpting, to writing along the way. This trip is a great way to appreciate nature while meeting fellow Ephs. No experience necessary!
-
BASE CAMPus (limited space - three trips)
Want to experience all that WOOLF has to offer but still sleep in your own bed at night? BASE CAMPus allows you to get to know your new peers on half and full day adventures including but not limited to hiking, canoeing, baking, swimming, and other various field trips, all of which return to campus at the end of the day. No experience necessary!
-
-
-
WOOLF is an amazing opportunity for incoming students to introduce themselves to Williams, the
beautiful outdoor opportunities the Berkshires have to offer, and to make meaningful connections with new peers. Friends who meet on their WOOLF trip often become friends for the rest of their Williams career and beyond. There’s nothing like cooking outside, sleeping under the stars (or a tarp), and playing trail games together to bond a group for years to come.
-
WOOLF trips are led primarily by sophomores, with the occasional returning junior. All WOOLF leaders
are selected from a competitive applicant pool and go through extensive training in group dynamics and technical skills like navigation, cooking, and Leave No Trace. All leaders are also trained and certified in Wilderness First Aid.
-
WOOLF begins the afternoon of the day after you arrive on campus. After lunch, you will gather all of the equipment you need for your trip then head to the ice rink where WOOLF stages a “shake down”. You will find the trip you were assigned to, meet your
leaders, and play some games to begin to get to know your group! After, you’ll double check the equipment you have and gather the equipment you need to borrow. During this time, your group will also distribute and pack all of the group gear (tarps, cookware, food, etc.). In the evening, you’ll have dinner with your group outside of Paresky, spend some quality time together, then return to your dorm for the night. You’ll wake up bright and early the next morning to eat breakfast and depart for your trip!
-
Below is a sample menu (subject to change) for a WOOLF trip. We can accommodate most dietary restrictions and allergies including but not limited to vegetarian/vegan, gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, Halal, and Kosher. Make sure to list your dietary restrictions in the health form we send you in July.
Breakfast Lunch Dinner Dessert Snacks Bagels, spreads, fruit Pita, peanut butter, jelly, nutella, hummus, pepperoni, cheese Burritos with rice, beans, veggies Oreos GORP (trail mix), bars, fig newtons, apples Oatmeal, fruit Pita, peanut butter, jelly, nutella, hummus, pepperoni, cheese Mac & cheese with chicken and veggies Pudding and gummy worms GORP (trail mix), bars, fig newtons, apples 
On trail you will fill your water bottles in streams and rivers, treating it with iodine or filtering it before you drink.BASE CAMPus trips will eat breakfast and dinner at the dining hall on campus, and eat bagged lunches when they have all day activities.
-
Have questions that aren’t answered here? Don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected]. We are more than happy to answer questions and chat about WOOLF!