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Campus Recreation

Explore Adventure for Incoming Students

Trip Dates: Coming Soon!

Explore Adventure is an outdoor orientation program that is designed to provide incoming Clemson students the opportunity to build friendships with other incoming students, learn about life at Clemson from current students, gain experience in local outdoor recreation, and reflect on their transition to college in a fun and relaxed environment before their first semester at Clemson begins. The Explore Adventure program is designed for first-year Clemson students and is tailored towards the beginner! While we teach you the ropes on camping, paddling, and backpacking, a base level of physical fitness is required.

Program Goals:

  • To participate in fun & challenging outdoor activities

  • To form relationships with other students, faculty, and staff

  • To develop an appreciation for the outdoors

  • To have an opportunity for reflection about the transition to Clemson University

  • To increase self–esteem and to gain the confidence needed to be successful at Clemson University

The program is a result of a collaborative effort between the Clemson Outdoor Recreation and Education Program, Clemson Leisure Skills, and the Center for Student Leadership and Engagement.

Program Offerings

Explore Adventure: Backpacking & Rafting

students on backpacking trip

Explore Adventure Backpacking and Rafting will spend 3 nights backpacking the Foothills Trail, traveling along the gorges of Lake Jocassee in South Carolina. The fourth night will be spent car camping before departing for a day of whitewater rafting on the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River! 

  • This experience is best suited for participants who look forward to the challenge of being immersed in the beautiful Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains by hiking 5-10 miles per day, while carrying everything they will need on their back without access to bathrooms. This effort is rewarded with waterfalls, opportunities to swim, and campsites along the streams, lakes, and rivers that bring life to the Foothills. 
  • Sample Itinerary: 
    • Saturday: Meet at the Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center, group introductions, pack up gear, head to the trailhead 
    • Sunday-Tuesday: Backpacking on the Foothills Trail. We will travel between 5-10 miles a day. 
    • Tuesday night: Car camp in Long Creek, SC for a night of celebration with the other Explore Adventure groups. 
    • Wednesday: Whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River. Return to Clemson. 
  • Registration includes: outdoor recreation equipment for backpacking or paddling, transportation during the trip, all meals, program instruction by trained CORE trip leaders, a great introduction to being a part of the Clemson family, and new friends to start college with!

Trip can accomodate a maximum of 20 participants (2 groups of 10 participants).

All Explore Adventure groups will camp together for the final night in Long Creek, SC to celebrate another's accomplishments before enjoying an exciting day of whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River!

Explore Adventure: Paddling & Rafting

students canoeing on a river

Explore Adventure Paddling and Rafting will spend 3 nights canoeing the French Broad River, from Brevard to Asheville in North Carolina. The 4 th night will be spent car camping before departing for a day of whitewater rafting on the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River! 

  • This experience is best suited for participants who look forward to experiencing the Blue Ridge Mountains from the peaceful seat of a canoe. Days will be filled with the perfect mix of paddling relaxing stretches of flat water with opportunities to swim and challenging sections that may require working as a team to carry canoes around obstacles. Participants should expect to paddle for 6-8 hours a day. This effort is rewarded with riverfront campsites perfect for campfires and equipped with pit toilets each night. Please note, there is no access to running water. 
  • Sample Itinerary 
    • Saturday: Meet at the Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center, group introductions, pack up gear, head to the river 
    • Sunday-Tuesday: Paddling by canoe and camping along the French Broad River. We will be on the water 6-8 hours a day. 
    • Tuesday night: Car camp in Long Creek, SC for a night of celebration with the other Explore Adventure groups. 
    • Wednesday: Whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River. Return to Clemson.
  • Registration includes: outdoor recreation equipment for backpacking or paddling, transportation during the trip, all meals, program instruction by trained CORE trip leaders, a great introduction to being a part of the Clemson family, and new friends to start college with!

Trip can accomodate a maximum of 10 participants.

All Explore Adventure groups will camp together for the final night in Long Creek, SC to celebrate another's accomplishments before enjoying an exciting day of whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River.

Additional Information

  • Program Costs
    Memebership Fees
    Payment Amount
    Deposit $100
    Second Payment $475
    Trip Total $575

    Deposit:  For all trips, a $100 non–refundable deposit is due to CORE to register for the trip.

    Second payment ($475):  For all trips, a second payment for the remainder of the registration cost is due to CORE. These payments are due no later than two weeks prior to the departure of the trip.

  • Registration
    Registration is limited. Registration is taken on a first come first serve basis and is confirmed only after the deposit fee is paid in full. If the offering you choose is full, you will have the option to be put on the waiting list for that offering.
      1. All trip fees are due no later than two weeks prior to the departure of your trip.
      2. To begin registration, please complete our registration form.
        • Once you have filled out this form, we will build your account to access our registration site.

        • Be on the lookout for an email from us with your account information.

        • Register for Explore Adventure.

      3. Payments are broken up into a deposit and final payment. A $100 non-refundable deposit secures your spot. Final payments can be paid by mail in the form of a check made out to Clemson University or by credit card through the website (select Outdoor Rec and Fall 2023 from the left-hand navigation bars). Instructions on making second payments online will be provided after the deposit is received.

    If you have any questions regarding registration please email outside@clemson.edu.

  • Cancellation Policy

    Deposits payments are non-refundable.

    All refunds are subject to a processing fee. Refund amounts will be prorated based upon the number of days remaining until the program.

    Refund requests made fewer than 10 days in advance of your trip's departure will not be provided.

    All refund requests are subject to approval and are not a guarantee of a refund.

  • Frequently Asked Questions
    When is the trip?

    The trip is from Saturday, August 12 to Wednesday, August 16.

    When does the trip leave and return?

    The trip leaves from the Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center here at the Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Center near Clemson’s campus at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The trip returns to the Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center around 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

    When can I move into my residence hall?

    Clemson Housing move-in appointments will begin on August 14. No early move-in will be granted, but you should contact Clemson's housing department with any specific questions or requests.

    What do I do about transportation?

    There are several options for transportation. Students traveling from nearby locations might have their families drive them to campus on Saturday, August 12 and then pick them back up Wednesday, August 16 for move-in or drive themselves. Students may leave a vehicle at the Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center during the trip.

    Students traveling from out of state locations might fly into Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, and then families can drive or fly at the end of the week to pick them up for move-in. Families also might choose to stay in Clemson for the week while their student is on the trip. There will be a pick-up shuttle from Greenville-Spartanburg airport on Saturday, August 12 at 11:30 a.m. Do not book flights without confirming with the CORE associate director or graduate assistant.

    What is included in the trip cost?

    All equipment, transportation, meals, lodging (tents), activities, and instruction.

    More questions?

    Contact the CORE’s Associate Director Taylor Williams today!

participants backpacking in the forest
Campus Recreation
Campus Recreation | 110 Heisman Street, Clemson, SC 29634