WhyFOP?FAQApplyMailingsEquipmentIn the WoodsArriving on Campus

Frequently Asked Questions


Deciding to do FOP
Q:Who goes on FOP?
Q:What if I have never been camping before?
Q:Is financial aid available?

Planning Ahead and Getting Ready
Q:Should I be working out to get ready for FOP?
Q:What do I need to buy for my trip?
Q:Isn't all of this stuff going to be terribly expensive?
Q:What is the food like?
Q:There are bathrooms and showers with good water-pressure in the woods, aren't there?
Q:Why can't I bring deodorant, soap, or scented body lotion?

Equipment
Q:How can I tell if my rain gear is really waterproof?
Q:What kind of backpack do I need?
Q:What should I look for when choosing a sleeping bag?
Q:Why can't I bring my down sleeping bag on FOP?

Coming to Cambridge
Q:When can I move in to my room?
Q:What do I do about accommodations the night before?
Q:How do I get to Harvard from the airport? the bus? the train?
Q:Where can my parents park their car on check-in day?
Q:What do I do about dinner on check-in day?
Q:Can I store stuff? how much?
Q:Is storage secure?
Q:Can my parents get into my room and begin to move stuff in before I get back?


Deciding to do FOP

Q: Who goes on FOP?
A: Last year almost a quarter of the incoming class participated on around 35 trips. This included students from all 50 states and from many foreign countries.

Q: What if I have never been camping before?
A: All the better! No prior experience necessary. We have three different levels, "A", "B", and "C", to provide the appropriate learning experiences and physical challenges for those who have never been camping beforeand those who are pros. FOppers who have never been camping before often learn the most about themselves and have the most rewarding experiences. On the trip, leaders teach all the skills and provide all the info FOppers need to be comfortable.

Q: Is financial aid available?
A: Yes. Financial aid may be requested by any student receiving aid from the University. Awards are based on the amount of aid you get for the school year.


Planning Ahead and Getting Ready

Q: Should I be working out to get ready for FOp?
A: We encourage everyone to engage in some type of regular physical activity in preparation for the trip. Hiking and canoeing involve physical challenge, and we've found that people who prepare a little for trips are less tired and enjoy hiking more. That said, there are three levels of trips--A, b, and C--to accommodate different levels of athletic ability and experience.

Q: What do I need to buy for my trip?
A: please see the Equipment List. Most importantly, you want well-broken in hiking boots, waterproof rain-gear and almost no cotton as possible.

Q: Isn't all of this stuff going to be terribly expensive?
A: New outdoor gear from specialty backpacking stores can be expensive, but going on FOp doesn't have to cost a fortune. FOp has some gear accommodate to rent, such as backpacks($10), sleeping bags($10), and ensolite sleeping pads. (These are limited, however, and available only on a first-come, first-served basis, so please let us know in advance what you need!) You may also want to consider borrowing from friends or family, but test any gear to make sure it's durable and in good condition before you bring it with you. borrowed gear also needs to fit well enough to be worn comfortably all week.
Although the price of new clothing is high, it may help to think of it as an investment. Many FOppers and leaders find that the cool-weather gear they buy for FOp is great to have around during the cold New England winter.

Q: What is the food like?
A: please see our menu information. If you have any allergies or special dietary needs, please contact us right away!

Q: There are bathrooms and showers with good water-pressure in the woods, aren't there?
A: Well, not exactly. Spending 5 days in the wilderness includes learning how to keep clean when there aren't showers and going to the bathroom in the woods. but don't worry, this is a first time for many and your leaders will explain everything you need to know to be comfortable. A few of the sites where FOp stays do have outhouses because they are high-use areas and in these cases concentrating the impact of human waste causes the least damage to delicate wilderness areas.

Q: Why can't I bring deodorant, soap, or scented body lotion?

A: There are several reasons. Wild animals in the areas FOp uses, such as chipmunks, mice and black bears, are attracted to the same delicious odors that you enjoy, and if they smell something good, they will bite through your pack in search of a bite to eat. FOp provides biodegradeable soap, which helps keep us clean and has less impact on the environment than commercial soaps made with perfumes and phosphates. Also, wearing deodorant when you are hiking every day and not showering is not good for you because it traps sweat and the toxins it excretes under the surface of your skin. When this happens for days on end, (say five) it can cause rashes or infections.


Equipment

Q: How can I tell if my rain gear is really waterproof?
A: Shower in it. No, we aren't kidding!)

Q: What kind of backpack do I need?
A: External frame packs should be at least 3400 cubic inches with room to lash on sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Internal frame packs should be at least 4500-5000 cubic inches. please see our backpack advice for more information.

Q: What should I look for when choosing a sleeping bag?
A: Sleeping bags are rated by temperature. (If the one you're looking at isn't, definitely don't take it.) For FOp, bags should be warm to at least 20 degrees and should have 4-6 inches of loft (thickness when laid on the ground). please note that participants are asked NOT to bring down sleeping bags on FOp.

Q: Why can't I bring my down sleeping bag on FOP?
A: Sleeping bags work by trapping pockets of still air in their insulation, which your body then heats up to keep you toasty all night. Down sleeping bags use tiny puff of feathers to do this, and synthetic bags use a mass of fine synthetic fibers. When they get wet, the feathers in down sleeping bags clump together and loose their ability to trap air. Synthetic fiber does not suffer from this drawback, and it dries much more quickly than down. Since we sleep under tarps (which are open on the sides) on FOp, there is a chance that in a heavy downpours sleeping bags may get wet, so we don't want to take the risk of getting stuck several days out into the wilderness with a wet bag that won't dry! Also, when it's not raining, there can be very high levels of humidity in the East. This means that you may perspirate in your sleeping bag, again rendering down sleeping bags much less effective.
As a final note, you may hear some people tell you that down sleeping bags are warmer per ounce of weight than synthetic ones. This is true, but it does not mean it's not possible to buy synthetic sleeping bags that are as warm as down ones. It only means that a synthetic bag rated to 20 degrees will be slightly heavier, but just as warm, as a down bag which is also rated to 20 degrees.


Coming to Cambridge

Q: When can I move in to my room?
A: You can move in to your room after clean-up on the last day of FOp. This usually around 3 or 4 but may be as late as 6 or 7 pm. If your parents are meeting you, they will be able to pick up your room key for you. please plan to meet them in your room--it is the easiest and most convenient place. please see the Freshman Dean's Office move-in guidelines for more information.

Q: What do I do about accommodations the night before?
A: FOp does not provide housing before check-in; however, there are many hotels in the area; for suggestions try a travel guide with a section on boston or a website such as www.boston.com. Limited hosting with the families of local FOppers is available for FOppers who are traveling from very far away, but please make requests well in advance as these spots fill up fast.

Q: How do I get to Harvard from` the airport? the bus? the train?
A: please see our arrival directions. The T (boston's subway system) is the cheapest ($1) and an easy way to travel if you are not carrying many belongings (which you shouldn't be!). It will bring you directly into Harvard Square.

Q: Where can my parents park their car on check-in day?
A: parking can be tricky in Cambridge. There is free parking on Harvard Street and Western Avenue, but these spaces are understandably popular and seldom empty. There are also several parking garages in Harvard Square: one on Church Street, one at the Charles Hotel, and one across from the Government School on JFK Street. For parking on move-in day, please see the mailing for Arriving at Harvard on the Freshman Dean's Office website.

Q: What do I do about dinner on check-in day?
A: There are many restaurants in and around Harvard Square, including sandwich shops, pizza places and more expensive restaurants. You should plan on bringing about 7 to 10 dollars for dinner that night.

Q: Can I store stuff? how much?
A: We have very little storage space--each participant may store one small bag. If you can, it would be a good idea to give any extra items to your parents
before you say good-bye. If you are traveling from far away, it is a better idea to ship any extra belongings (well in advance, so that it will be ready to move in when you get back!) When you are sitting on the steps of Widener Library, awaiting your trip assignment, you should be wearing your hiking clothes and camp shoes or hiking boots.

Q: Is storage secure?
A: Storage is in the basement of the FDO, which is locked and alarmed at night. However, we cannot guarantee the safety of the items we store, and floods have occurred in the basement in the past, so please do not expect to store anything valuable.

Q: Can my parents get into my room and begin to move stuff in before I get back?
A: Yes. Your parents will be allowed to pick up your room key for you on move in day. We recommend that you meet your parents in your room to avoid confusion. please see the Freshman Dean's Office move-in information if you have further questions.