Joshua Tree National Park, CA
March 6 – 14, 2027
Join OEL on the trip of a lifetime to Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California! This program has been designed to create opportunities for you to step outside of your familiar environment, develop confidence and leadership skills, engage meaningfully with the land, and explore how outdoor spaces can foster connection, belonging, and personal growth.
Surrounded by iconic desert landscapes, you’ll will explore what it means to be a part of a community, reflect on your values and sense of purpose, and consider your relationship and responsibility to the natural world. You’ll return to campus with new skills, friends, and experiences after a week of camping, hiking, and rock climbing.
Students will discover purpose, identity, and values, build engaged leadership and belonging, cultivate wellbeing and resilience, and practice stewardship and inclusion through facilitated activities, meaningful conversations, and experiences in nature.
Please note: This trip is designed to be more than a recreational outdoor experience. Participants will engage in a curriculum centered on leadership, belonging, and stewardship through facilitated activities, group discussions, and individual reflection. Participants are expected to actively engage in these learning opportunities and contribute to the group experience. This is also a group camping trip that emphasizes community living, shared responsibility, and collaboration. Participants will share responsibilities for cooking, camp setup and breakdown, and other daily tasks while practicing the communication, flexibility, and teamwork needed to live and learn together outdoors.
Location
We’ll leave from our Basecamp on Bucknell’s campus. From there we will drive to the Baltimore Airport, and fly to San Diego, CA before driving to the park.
Pre-Trip Meetings
There will be two pre-trip meetings for this extended break trip that are mandatory. During this meetings we will go over trip logistics, packing lists, and expectations:
Wednesday, February 17th, 7pm-8:30pm at Basecamp
Mandatory
This will be a chance for the group to meet and get to know each other. We will review trip logistics as well as goals and expectations of the trip.
Wednesday, March 3rd, 7pm-8:30pm at Basecamp
Mandatory
We will review our final trip logistics and details before departing in just a few days! The group will begin conversations about our connection to place, and the outdoors.
Logistics
Please read the sections below for detailed information about the schedule, registration process, trip cost, and more!
*This is a rough schedule with estimated times and locations that are subject to change.
Day 1: Saturday, March 6
We’ll gather at OEL Basecamp to prepare for our exciting adventure ahead! We’ll finalize all packing before hitting the road and heading to the Baltimore airport. We’ll spend the night at a hotel nearby. Our lessons and activities for the day will revolve around identity, core values, and purpose.
Day 2: Sunday, March 7
We will wake up early for our 6:00AM flight! We’ll land in California around 9:30AM. We’ll pick up our rental car and groceries before driving out to Joshua Tree National Park (about a 3 hour drive). Upon arriving, it’s time to set up our camp, make dinner, and engage in discussion around our core values and purpose.
Day 3: Monday, March 8
Waking up well rested and refreshed, we’ll explore the northern area of the park with a morning hike. After lunch we’ll dive into topics of leadership and belonging, and learn about the unique desert ecology that makes Joshua Tree so special.
There is a new moon this evening, which means the skies will be perfect for stargazing!
Day 4: Tuesday, March 9
Today we’ll challenge ourselves with a long hike, and experience a different area of the park. During this adventure, you’ll learn about leadership, belonging, and inclusion in the outdoors. In the evening we’ll return to our campsite for dinner and campfire conversations!
Day 5: Wednesday, March 10
It’s time to climb the stunning, massive rocks that we’ve been hiking around for the last few days! We’ll spend the day rock climbing, and cheer each other on as we reach out personal summits. In the evening, we’ll reflect on the history of public lands, their role in recreation, and consider how humans interact with the outdoors.
Day 6: Thursday, March 11
We’ll wake up early, and spend the day volunteering with the National Park Service to maintain and protect the park! This will be an amazing opportunity to dive further into desert ecology and consider the relationships between humans and the environment. In the evening we’ll take a sunset hike, and having dinner at our campsite before a well deserved nights sleep!
Day 7: Friday, March 12
This is our last full day in California! Depending on what the group decides, we’ll either go on a hike or visit a hot spring. No matter what activity we chose, we’ll spend our final day in community, reflection, and gratitude for our time together.
Day 8: Saturday, March 13
We’ll pack up camp and make our way back towards San Diego. We’ll stop at a few sight seeing locations before our 10:00PM flight.
Day 9: Sunday, March 14
After departing San Diego on Saturday night, we’ll land at the Baltimore Airport at 7:00AM local time. We’ll drive back to campus, and pick up breakfast on the way. After arriving back to Bucknell around 12pm, everyone will return to their Residence Halls for a much needed afternoon of rest after a long travel day, and an amazing week!
Full Cost: $775.00 per person
This trip is supported through the generosity of the Fritz Family! We are grateful for their support Bucknell student’s wellbeing!
The cost associated with this trip helps offset the cost of meals, airfare, lodging, guiding services, and equipment for this trip. Once notified that you are selected for participation you will be asked to commit to following payment schedule:
- Deposit 1: $100 (due within one week of acceptance onto the trip)
- Deposit 2: $200 (Due December 7th)
- Final Payment: $495 (Due January 25th)
We can accept cash or check only.
Alternative payment plans may be available upon request. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and set up a payment plan.
Deposits are non refundable and non transferable.
Inclusions
- Transportation to and from Joshua Tree National Park
- Meals and snacks from lunch on Saturday (3/06) through lunch on Sunday (3/14)
- A night in a hotel in Baltimore and six nights of camping in Joshua Tree National Park
- All group camping gear, including but not limited to tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, headlamps, all kitchen items, and more.
- One day of guided rock climbing
- Some clothing as needed (rain jacket and rain pants, baselayers and mid layers)
Exclusions
- Personal gear and items
- Any food purchased separately from group meals (e.g. gas station snacks, airport snacks, additional meals beyond pre-planned group meals, etc.)
- Any souvenirs, shopping, or optional, non-predetermined experiences
- All expenses incurred in the event of early or late departure not related to an emergency (transportation, extra hotel night, etc.)
Registration for this trip will open on Monday, October 5th, 2026 at 6:00pm Eastern. Application materials are due within three days of registration. Spaces for this trip are limited and will be filled through an application selection process.
This trip is open enrollment to all current Bucknell students. A Bucknell ID number is required to register.
Applications will be reviewed on the following dates:
- Monday, October 26(Priority Deadline)
- Monday, November 2
- Monday, November 9
Registration closes November 9th. Applicants will be notified if they are selected within 1 business day after the reviewed date (as listed above). Deposits are due within 1 week of acceptance. Depending on the number and strength of applications, the trip may be filled prior to November 9th. If you would like to increase your chances of being selected, please apply prior to October 26th.
Those not selected will remain on the waitlist in the case that a spot opens up later on.
OEL Adventure Trips, including Extended Break Trips, provided to Bucknell students have limited capacity. If a student signs up and doesn’t show for the program, it’s disruptive for everyone involved and takes away from other student’s experience.
We understand that things come up and life happens. We get it. We simply ask that you notify us as soon as possible and let us know of your cancellation. You can do this by emailing oel@bucknell.edu.
Cancellation Policy*
Trip payment, including deposits, are non refundable (except by the Payment Transferability Policy – see below).
Payment Transferability Policy*
All payments received specific to this trip are subject to the cancellation policy listed above in this section. In the event that a trip participant is no longer able to attend, all non-refundable fees paid can be transferred to another non-enrolled participant and yield a full refund. In simple terms, if someone is able to fill the spot of an already enrolled participant, non-refundable fees paid become refundable in full. The OEL professional staff will make attempts to fill any vacant spots by servicing an associated waitlist, marketing the availability, etc. There is no guarantee that a vacancy will be filled. If a participant cancels their spot on this trip, and it cannot be replaced by another participant, all non-refundable fees remain non-refundable.
No Show Policy*
Students who miss a trip’s preplanned departure from campus will not be allowed to join the trip at a later time. Students who miss a trip’s preplanned departure will forfeit all fees paid associated with this trip (no refund of any amount provided).
*Exceptions to above expectations and/or policies may be considered for adjustment on a case by case basis as determined by the OEL professional staff.