TECH TREKS
Tech Trek expeditions, run by ORGT, help first-year students transition to Georgia Tech. Since 2008, these adventures have included glacier climbing and whitewater rafting, revealing hidden strengths. ORGT has led 130 expeditions across 23 countries and all seven continents.
WELCOME TO TECH TREKS
Tech Trek expeditions are for first year students only. Many students embrace them as ideal experiences to help with their transition from high school to their initial year at Georgia Tech. These experiences are coordinated by ORGT, the CRC’s Outdoor Program. Tech Treks can be a powerful kick-off to a great experience at Georgia Tech.
Since 2008, Tech Trek experiences have launched many successful Tech journeys. Whether climbing glaciers in Alaska, whitewater rafting in Montana, or caving in Tennessee, such adventures sometimes reveal hidden strengths. ORGT has led 130 expeditions, visited 23 countries, and trekked on all seven continents.
Special Instructions for registering for Tech Treks before you have a student account.
OUR HISTORY
In 2007 the CRC piloted the first ‘Freshman Only” expedition. The group spent twelve days immersed in the Alaskan wilderness whitewater rafting, backpacking, and ice climbing. We intended this to be a once-in-a-lifetime jumpstart to a great first year at Tech. To our surprise, though, participants got far more than they imagined! Not only did trekkers come home with incredible memories of traveling through some of the most beautiful places on earth, but they start their first semester at Tech with great and trusted friends on campus with whom they’d hiked, climbed, and rafted. That wasn’t even the best part, though. That first year, they discovered that rising to challenges in Alaska put them in touch with skills and confidence that applied directly to successfully meeting the rigors of Georgia Tech. They told us that after their Alaska trek, they were more resilient and better prepared to face challenges. When they encountered tough things like exams and projects, they reflected on their Alaska experiences and were reminded that they had strength to push through just about anything.
WHAT MAKES TECH TREKS POWERFUL?
Against the backdrop of gorgeous wilderness, our student leaders share ideas and answer questions about how to succeed at Georgia Tech:
- Best ways to interact with professors
- Using academic support services
- Making friends and getting connected
- Incentives for campus-wide interactions
- Involvement in clubs and organizations
- Making the most of your time at Tech
Mountaintop and Campfire discussions explore:
- Self-confidence
- Motivation
- Critical thinking
- Decision making
- Relationships
- Balance
- Leadership
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AT GEORGIA TECH
The skills required to succeed when travelling through unfamiliar wilderness aren’t those required to successfully navigate the academic rigors of Georgia Tech. Adventure experiences challenge students to push themselves and to think what makes them strong in tough situations. We believe that when individuals test their capacities and think about that experience, that their awareness is sharpened and they are better prepared then to harness their unique strengths to better overcome future challenges.
Many have shared that their experiences better prepared them for success at Tech. They also told us that friendships forged while trekking through the wilds were the kind likely to last for years and years.
TREK DETAILS
Alaska
An 11-day Alaskan adventure that includes backpacking, ice climbing, and whitewater rafting in the heart of some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Past year’s trekkers attribute skills learned on the trip to starting their year at Tech with greater confidence, more friends, and knowledge of their strengths.
Colorado
An 11-day Alaskan adventure that includes backpacking, ice climbing, and whitewater rafting in the heart of some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Past year’s trekkers attribute skills learned on the trip to starting their year at Tech with greater confidence, more friends, and knowledge of their strengths.
Southeast
*We will resume offering open-enrollment Tech Treks Southeast in Summer 2024. In the course of any year, ORGT offers more than 100 open-enrollment day and overnight adventures on weekends through the school year.
We will lead Tech Treks a number of these popular “Southeast” events–a staple of our summer opportunities for incoming first years since 2008–but registration is currently closed. These programs, typically feature 4 days of adventure — whitewater rafting, GT’s leadership challenge course, rock climbing, caving and other adventures. It’s the stuff of lasting memories and enduring friendships.
We encourage you to join ORGT for day-long or overnight adventures throughout the year.
