What is LandSea?
LandSea is Kalamazoo College’s outdoor pre-orientation program. First-Year and new incoming students have the option of participating in LandSea prior to the start of orientation. Over 2000 students have participated in LandSea over the 50-year history of the program.
What to Expect
- Build new friendships before college starts – every participant is placed in a small group of 6-8 incoming students with 2-3 leaders who are current or recently graduated K students
- Spend time in the outdoors – hike, canoe, climb, paddle, cook, sleep, and more outside over the course of the program with your small group
- Experience new adventures and try new things with the support of your fellow participants, your leaders, and the LandSea staff
- Increased confidence in your own abilities and talents
- Participate in service projects to give back to the land and people we interact with
- And more!
Why do LandSea?
Build connections
One of the most powerful benefits of participating in LandSea is the opportunity to make connections with new and current students prior to beginning college. Getting to know the student leaders on trail allows ample time to orient to life at K and get connected to resources and opportunities on campus. Friendships that begin on LandSea are often fundamental to the connections that are made within the first year at the College.
Positive Impacts of Outdoor Orientation Experiences
Participation in outdoor orientation trips like LandSea has been shown to be positively associated with many important factors to student success, including: social connectedness, feelings of belonging, campus involvement, independence, and even increased retention and grade-point averages!
Transitioning to college life during COVID-19
We have all been living through the worldwide shared experience of COVID-19 and a program such as LandSea feels even more valuable for students who are transitioning from a time of increased isolation into life in the Kalamazoo College community. LandSea provides incoming students with tools, conversations, experiences, relationships, and support systems to help them feel better equipped for their first year at college.
PE Credit
Students who participate in LandSea will receive 0.2 credits towards their PE requirement. All Kalamazoo College students are required to complete one credit of PE in order to graduate.