Pre-Orientation Programs

Kelly Alvarado, First Year Experience Programs

Each fall, new students arrive at Gonzaga’s campus eager to begin the orientation process and their time as a Zag. For some students, the journey begins a few days earlier at one of our optional, fee-based Pre-Orientation Programs that take place before New Student Orientation Weekend.

• Building Relationship in Diverse Gonzaga Environments
• First Year Retreat
• Gonzaga Out of Bounds (GOOB)
• Reality Camp

“Pre-Orientation Programs like BRIDGE, First Year Retreat, GOOB, and Reality Camp are a great way to kick start your Gonzaga experience,” says Matt Lamsma, Gonzaga’s Dean of Student Engagement. “Each of these programs is a best practice in their field and provides incoming students with an opportunity to connect new Zags who have similar interests.  These programs really help ease the transition to college.”

Unity Multicultural Education Center’s (UMEC) Building Relationships in a Diverse Gonzaga Environment, or BRIDGE, program is designed to assist students from multicultural and/or first generation backgrounds with a smooth transition to Gonzaga University and the Spokane area. BRIDGE participants often speak of the family-like relationships they form as well as their appreciation for the intentionality placed on identity development within the Gonzaga community.

The programs are hosted by different offices at Gonzaga that offer other events and opportunities to get involved throughout the year. First Year Retreat is hosted by University Ministry and invites incoming first year students to connect with their peers while exploring the transition to college and how to become whole, dynamic, and faithful followers of God.

Gonzaga Out of Bounds (GOOB) is hosted by Gonzaga Outdoors, the outdoor recreation program at GU. “The transition to college is a time where all students are outside of their comfort zone. We take that idea a step farther and go to the literal wilderness, have adventures together, face challenges, get to know each other and learn about what it means to be a part of the Gonzaga Community,” says Dave Gilbert, Outdoor Recreation Specialist. “All of the Pre-Orientation Programs find ways to challenge their participants and support them as they begin the undertaking of becoming adults.”

Reality Camp is hosted by the Center for Community Action and Service Learning (CCASL, pronounced “castle”). CCASL coordinates service-learning academic courses, manages community-based volunteer and outreach programs, and provides referrals to external volunteer opportunities. Reality Camp rolls all of these experiences into a five day program along with an opportunity to build relationships with other incoming first-year students. To serve your new Spokane community while having fun and building lasting relationships with new friends is a powerful way to start your time at Gonzaga.

All of the Pre-Orientation Programs combine the opportunity to get to know other incoming students, build meaningful relationships with each other as well as upper division students, staff, and faculty, have incredible experiences whether they be service, spiritual, cultural, adventurous, or all four, and lots of fun.

For dates, registration info, and more please go to www.gonzaga.edu/preorientation