Adirondack Trail Blazers

Thank you for your interest in Adirondack Trailblazers. The status of Adirondack Trailblazers Summer 2024 is TBD. Further communications will be sent with any updates. 

Program Overview

As an incoming first-year or transfer student, you have an opportunity to begin your SUNY Cortland experience by joining a small group of your peers on a fun and adventurous trip to the beautiful Adirondack Mountains the week before classes start in the fall. Whether you start your college career in the fall or the spring, there's an opportunity for you to attend the Adirondack Trail Blazers Program in August. After dropping off your belongings in your residence hall room or apartment and saying goodbye to your loved ones, you’ll head to our outdoor education facilities at Raquette Lake owned by SUNY Cortland. Your life as a Red Dragon begins here.

The next day, you’ll awake to a spectacular view of the surrounding lake to begin your journey by foot and canoe into the magnificent backcountry of the Adirondack Park.  Led by experienced instructors, you and your group of new friends will hike, paddle, and camp in the Adirondack Park, while sharing stories around the campfire and learning what college life will soon be like.  

There is no better way to prepare for the challenge and excitement of college than by joining Adirondack Trail Blazers. At the completion of the trip, you’ll return to Cortland’s main campus with a sense of confidence, and eager anticipation to join in with the welcome weekend activities with many new friends.  

Read more about one student's experience here.

About Adirondack Trail Blazers 

Adirondack Trail Blazers was established in 2013 and is built around Cortland’s 65 years of tradition connecting students and faculty in the outdoors. The inaugural program in 2013 had eight participants, and has increased to over 40 participants annually. We hope to continue to grow as a program to provide this experience to as many incoming students as possible.  History of the ATB program has shown that it's a great way to build relationships and meet new friends while gaining confidence prior to classes even starting.  An experience at Raquette Lake creates lifelong memories, which many of our current students and alumni talk about frequently.