Incoming freshmen attend NSU Rookie Bridge Camps

(Tahlequah, Okla.)--A group of 226 incoming freshmen participated in a pair of Rookie Bridge Camps organized by students and hosted by Northeastern State University during early August.

Rookie Bridge Camp (RBC) is an extended orientation program established in 1989. The camps were held August 2-3 and 5-6 on the Tahlequah campus and at Tulakogee Conference Center in Wagoner. The two-day camps included an overnight stay at Tulakogee, a float trip on the Illinois River and social networking opportunities to help students transition to college life.

"RBC is one of the few opportunities these freshmen have to meet other students coming to campus," said Ethan Hayman, a senior from Verdigris serving as co-director of operations for the camps. "It is a huge advantage. After this two-day orientation, they already know each other and even some upperclassmen when they show up for the first day of class."

The fundamental purpose of RBC is to provide freshmen with essential knowledge about campus and academic life while allowing them to become acquainted with each other, the upperclassmen volunteers and directors, attending staff and faculty.

While at Tulakogee, campers could enjoy a pool with water slide, volleyball and basketball courts as well as a rock climbing wall. The float trip is also immensely popular but other activities such as Putting It All Together, Cross the Line and Skongs help RBC acclimate students to campus life.

Putting It All Together has the students make a mock run through their class schedules and is a time-management exercise. Freshmen are given a worksheet on which they prioritize their social, academic, personal and leadership goals. They then have 10 minutes to move between stations manned by volunteers to earn points according to priorities.

Cross the Line is one of the more serious exercises. Freshmen are asked questions about their lives and step forward or "cross the line" if their answer is yes.

"Counselors pose the questions, which may ask if parents are divorced or if they have a loved one dealing with addiction," Hayman said. "This helps students realize that, whatever problems they are having, there are others with similar problems and they are not alone."

Skongs, an RBC institution, are skits and songs put together by the freshmen that poke fun at directors and other volunteers.

Though student organized, RBC attracts volunteers among the NSU faculty, staff and administration. Hayman expressed appreciation for their contributions.

"We had Dr. John Yeutter from Tahlequah and Dr. Stephan Sargent from the Broken Arrow campus, so it was nice to see our faculty come out," Hayman said. "Dr. Laura Boren vice president of student affairs attended both camps and President Steve Turner was able to visit the second camp and extend a welcome. It is great to see support at that level and know that the university is behind us."

The backbone of RBC, however, is the students who set it up and offer their time. Student volunteers for the camps numbered 56 with many of them having participated in the camps as incoming freshmen.

"I was an RBC freshman and I loved the camp," Hayman said. "The reason I volunteer is because I love seeing people come out of their shells. You can see the transition from high school senior to college freshman. While attending RBC, you understand that in many ways your slate is wiped clean and you can become what you want to be in college."