Camp Yale Programs

BUILD

In BUILD, students will engage in a series of fun, collaborative projects to build touchable objects, virtual computer programs, and friendships. The program will be jointly hosted by the Center for Engineering Innovation and Design (CEID) and the Department for Computer Science (CS). The activities will include the use of hardware build tools including the 3d printers, laser cutter, and micro-controllers at CEID, the use of software build tools including basic programming tools, and more specialized programming tools such as machine learning tools. The program will also include surveys of design/build challenges, several staff-led workshops, and an outside tour. No prior experience is necessary but basic programming skill is helpful. For more information on CEID please visit the Center for Engineering Innovation and Design and the departmental website for information on Computer Science.
 

• Center for Engineering Innovation and Design (CEID) 
• Computer Science (CS) 

Camp Yale Arts

Camp Yale Arts is an orientation for incoming students who are curious, creative, and excited to find their people. We’ll explore Yale through the arts, from sketching to remixing to sculpting to improv to a Capella (optional! No impromptu solos, we promise!). Whether in the Yale University Art Gallery, the on-campus theaters, or hidden residential college nooks, we’ll be talking about what “home” and “self” mean when you’ve just moved somewhere new. 

There’ll be paint nights, ice cream runs, movie screenings, low-stakes creative challenges, and plenty of unstructured time to hang out and get to know New Haven. Absolutely no art experience expected or required! 

If you’re into journaling, design, museums, photography, film, writing, music or just want a chill way to meet people in your first week, this is for you. 

And yes — there will be hot water. And indoor plumbing. And real beds. And snacks galore! Check out our Instagram and get a better sense of our vibe!

• Yale University Art Gallery  
• Yale Center for British Art 
• Center for Collaborative Arts and Media (CCAM) 
• Yale Galleries
• Camp Yale Arts

Cultural Connections

Cultural Connections (CC) activities center around developing relationships within the CC community and learning about Yale’s student support systems. We do this through the annual Poetry Jam, CC Olympics, Talent Show, and opportunities to interact with faculty, Yale’s cultural centers, and more. In addition, we have critical conversations and reflection on power, privilege, and identity. Our CC counselors are current students and chosen for their familiarity with Yale’s resources, willingness to serve as a mentor to people entering their first year at Yale, and for their diverse interests (academic, community, extracurricular, etc.). These counselors serve as program staff during our program and not only assist us in day-to-day logistics, but more importantly, help create a friendly atmosphere for students starting their Yale journey.

• Cultural Connections website

FOCUS

FOCUS on New Haven is your opportunity to step beyond Yale’s gates and build real, lasting connections with the city you now call home. Hosted by Dwight Hall at Yale, FOCUS welcomes first-year, transfer, and Eli Whitney students into an immersive experience grounded in service, learning, and community.

Through hands-on work with major local partner organizations, conversations with community leaders, and guided discussions on social justice and local activism, students gain a deeper understanding of New Haven and the people who shape it. Along the way, you will form meaningful relationships with fellow students, explore the city’s neighborhoods and architecture, attend local events, and experience its diverse food scene.

More than a program, FOCUS is a space to learn, serve, and belong. By the end of the experience, students leave with strong community ties, a sense of purpose, and the confidence to engage thoughtfully and responsibly with New Haven.

• FOCUS website 

First-Year Outdoor Orientation Trips (FOOT)

First-Year Outdoor Orientation Trips (FOOT) is a wonderful community that fosters trust and inclusiveness. Juniors and seniors lead first-year students on four-day backpacking trips in the beautiful mountains and hills of the Northeast. We invite you to join us for an experience that many students say is one of the most formative and important of their time at Yale. On FOOT, students will sleep under the stars in a wilderness setting, share stories and songs around a campfire, and create a new tight-knit bond of friends that supports them throughout the years. FOOT offers a range of trips, from hiking 4 to 6 miles a day, to day hikes from a base camp. Arts-focused trips include journal writing, drawing and photography. FOOT is designed for any background and level of camping experience.

• FOOT website
• FOOT Health Form (Due Date July 7, 2026)

Harvest 

Founded in 2003, Harvest is a Camp Yale program run by the Yale Sustainable Food Program (YSFP).  The program is for students excited about food, farming, and community. Harvest begins at the Yale Farm and disperses to 18 farms across the state for three days and nights. Groups of eight incoming first-years led by two dedicated upper-level Harvest-loving leaders spend a few days farming and camping on sustainably stewarded land across Connecticut. Participants experience all aspects of farm life, from harvesting produce to planting crops, to cooking and processing fresh produce. Afternoons and evenings you might find students cooling off in cold water, playing games, or sharing s’mores around a campfire. Harvest trips offer a great opportunity for students to enjoy the outdoors, learn about agriculture in Connecticut, and make a close group of friends before classes begin.



Harvest is designed to introduce students to the food and agriculture systems of Connecticut through embodied practice - no farming or camping experience is necessary. Most importantly, Harvest is for first-years to meet amazing people and have fun. Join us on Harvest and begin your Yale experience with lux et verduras!



For more information, please email the student coordinators at moobahs@gmail.com

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To see photos from previous trips and meet some of our student leaders, check out our Instagram and Facebook pages, linked below.

• Harvest website  
• Harvest Health Form (Due date July 7, 2026) 
• Harvest Facebook 

LAUNCH 

LAUNCH’s chief goal is helping you develop your innovative pursuits, in order to lead in any industry you choose. We are all about empowering incoming students to break through and make a bigger impact with their lives—whether that’s through entrepreneurial ventures, creative and artistic endeavors, or something totally unexpected. 

Yale nurtures impactful innovators who often return to campus to share their experiences. Alumni like Jennifer Fleiss (Rent the Runway), Indra K. Nooyi (PepsiCo), Ben Silberman (Instagram), Michael Siebel (Y-Combinator), Robert Lopez (‘Frozen’ composer), Maya Lin (Vietnam Veterans Memorial designer), and Frances Beinecke (Natural Resources Defense Council) have inspired students on campus. You’ll also take part in hands-on workshops at the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale, where collaboration and big ideas come to life. 

But LAUNCH is so much more than guest speakers and workshops. It’s about the moments that make Yale feel like home before the semester even begins. Experience the thrill of searching for hidden capsules across campus, relaxing on the shores of Connecticut’s beaches, and sharing life stories while indulging in late-night s’mores. 

Being in LAUNCH will let you explore the intersection of creativity, community, and impact. We look forward to inspiring you to kickstart your journey.

• Yale LAUNCH

Orientation for International Students (OIS) 

Orientation for International Students (OIS) is an engaging program designed to help students with international backgrounds transition into life at Yale and in the United States. Organized and led by Yale College international students and the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), OIS provides you with introductions to Yale’s rich academic and cultural resources, vibrant social activities like the famous OIS talent show, an exciting regional day trip, and opportunities to explore your new hometown of New Haven. Through OIS, you will connect with peers from around the world and build a supportive community that will help you navigate Yale’s academic and social culture with confidence. We can’t wait to welcome you to the OIS family!

• OIS Website

Yale Campus Recreation 

Yale Campus Recreation (YCR) is an engaging orientation program for incoming first-year students, designed to help you meet your fellow Yalies while navigating your transition into college life. 

This program focuses on and exposes first year students to the programs and services offered by YCR including Payne Whitney Gym (PWG), Yale Athletic Fields, Intramural Sports, Club Sports, Fitness and Wellness programs and the Outdoor Education Center (OEC). 

By participating in YCR, students will build lasting relationships with peers and upper-level mentors in a fun and active environment. Students will participate in various recreational activities while visiting PWG, the Yale Athletic Fields, and the OEC. 

• Yale Campus Recreation

YALE RESERVED 

Yale Reserved is a Camp Yale Program designed for students who enjoy moments of solitude, low-key events, and time for reflection. We recognize those who are not inherently outgoing as contributing and valuable members of our community at Yale. Throughout our program we will assist you in developing skills and strategies to flourish in college. Moving to a new environment and meeting new people can be an intimidating and overwhelming experience. From ice breakers to class presentations, college is filled with expectations for you to be highly involved and conversational. Constant socializing can take you outside your comfort zone and challenge you. We understand the value of a familiar and low-pressure environment that does not stress you out. The goals of Yale Reserved are to provide students the language to articulate their needs from campus communities and express the strengths of their quiet nature. Most importantly students will have fun and meet new friends!

• YALE RESERVED