Saturday, September 5, 2009

On The Road is our off-campus Orientation adventure! Meet other new students, faculty, staff and current student leaders as you explore Tacoma, Pierce County and the Pacific Northwest together. Choose a volunteer opportunity, an excursion in arts & culture, outdoor recreation, or a trip just for fun!

Online registration is now closed.  If you would like to go On The Road with us, please register at Orientation Headquarters in Red Square on Thursday, September 3rd (the first day of Orientation)!

Volunteer: Learn more about the Tacoma community through service!

Tacoma Rescue Mission  TRIP FILLED!
Spend an afternoon volunteering at Tacoma Rescue Missions’ Good Neighbor Café where you will have the opportunity to prepare and serve a meal to the low-income and homeless  individuals living at New Life Square.

Puget Creek Restoration Society  TRIP FILLED!
If playing outside and saving baby salmon are two things that make you smile, go On the Road to the Puget Creek Watershed and help sustain one of the three salmon-bearing streams within the Tacoma city limits.

Volunteer with Northwest Harvest
Make a difference and help fight hunger in Washington State by working with Northwest Harvest, a Seattle based non-profit organization that serves over 300 food programs statewide.

Garden with the PLU Community
Get to know Pacific Lutheran University better when you go On the Road to PLU’s Organic Community Garden. This trip will keep you closer to home but will be a great chance to meet fun PLU students who are passionate about their environment and about serving the local Parkland community. Plus! A sampling of delicious fresh veggies is always a bonus.

Arts and Culture

Photography Tour of Tacoma
If you have a love for photography, have access to a camera, and want the opportunity to travel through Tacoma with some of PLU’s finest photographers, this is the trip for you.  Tacoma is full of spectacular sites to photograph such as gorgeous waterways with Mt. Rainier in the background and magnificent buildings with architectural details.  This will also be a wonderful opportunity to visit and learn about the local area and what it has to offer.

Salsa Dancing at Abbey Ballroom  TRIP FILLED!
If you have always wanted to learn how to salsa, this is the trip for you! Enjoy dancing the day away with fellow lutes during this professional dance lesson.

Trip to Seattle International District
Get to know the history of the Greater Puget Sound Area by bussing up to Seattle International District. Have fun and learn more about the rich diversity of this area with a trip to the Wing Luke Asian Museum and lunch at the famous Uwajimaya Market where you will have the opportunity to sample a variety of Asian delicacies.

Movie at the Grand
Get acquainted with the The Grand, a non-profit “art-house” theater inside the Merlino Art Center, that has some of the best independent films of the year. If you love cinematography and good acting, this trip has your name written all over it!

Tacoma Art and Glass Museums
This is your chance to get to know two pillars of Tacoma’s Art scene. On this trip you will tour both the Tacoma Art Museum and the Museum of Glass, and also have the opportunity to explore downtown Tacoma.

Outdoor Recreation in the Northwest

Biking Point Defiance
Ride through the wooded trails on a bike tour through one of Puget Sound's most stunning parks.  This scenic ride will take us through Point Defiance and will end at Owen Beach for some relaxation down by the water.

Golf at PLU
Hole in one, here we come!  Whether you’re an avid golfer or have never played the game before, come join us as we set out on the PLU Golf Course here on campus to enjoy a wonderful day of golf and good company.

Kayaking
Spend the day with Outdoor Recreation guides on the water, kayaking through some of the loveliest waters the Northwest has to offer.  We will set out from Owen Beach at Point Defiance Park and enjoy this unique view of Tacoma's waterfront and Commencement Bay.  All are welcome: experienced and novice paddlers will enjoy this trip.

Rainier Pinnacle Peak Hike
The hike up to Pinnacle Peak in the Mt. Rainier National Park has adventure written all over it.  Pinnacle Peak is a Class III +, which means we will get the opportunity to ascend fixed lines with prusiks and harnesses to ascend the very last pinnacle, where we will top out to find stunning views of Mt. Rainier and the surrounding valleys.

Rock Climbing in North Cascades (Exit 38)
Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, Exit 38 has it all.  We will be heading off to Exit 38 for a day full of climbing on some of the best rock Washington has to offer.  The day will be spent setting up new routes, pushing your limits, and climbing like you've never climbed before.

Spelunking at Ape Caves  TRIP FILLED!
Bring your headlamp and sturdy boots because were heading deep into the ground to explore some of Washington's most famous lava tubes. Created 1,900 years ago, these tubes offer plenty of opportunities to partake in exploration and discovery as well as to learn about the world below.

Just for Fun

EMAL InterSquad Game & Tailgate
"Every Man A Lute". This phrase is the rallying call for PLU's champion football team, which takes pride in representing PLU to heart both on and off the field. We will watch one of PLU’s InterSquad football games, chat with fellow Lutes, and get a chance to preview the great season that is to come.  We'll have lunch at one of our favorite local restaurants too!

Point Defiance Zoo
Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my!  Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium has so much to offer, it’s going to be hard to figure out what we want to do first! The zoo is large enough to offer an awesome array of animals yet small enough to let you get really close to them. We will also have time to walk and see the sights in the public park connected to the Zoo & Aquarium.

Beach trip at Dash Point State Park
Head up to Federal Way for a chill day at the beach. Look forward to beach games, sand castles, and lots of opportunities to meet new people.

Seattle Premium Shopping Outlets
Some of the best shopping Washington State has to offer is available at Seattle Premium Outlets. About an hour and a half north of Tacoma, you will have the opportunity to shop your heart out at brand name stores like Burberry, Coach, Guess, J.Crew, Kenneth Cole, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger and more.
 
Northwest Trek  TRIP FILLED!
Northwest Trek has it all! We see more than 200 Northwest animals and explore some of the park's 615 acres full of wildlife and native vegetation.  We will be heading out to explore lakes, trails, meadows, and a myriad of animal life.  Don’t forget to bring your camera!

Roy Rodeo  TRIP FILLED!
Yee haw!  Yep it’s that time of year again when Roy, a small town near Tacoma, puts their annual Roy Rodeo into full swing.  It is a good old fashion pioneer rodeo complete with clown act, bareback riding, bull riding, and cow milking.  If you’re not from these parts or have never been to a rodeo, then you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity.