Sample Schedule
Every Odyssey trip is unique, but this gives you an idea of the itinerary.
First Day of the Session
8:30 a.m.
Check-in opens at the Alvarez College Union
10:30 a.m.
Welcome to Odyssey gathering
11:30 a.m.
Lunch, packing, games and challenge course activities in your assigned crews
Afternoon
Your crew will pack up your van and your trip leaders will drive Western North Carolina for your first night camping. They promise to play great music on the drive.
Evening
Your Trip Leaders will teach you how to cook on the camp stove, set up your tarps, and probably many other skills along the way.
Days 2-6 Outdoor Odyssey Activities
Outdoor Odyssey includes two days of backpacking, two days of whitewater canoeing, and two days of transition to begin and end your session.
Backpacking
Morning
You will wake up early to help prepare breakfast and complete camp tasks. After breakfast, you'll pack up camp and get on the trail to your next destination. Playing trail games and having conversation along the way will help you get to know your crew.
Afternoon
Your crew will often take breaks for lunch, snack, water or to just take in the views along the trail. When you arrive to camp you and your crew will be involved in setting up camp for the evening as a team.
Evening
You'll help with evening camp tasks, which may include anything from cooking dinner, setting up the tarp or starting a fire. Spare time could be spent playing games or just hanging out with your crew. Each evening your trip leaders will lead you in a debrief of the day to help you reflect on all you've learned.
Whitewater Paddling
Morning
You'll be up early to help break down camp, cook breakfast and get the boats ready to move down the river to your next destination. After breakfast, you'll depart the last night's camp to paddle on the river, improving your paddling ability and getting to know your crew.
Afternoon
After lunch on the river, you'll encounter progressively more challenging rapids that you and your crew will take on as a team. There may also be opportunities for swimming and riverside hang outs.
Evening
You'll help with evening camp tasks, such as setting up tents, cooking dinner as a team, organizing the paddling gear and more. You might play games, star gaze or just hang out with your crew. Each evening your trip leaders will lead you in a debrief of the day to help you reflect on all you've learned.
Local Service Project
Each crew will spend one day working with one of our local service partners. We strive to give back to the community and environment where Outdoor Odyssey has taken place since 1989. In 2025 this area was impacted by Hurricane Helene. The majority of our recent service has been removing debris and helping businesses rebuild.
Last Night of the Session
Travel back to Davidson's Lake Campus, set up camp, take showers, and eat dinner with the Davidson community, then get a good night's rest before the last day.
Day 7 - Last Day of the Session
Your group eats breakfast, then returns to Davidson Outdoors to clean and put away gear. Spend the last few hours debriefing your experience with your new friends. Enjoy an Outdoor Odyssey-wide closing ceremony before returning home.
We should be finished by 12:30 p.m. Please do not make plans to leave campus before 12:30 p.m.