Tica Drury of Bainbridge Island recently participated in the University of Vermont’s TREK Program.

Drury is a first-year student at the university. She began her college experience by joining more than 205 other UVM students in the TREK program, a unique, seven-day first-year enrichment program sponsored by the university’s Department of Student Life.

Drury participated in Rock Climbing TREK, a part of the program’s wilderness activities. Drury and other students learned the basics of rock climbing techniques while visiting legendary rock climbing sites throughout Vermont and the Adirondacks.

For 38 years, UVM’s TREK program has sent new students all over the state of Vermont to explore the region’s wilderness, develop leadership skills, and work on community service projects. TREK is one of the biggest and most diverse new-student, collegiate, community building programs in the Northeast region.