2022 BOLTer Application!
The Brown Outdoor Leadership Training (BOLT) Program is an outdoor orientation program and inclusive community for rising sophomores, transfers, and RUE students at Brown University. It begins with a hiking and camping trip in New Hampshire before school starts and continues through the fall semester with community-building events.

**Due to staff shortages, the fall 2022 BOLT trip will be a frontcountry camping & hiking trip in southern New Hampshire, not the traditional backcountry trip in the White Mountains. We will return to the traditional backpacking model in Fall 2023.**

We are committed to ensuring that all BOLTers (participants in the BOLT program) can participate in our program. We offer full financial aid and loan out all necessary gear (backpacks, boots, sleeping bags, etc.) free of charge. Increasing access to the outdoors is one of BOLT's core values! Absolutely no outdoor experience is required!

If you haven't checked out our website, please do! www.brown.edu/bolt

Feel free to email the BOLT Student Managers at bolt@brown.edu with any questions. We're also happy to meet with you – we love to talk about BOLT :)

This application will close on SUNDAY, MAY 22nd at 11:59 p.m. Decisions will be sent out by June 3rd, 2022. Commitment will be due by June 16th, 2022.
Email *
I. Applicant Information
You must be a Brown student enrolled during the fall 2022 semester. We cannot accept students who plan to study abroad, take the fall semester off, or who will not be enrolled in classes in the fall.
Confirm: I will be a Brown student enrolled in classes this fall. *
First Name *
Preferred Name
Last Name *
Banner ID Number *
This starts with B -- make sure you have all 8 numbers. This helps us submit our early arrival roster to the Office of Residential Life. (Note: if you're a transfer student and don't have this info yet, no worries, just let us know!)
Brown ID Number *
Example: 140000000
Phone # *
Gender Identity *
Racial/Ethnic Identity *
Date of Birth *
MM
/
DD
/
YYYY
Graduation Year *
In Fall 2022, I will be a: *
All applicant's disciplinary records will be checked. If you have ever been on deferred suspension or suspension, you may not be selected as a BOLT Participant. *
II. Program Overview & Commitment
The Trip

The five-day hiking and camping trip provides BOLT groups with a shared outdoors experience. It is our launch to the year. BOLTers learn valuable technical skills, including how to set up a shelter and cook on a camp stove. Individuals challenge themselves and learn to rely on one another within in a supportive group setting. BOLTers and their leaders get to know each other, bond, and develop their leadership skills.

Please review our page that outlines "A Day on the Trail" to learn more about our backpacking trip and to learn what to anticipate as a participant.

BOLT On-Campus

We have three levels of support for our BOLTers: BOLT Community, BOLT Group, and 1:1 Leader/BOLTer check-ins.  

During the fall, individual groups continue to meet. A strong component of our fall program is the weekly/bi-weekly gatherings and activities planned by individual groups. For example, many groups meet weekly for dinner!

As a community, we also host events such as the BOLT Olympics and BOLT Fall Feast where we invite all members of the current and past BOLT community. These events are highlights of the fall semester!

CALENDAR

Aug 25 (Thurs) 8:30am-5pm: Please return to Brown by this time to pick up your key from Residential Life and move into your room. (If you need an extra day due to flight schedules due to long distance travel, please let the BOLT managers know. We can submit an earlier arrival date to accommodate your travel and recovery needs based on our agreement with Res Life!)

Aug 26 (Fri) 12pm-6pm: Pre-Trip Meeting *absolutely required*

Aug 27 (Sun) - Aug 31 (Wed): BOLT Trip in the White Mountains!

Sept 2 (Thurs) at 7-9pm: BOLT Banquet

Sep 3 (Fri) 9:30-12:30pm: Gear Clean Up

Fall programming (BOLT Olympics, Fall Feast, etc.) dates forthcoming!
Are you able to commit to participate in the program for the fall semester? *
BOLT is both fun and a time commitment!  Our BOLTers are expected to return early to Brown in August and to participate in our fall events and group gatherings. The success of our program depends on the commitment and participation in our fall program and your commitment to support one another and our mission.
III. BOLT Risk Management Protocols & Policies
As a BOLTer, we ask that you support the mission, philosophies, diversity statement and goals of our program.

Please know that if you engage in behaviors that disrupt or distracts from the program, the BOLT Director may withdraw a student from a BOLT trip or may suspend or restrict continued participation in the program.

Risk management is the highest priority for the program. Risk is inherent in the activities of the program, and our Leaders and BOLTers have a responsibility to identify and manage those risks. Leaders will be proactive in teaching BOLTers the necessary skills for mitigating the risks associated with backpacking.

The BOLT policies listed on our website (https://boltatbrown.wordpress.com/policies-2/) must be followed unless reasoned judgment related to safety dictates otherwise. These policies are more than guidelines; they are designed to help keep you and your group safe and should be reviewed by all participants.

Harassment, sexual misconduct, use of drugs and/or alcohol on a BOLT Trip are some examples of behavior that will lead to removal from the trip and/or the program.

If a student is evacuated or asked to leave the program due to their behavior, a refund will not be provided.

When appropriate, the BOLT Director may consult with or seek the support of the Office of Student Life and/or the Office Judicial Affairs to assist in addressing behaviors. Behaviors that violate federal, state, and local laws or campus policies are subject to Non-Academic Disciplinary Procedures.
I can commit to support BOLT's mission, philosophies, diversity statement and goals. *
If you have questions or concerns about any aspect of participating in BOLT, please reach out to our student managers (bolt@brown.edu) or our acting program director (joie_steele@brown.edu).
IV.  Short Essays
Answer these questions in less than 200 words. We recommend preparing your responses in a word document and pasting them into the text boxes below.

Your responses will be read by our managers and given to your leaders in the Fall. This is the first impression they will have of you, so please write enough to help them begin to know you!
1. Why do you want to do BOLT? What do you hope to get out of the program? *
2. BOLT groups are teams. What do you consider to be your strengths and weaknesses when working as part of a team? *
3. OPTIONAL: We would appreciate learning anything you’d like to share about your cultural, racial, ethnic and/or class background or identity, sexual orientation, gender identity, where you grew up, politics or belief system.
V. Additional Questions
BOLT offers three affinity trips: a marginalized genders trip, a BIPOC trip, and a creative trip. More info here: https://boltatbrown.wordpress.com/experience/

If you'd like to talk more about any of these trips, please email the BOLT student managers at bolt@brown.edu! Please note that we only offer one of each of these trips, so capacity is limited.
1. Would you be interested in participating in our Marginalized Genders Trip? *
Mission: To serve as a safe and inclusive space in the outdoors for anyone who does not identify as a cis man.
No, not for me.
Yes, I'd love this!
2. Would you be interested in participating in our BIPOC Trip? *
Mission: To serve as a safe and inclusive space in the outdoors for anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, or a person of color.
No, not for me.
Yes, I'd love this!
3. Would you be interested in participating in our Arts & Accessibility in the Outdoors Trip? *
Mission: To serve as an accessible environment centered around the intersection between leadership, art, and the outdoors. This trip has a curriculum for writing, drawing, photography, and other artistic media. No experience necessary, just interest!                                                                                  
No, not for me.
Yes, I'd love this!
4. How did you hear about BOLT?
Check all that apply!
If a BOLT Leader encouraged you to apply, please share their name if you remember it.
(They may win a prize!)
VI. Cost & Financial Aid
The program fee for BOLT is $435 per participant, which covers all related trip expenses. BOLT is committed to ensuring that all students can participate in our program, and we do not want the cost of the trip to ever be a barrier to participation. Upon acceptance into the program, all BOLTers will receive a link to a Financial Aid form to apply for assistance. Aid is need-based, and no one is turned away for inability to pay. The Financial Aid process is confidential and managed by the BOLT Director. If you have any financial questions or concerns please reach out to the BOLT Director at joie_steele@brown.edu.

By early/mid June each summer, our program director is able determine the amount of funding available for financial assistance and share it across the requests we receive. If your financial situation changes over the summer, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our director.
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