Pre-Orientation

Pre-Orientation
September 19 - 23, 2026

Pre-Orientation is for new students. This 5-day, 2-credit course is designed to jump-start your Evergreen education. As a Pre-Orientation student, you can:

Explore Evergreen’s beautiful 1,000-acre Olympia campus including our forests, beaches, farm and gardens, libraries, labs, studios, and House of Welcome that sits on the traditional lands of the Squaxin Island Tribe
Discover resources and organizations at Evergreen, in Olympia, and beyond
Build trusting relationships and support networks with mentors and your fellow Greeners
Move into Campus Housing early if you are living on-campus in Fall

For all the information, track details, and full schedules, check our Pre-Orientation Guide available in September

Fall 2026
Pre-Orientation Program Tracks

Arts & Letters in Olympia: Invisible Cities

Explore Olympia and Evergreen as artists, writers, and readers

Faculty: Steven Hendricks and Lyndsay Rice

Through an interdisciplinary exploration of Olympia and the Evergreen campus, students will engage with visual arts and literature to investigate the intersection of place, memory, and creative expression.

Biodiversity in Evergreen’s Backyard

Visit old-growth forests, marine reserves, and local watersheds

Faculty: Paul Przybylowicz and Erik Thuesen

Set against Evergreen's 1,000-acre forest and Puget Sound shoreline, this program offers an immersive scientific exploration of local ecosystems through old-growth forest hikes

Civic Engagement Institute

Launch your experience as a co-learner and leader at Evergreen

Faculty: Carolyn Prouty and Anthony Zaragoza

The Civic Engagement Institute offers an immersive introduction to leadership and social change at Evergreen, connecting students with local activists, elders, and policymakers through community-based action and identity-building workshops.

Growing Wellness: Community Gardens and Forest Trails of Olympia

Learn about local food systems, community gardens, and nearby trails

Faculty: Melissa Nivala and Steve Scheuerell

This program explores the intersection of community wellness and local food systems through hands-on volunteering at the campus organic farm, field trips to regional food banks and markets, and the development of a personal wellness plan centered on Evergreen’s 1,000-acre natural landscape.

The 5-Day Media Challenge

Learn the spaces. Find your people. Make something real

Faculty: Diego Zavala Scherer

This intensive five-day workshop invites students of all experience levels to master Evergreen’s media studios and collaborate on a scrappy, inventive short film while building a lasting crew of creative partners.

Pre-Orientation Course Information

Dates: September 19 - 23, 2026
Location: Olympia campus and regional field experiences
Course Credits: 2

Tuition and Fees

Tuition Costs, Course Fee, and Housing Fee

Tuition

Full-Time Students: If you are enrolled full-time (10-16 credits) for Fall 2025, you can add this course at no additional tuition costs
Part-Time Students: If you are enrolled part-time (2-9 credits) for Fall 2025, you can add this course at your regular tuition rate

Fees

Course Fee: $100, Includes transportation, meals, and supplies
Housing Fee: $160, applicable only if you are moving into Campus Housing early

Accommodations

Access Services and Religious Observance

Reasonable accommodations and adjustments need to be requested as soon as possible.

For disability accommodations, submit your request with Access Services
For adjustments for religious observance, reach out to the faculty directly to request holidays for reasons of faith or conscience

Access Services for Students with Disabilities
Holidays for Reasons of Faith or Conscience