Mountain Campus

Ram Connect

What is Ram Connect?

Ram Connect is a series of optional, add-on outdoor extended orientation experiences designed to help you build stronger connections with other incoming students as well as experience some of what the beautiful Colorado outdoors have to offer. These experiences will offer the opportunity to meet new people and explore what it means to be a student at CSU.

Reservations for all Ram Connect experiences are available through your Ram Orientation reservation as an additional opportunity.

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Ram Connect: Adventure

Ram Connect: Adventure is an optional outdoor orientation program designed to provide structured adventure and group activities that will ease your transition into the CSU community. The 4-day, 3-night program includes opportunities for interactions with staff, student leaders, and other new students to begin forging connections that will help you build your community. Outdoor adventure activities include hiking, rock climbing, white water rafting, and camping.

Check out our sample schedule below.

Summer 2026 Session Dates

First-Year Students:

  • Session 1: Thursday, June 25 – Sunday, June 28

Cost: $335

If you are under 18 years of age, your parent or legal guardian must fill out the waivers.

*Cost includes all meals, transportation, activities, and supplies

Ram Connect: Mountain

Journey up to the CSU Mountain Campus on this 3-day, 2-night experience where you will participate in the Challenge Ropes Course, an alpine hike, campfire, and other community-building activities.

Check out our packing list and sample schedule below.

Summer 2026 Session Dates

First-Year Students:

  • Session 1: Friday, June 26 – Sunday, June 28
  • Session 2: Thursday, July 9 – Saturday, July 11
  • Session 3: Friday, July 17 – Sunday, July 19 

Transfer Students:

  • Session 1: Friday, July 17 – Sunday, July 19

Cost: $500

If you are under 18 years of age, your parent or legal guardian must fill out the waivers.

*Cost includes all meals, 2 nights of lodging (linens included) at CSU Mountain Campus, transportation, activities, and supplies

How to Prepare

Gear CSU Will Provide

  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping pad
  • Trekking poles
  • Day pack
  • Tents/Shelter
  • Water purification chemical and/or filter
  • Small trowel and shovel
  • Collapsible water containers
  • All necessary rock climbing equipment
  • All necessary white water rafting equipment
  • General First-Aid Kit (participants should provide their own basics such as ibuprofen and Band-Aids)

Gear Students Must Provide

Most clothing should be synthetic materials (quick-drying, moisture-wicking). Cotton is rarely a good choice for extended time in the backcountry.

  • Underwear
  • Base layers – tops & bottoms
  • T-shirts
  • Shorts
  • Swimwear
  • Medium weight shirt
  • Fleece sweater or equivalent
  • Long pants or equivalent (note: you will not be allowed to participate in jeans)
  • Down jacket (optional but recommended)
  • Waterproof rain jacket (Gore-Tex or equivalent)
  • Stocking cap
  • Lightweight gloves
  • 2 pairs of socks that work with your boots (heavy wool or synthetic)
  • Hiking boots or sturdy hiking shoes (lightweight, waterproof)
  • Sandals/Chacos/Shoes for camp & rafting
  • Sun hat with brim or visor
  • Small bowl, mug, spoon
  • 2 water bottles (1-liter wide-mouth are best)
  • Small headlamp (fresh batteries or bring extra)
  • Sunscreen (the stronger the better)
  • Sunglasses
  • Lip balm with SPF sun protection
  • Toothbrush, paste, floss
  • Comb or brush (optional)
  • Hand sanitizer (small amount)
  • Toilet paper
  • Period products with plastic Ziploc or coffee bag containers for disposal
  • Small towel

Day 1

12:00pm          Check In

12:30pm          Pre-Trip Preparation

2:00pm            Leave campus for Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)

3:30pm            Arrive at campground and set up camp

5:00pm            Hike and dinner

8:00pm            Evening Activities

10:30pm          Bed

 

Day 2

6:30am            Wake Up

7:00am            Breakfast

9:00am            Depart for long day-hike

6:00pm            Dinner at Campsite

7:00pm            Evening Activities

9:00pm            Campfire Hangout

10:30pm          Bed

 

Day 3

6:30am            Wake Up

8:00am            Breakfast and Pack up Camp

10:00am          Depart RMNP

12:30pm          Arrive at Rocky Mountain Adventures—rafting trip

6:00pm            Arrive at Horsetooth Reservoir Campsite

7:00pm            Dinner

8:00pm            Evening Activities

10:30pm          Bed

 

Day 4

6:30pm            Wake Up

7:00pm            Breakfast and Pack up Camp

8:30am            Arrive at Duncan’s Ridge Climbing Area

11:30am           Depart Duncan’s Ridge Climbing Area

12:00pm          Arrive at CSU Campus and Unpack

Please limit your luggage to one mid-sized duffel bag or suitcase and your day pack, as space is limited.

Necessary Items:

  • Reusable water bottle(s) – this is ESSENTIAL
  • Closed-toe shoes – REQUIRED
  • Sunscreen – ESSENTIAL at 9,000 ft
  • Backpack suitable for a day hike
  • Rain jacket
  • T-shirt(s)
  • Hat
  • Shorts/pants
  • Medium weight shirt
  • Jacket or sweatshirt for night
  • Sturdy hiking boots/shoes (for a 5-mile hike)
  • Extra pair of socks
  • Bug Spray
  • Lip Balm
  • Headlamp or flashlight (not the one on your phone)
  • Personal toiletries
  • Sunglasses

Optional Items:

  • Fleece/wool hat and gloves for night
  • Cards
  • Book
  • Headphones (no speakers)
  • Sandals
  • Light snacks (that can be completely sealed)

Day 1

9:00am             Check In on CSU Main Campus

9:30am             Depart for CSU Mountain Campus

11:30am            Mountain Campus Orientation

12:00pm           Lunch

1:00pm             Challenge Ropes Course

5:00pm            Relax/Unpack

6:00pm            Dinner

7:00pm            Evening Small and Large Group Activities

10:00pm          Free Time in Dorm

11:00pm          Lights Out

 

Day 2

6:30am            Wake up

7:00am            Breakfast

8:00am            Hike to Cirque Meadows

12:00pm          Lunch

1:00pm            Small and Large Group Activities

2:30pm           Choose Your Own Adventure Time

6:00pm           Dinner

7:00pm            Evening Small and Large Group Activities

8:30pm           Campfire and S’mores

10:00pm         Free Time in Dorm

11:00pm          Lights Out

 

Day 3

6:30am           Wake up and Pack up

7:00am           Breakfast

8:00am           Closing Small and Large Group Activities

10:00am         Depart CSU Mountain Campus

12:30pm         Arrive back to CSU Main Campus

Day 1

2:45pm                Check-In at Braiden Hall

3:15pm                Depart from CSU Main Campus

5:15pm                Arrival and Settle in at North Dorm

5:30pm                Mountain Campus Orientation

6:00pm                Dinner

7:00pm                Evening Activities

10:00pm             Free Time in Dorm

11:00pm             Lights Out

Day 2

6:30am                Wake Up

7:00am                Breakfast

8:00am               Challenge Ropes Course

12:00pm             Lunch

1:00pm               Group Activities

2:00pm               Choose Your Own Adventure Time

6:00pm               Dinner

7:00pm               Evening Activities

9:00pm              Campfire

10:00pm             Free Time in Dorm

11:00pm             Lights Out

Day 3

6:30am                Wake Up and Pack Up

7:00am                Breakfast and Pack Lunch

8:00am                Hike to Cirque Meadow (lunch)

1:00pm                Depart CSU Mountain Campus

3:30pm                Arrive back to CSU Main Campus

Two weeks before your Ram Connect session, students will receive an email with details and links to complete the medical history and waiver forms. These forms are required for participation in Ram Connect. If a student participant is younger than 18 years old, a parent or legal guardian must fill out the forms on the student’s behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions

Specific on-campus check-in locations for Ram Connect: Mountain are still being determined. First-Year check in will take place from 9:00am-9:30am with a planned 9:45am departure. Transfer check-in will take place from 2:30pm-3:00pm with a planned 3:15pm departure.

Check-In for Ram Connect: Adventure will take place from 12:00pm-12:15pm at the CSU Campus Recreation Center.

Fort Collins, CO is located 60 miles north of Denver and 50 miles south of Cheyenne, WY just west of I-25. 

You will be receive parking information via email two weeks before your program start date.

While you are required to attend a session of Ram Orientation, you do not have to attend that session prior to attending Ram Connect.

 

There is no cell phone service at the Mountain Campus and although there is limited Wi-Fi, it is only available to staff and current students taking classes at the Mountain Campus. For emergencies, participants will have access to the Mountain Campus office phone.

Sometimes plans change. If you need to change or cancel your Ram Connect registration, call our office at 970-491-6011. Please keep the following refund policy in mind:

Time of Cancellation 

Refund

62+ days prior to program

100% refund

29-61 days prior to program

75% refund

21-28 days prior to program

50% refund

Fewer than 21 days prior to program

No refund will be issued

 

Please note that it takes 1-1.5 hours to get from CSU’s campus to the Denver International Airport. We recommend not scheduling a flight earlier than 3 hours after the anticipated time we will arrive back to campus.

Anticipated Arrival Times

  • Ram Connect: Mountain (First-Year): 12:30pm
  • Ram Connect: Adventure (First-Year): 12:30pm
  • Ram Connect: Mountain (Transfer): 3:30pm

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in these questions, please contact our office at 970-491-6011 or at orientation@colostate.edu.