Pre-Orientation Retreat

Pre-O is awesome! Meet new friends, have fun with upperclass student leaders, explore your faith, hike, show off your moves in our dance off, establish a community, and experience campus in an entirely new way.

You get to move into your residence hall three days before the rest of the incoming class. So, you get your choice of bed and avoid moving in with 1,000 other students.

The student leaders are enthusiastic, welcoming and some of the nicest people around. They truly care about and want to support you in your transition to college. It’s super helpful to befriend upper-class students and spend time with them during and after the retreat.

The theme of the retreat is “Belong, Believe, Become.” Pre-O is an ideal way to feel a sense of belonging in the USD and University Ministry communities at the start of your college career. Most students that participate in Pre-O would say they met their best friends on this retreat and found a loving and inclusive community. We will help you settle into college and explore what you believe in. We hope that this will be a great opportunity for you to discover the person you are called to become.

The Pre-O Retreat is run by University Ministry. It is led by upper class student leaders from all walks of life. Expect time to make new friends, talks from upper class students, small groups, a dance off, hiking, free time, a beautiful outdoor Mass under the stars, and time to explore your spirituality as you transition to USD. This year’s Pre-O Retreat will occur off campus at Whispering Winds in Julian, CA.

Pre-O Adventure is run by Outdoor Adventures. It is led by upper class student guides. Look forward to exploring the outdoors, sleeping in tents, making new friends, and eating meals prepared in nature. This is a chance to connect with a small group of students and upper class leaders while exploring beautiful environments and our natural resources.

Since both Pre-O trips run at the same, unfortunately you won’t be able to participate in both. But, each experience will help you get to know other students, interact with upper class leaders, and settle into life at USD before Ole! Weekend begins - so you can’t go wrong!

The cost of the Pre-O Retreat is $125. Payment is by credit card and is due (in full) at the time of registration.

What’s included:

• Early move-in to the residence halls
• All meals, transportation to, and lodging at the retreat site
• All activities and retreat supplies

Need help with the retreat cost? We never want cost to prevent students from enjoying this experience. Financial assistance is available. Please complete this form to request financial assistance. For any questions, please contact universityministry@sandiego.edu.

We understand if your plans have changed. If you wish to cancel and give your space to another student, please email universityministry@sandiego.edu.

• Cancellations made on or before June 30, 2026 will receive a refund.
• Cancellations on/after July 1, 2026 will pay a $25.00 cancellation fee.
• After the close of registration on August 1, 2026 and throughout the duration of the retreat, all fees are non-refundable.

Nope! Students from all faith traditions and backgrounds are most welcome and strongly encouraged to attend the Pre-O Retreat.

If you identify as a Muslim, Jew, Hindu or a member of another tradition, you are welcome. If you identify with a different expression of Christianity, you are welcome. If you are unsure of what you believe or how you feel about God or religion, you are welcome. If you do not identify religiously, you are celebrated. If you identify as LGBTQ+ and fear you might not be accepted, you are celebrated (and you will be accepted). Students of all faith traditions enliven our spaces, and we’re so excited for you to be a part of that!

Students with a housing assignment will be able to move in the morning of August 26th after 9 AM. Students will have until noon to get settled before the start of the retreat in the afternoon.

Check in will be at the Ministry Center. Students who are registered for Pre-O will receive more information on their USD email account regarding the check in process in August.

This year’s Pre-O Retreat will occur off campus at Whispering Winds in Julian, CA.

Located in the scenic Cleveland National Forest in San Diego County, Whispering Winds is the perfect natural environment to escape the distractions of everyday life and make great friends at USD. WW offers a wide variety of recreational activities including a large swimming pool and hiking trails to help ensure that there is no shortage of adventure. They have large and comfortable meeting spaces, as well as delicious and nutritious meals. When it’s time to wind down at the end of the day, you’ll have dorm-style lodging, air conditioning, and showers.

A note on accommodations:

Please notify University Ministry at universityministry@sandiego.edu so we may be aware of any accommodations you might need. This retreat is accessible and open to all USD students. While there will be opportunities for hiking, swimming, and some outdoor games, each of these activities are optional and come with accessible alternatives.

A note about weather:

The mountains of San Diego are hot during the month of August. Temperatures range from 85- 100 degrees. Although buildings are air-conditioned, we spend a lot of time outside. Please be prepared for hot temperatures and dress comfortably. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and a refillable water bottle. For a complete list of what to bring, please see the packing list.

It is prohibited to use alcohol or illegal drugs during the retreat. Please notify Alec Hartman (ajhartman@sandiego.edu) about any prescription medications that you are taking in advance so we have that information in the unlikely case of an emergency.

Here are the two general options:

1) Student arrives with loved ones to help them check-in/move-in before the Pre-O Retreat.

If you choose this option and are from out-of-town, we suggest arriving in San Diego on Tuesday, 8/25. Unfortunately, students cannot move into their rooms until 8/26, but it's helpful to be at USD first thing on the morning of move-in. Most families and their student stay in a nearby hotel on the night of Tuesday, 8/25.

On the morning of Wednesday, 8/26 starting at 9 AM, students will check in at the University Ministry Center to receive their room key, and then begin to move into their dorm. University Ministry typically hosts a Welcome Pizza Party for the Pre-O participants shortly after move-in concludes at noon. Family members are free to explore the San Diego area while Pre-O participants are on retreat.

More details will be available in early August. The retreat itself will conclude around 2:00 pm on Friday, 8/28. General move-in for the rest of the incoming class begins later that weekend. Parents and students can then participate in the Ole! Weekend activities.

2) Student arrives to USD for Pre-O Retreat and family arrives after for Ole! Weekend.

If you choose this option, we suggest that the student flies into San Diego on the morning of Wednesday, 8/26 between 8:00am-11:00am. A University Ministry staff member will pick up Pre-O students from the airport and transport them safely to campus. We have well-marked University of San Diego vans. If you choose this option, please email your flight information to Alec Hartman at ajhartman@sandiego.edu before August 10, 2026. Family generally arrives on the afternoon/evening of Thursday, 8/27 or the morning of Friday, 8/28 in time for the Ole! Weekend activities.

If a student is flying to San Diego independently, we suggest arriving on Wednesday, August 26th between 8:00-11:00am. One of our University Ministry staff members will pick you up from the airport and transport you safely to campus in a USD-marked vehicle. If you choose this option, please email your flight information to Alec Hartman, at ajhartman@sandiego.edu before August 10, 2026.

We ask that international students coordinate their arrival with the International Center. Unfortunately, the dates of the Pre-O Retreat and International Student Orientation may overlap slightly. If this is the case, you will need to attend the International Student Orientation. Please consider joining University Ministry’s First-Year Retreat, which will take place in October 2026.

Unfortunately, the dates of the Pre-O Retreat and SSS Summer Bridge may overlap. If this is the case, we recommend that you attend Summer Bridge, and join us for University Ministry’s First-Year Retreat in October 2025.

University Ministry’s Pre-Orientation Retreat

What to Pack & What to Expect

• Retreat Location: Whispering Winds, 17606 Harrison Park Rd, Julian, CA 92036
• Accommodations: Dorm-style cabins with bunk beds, mattresses and bathrooms (bring linens or a sleeping bag!)
• Weather conditions: Hot and dry during the day, mountainous desert, gets cool in the evening.
• Attire: Very casual, prepare for hot weather. Clothes and shoes will get dusty due to the dirt roads in between cabins. Bring layers/warm clothes for the cool evenings.

What to Expect:

On the retreat there will be time for large group games, small group conversations, witness talks, individual journal time, prayer, dancing, hikes, swimming, and more. There’s also a super fun Talent Show on Thursday night, so feel free to bring any props or musical instruments you might be interested in using!

If your family needs to contact you in the event of an emergency during the retreat, please have them call the University Ministry office at 619-260-4735 and email us at universityministry@sandiego.edu.

For general questions prior to the retreat, please contact Alec Hartman at ajhartman@sandiego.edu.

What to Pack:

• Clothing
  • T-shirts/appropriate tank-tops (it is very hot at the retreat site)
  • Shorts/Pants – whatever you’ll be most comfortable in
  • Underwear, socks
  • Sweatshirt/long sleeve t-shirt
  • Pajamas
  • Shoes (flip flops are recommended for the shower, sneakers are recommended for the roads that we will be walking on)
  • Activewear (there will be time for optional sports and hiking)
  • Swimsuit and towel (there will be optional swimming)
• Other items
  • Pillow, sleeping bag, and/or bedding (size TWIN/TWIN XL bed sheet)
  • Towel (for shower)
  • Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, body wash, shampoo, etc.)
  • Refillable Water Bottle (we will have water refill stations)
  • Sunscreen and bug spray (consider non-DEET alternatives)
  • Hat and sunglasses
  • Face coverings
  • Talent Show props (optional) - musical instrument, lyrics, monologue, etc. There is already a piano at the retreat location.
  • Pen/Pencil
  • A journal will be provided

Any prescription medications that you are taking (please contact Alec Hartman at ajhartman@sandiego.edu) in advance so that we can be aware in the event of an emergency.