International and Indigenous students at the University of Guelph are about to embark on a Thanksgiving excursion to Algonquin Park.
It's a way to spice up the long weekend for students, who may be a long way from home for the first time and feel a little home sick this time of year.
"That can be a really isolating experience," said Marisa Di Leo, the coordinator of international student programs.
"We're hoping instead of that, we're able to kind of build some community and give the students the chance to experience something they haven't done before."
It's a first for the university's Department of Student Experience.
The group, including 25 students and two staff members, leave Friday morning and return Sunday afternoon and will go through an outfitter, who plans out the weekend and provide the gear.
"We don't have to worry about students needing gear, or having to stress about (not having camping supplies and such)," Di Leo said.
She said there's a lot planned, from canoe lessons and hikes. They're also staying one night in a cabin and another night in tents.
They're also doing an eco-challenge, and cap things off with a Thanksgiving dinner.
"With a lot of international students being on this trip, this is something they probably never experienced before, depending on what country they're from," she said.
"I know a lot of them have been curious about what Thanksgiving is all about, so we're going to spend some time on Saturday night having some of those traditional foods and showing some gratitude for the harvest, and all of that great stuff as well."
Including the Indigenous population is by design, as preparation has been done in collaboration with the Indigenous Student Centre (ISC).
"(This is) so that students from both the community groups that we service in our respective areas have a space where they can come together and meet, and get to know one another," Di Leo said.
"Perhaps share culture, share ideas, learn a little bit more about each other and their respective communities. Being able to do that in the outdoors seems like a really fitting place to be able to offer something like that."
She said the ISC brought in an elder to talk to the students ahead of time, providing an education on respecting the land and honouring the spaces they're going to.
"Really moving, really meaningful stuff," Di Leo said of the chat.
The buzz ahead of time is real too. So much, they have a waiting list running longer than the amount of spots available.
"Everyone seems to be really excited," she said. "Lots of big questions about what to wear since the forecast is looking pretty cold, especially for at night."
The hope is to have the trip become an annual thing.
"Hopefully, because it's been so well received leading up to the trip, if the trip's a success, my hope is that we can offer it to more than just 25 students next year," Di Leo said.
