Everything you need for life outside the classroom
Register to Design Your UB Experience!
Published May 25, 2026
Arrive early this fall and join an overnight camping retreat to make connections and jumpstart your college experience.
About the Design Your UB Experience Retreat
When: August 18-20, 2026, immediately before Welcome Weekend
Where: Camp Weona
What to Expect: Connect with a community of new UB students and discover opportunities available during your college journey in preparation for your first year. With help from the Career Design Center, you will explore resources available to you at UB, then design a vision of your UB journey. There will also be time for camp activities such as kayaking, horseback riding, campfires and more!
Participation in the Design Your UB Experience is free and includes transportation, overnight accommodations, meals, UB swag and recreational activities. You will arrive back to campus with plenty of time to join all other new student for Welcome Weekend.
Design Thinking is a process for creative problem-solving that uses a human-centered approach to tackle life’s big questions. Using the Standford Life Design Lab’s process, you will apply design thinking practices to explore your UB college experience. Learn more from Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, authors of “Designing Your Life.”
Camp Weona, located just one-hour outside of UB’s campus, offers beautiful views of Western New York’s great outdoors while also providing access to adventure programming. Be ready to make lifelong memories with your new UB friends!
Following the camp experience, participants will be offered exclusive access to Design Thinking events and a private community group in Connect-a-Bull to continue connecting with like-minded students and alumni.
Registration Details
The Design your UB Experience program is for first-year students who are new to UB. Space is limited for this exclusive program, but applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Day One – Intro to Design Thinking
Team Building
Build a College Philosophy
Horseback Riding
College Myth-Busting
Rock Climbing
UB Bucket List
Campfire + S’mores!
Day Two – Solo Reflection
Practice Problem-Solving
Kayaking
Envision Your UB Experience
High & Low Ropes Course
Campfire & S’mores!
UBITName and password required
Please reach out to Lauren Khoury at lakhoury@buffalo.edu for any questions regarding the program or registration.
For more information on similar opportunities:
Student Life
University at Buffalo
259 Capen Hall, North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260
Phone: 716-645-2231