Emma Moriarty ’25
Emma Moriarty ’25, currently enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, shares their experience.
Hometown: Shrewsbury, NJ
What drew you to Lehigh Launch?: I was drawn to Lehigh Launch because I wanted to find out more about myself. Self exploration is really important to me as a person, and I thought that being able to learn all of these new subjects in a unique environment would benefit me. Going into this program, I was really lost on what I wanted to pursue in my life and I was in a weird headspace. This trip cleared my head and helped me to learn what was really important, as well as allowed me to gain hands-on experience on what we were learning.
What did you like most about Lehigh Launch?: The portion of Lehigh Launch that I liked the most was The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) trip. This trip allowed time for reflection and I learned so many new things. In the later weeks of the trip, we gained knowledge on the things we had seen and were able to relate what we experienced in NOLS to what we learned in class.
What was the best thing you learned?: The best thing I learned was how to cook meals for my friends. I also learned a lot about myself, as I have already said, including how I can adapt to new environments. Not every adaptation has to be a negative challenge; it can be new and exciting! And now I feel prepared to move to campus!
What is a fun fact from the trip?: I learned on my NOLS course that mountains don’t come with porta-potties!
What is something you wish you knew before you packed your bags?: I wish I knew how cold it would be at night when I packed my bags, and that I wouldn’t need my whole closet.
Simone Cox ’25
Simone Cox ’25, currently enrolled in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, shares their experience.
Hometown: Newark, DE
What drew you to Lehigh Launch?: One of the main aspects that drew me to this program was the fact that I would have an opportunity to really connect with nature. In urban/suburban areas, that’s really hard to do. I also wanted to see if environmental engineering was a possible career path for me.
What did you like most about Lehigh Launch?: I liked gaining a closer relationship with all of my fellow peers while also learning how to independently hike in nature at the same time.
What was the best thing you learned?: I learned that for me, to be able to be my own leader, it begins with myself. Learning how to become more independent at The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) has really helped me figure out how to have better leadership skills out in the real world.
What is a fun fact from the trip?: Fourwing saltbush in New Mexico can change from male to female or vice versa based on environmental cues.
What is something you wish you knew before you packed your bags?: I wish I knew beforehand to be decisive about what I did or didn’t chose to pack.
Amber Bierly ’25
Amber Bierly ’25, currently enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences as a possible Earth and Environmental Sciences major, shares their experience.
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
What drew you to Lehigh Launch?: Being a part of a small group of students living and learning in the American West.
What did you like most about Lehigh Launch?: Seeing new towns full of different cultures and lifestyles.
What was the best thing you learned?: Respect for different cultures and lifestyles.
What is a fun fact from the trip?: Many of the herbs we use in cooking come from the mint family!
What is something you wish you knew before you packed your bags?: Pack lightly and use a rolling suitcase.
Jamiez Vo ’25
amiez Vo ’25, currently enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, shares their experience.
Hometown: Phan Thiet City, Vietnam
What drew you to Lehigh Launch?: I was impressed that Lehigh Launch particularly focuses on introducing disciplinary and experimental learning to first-year students. I thought it was important for me to apply my knowledge from the classroom to real-world problems. The American West would help me explore my curiosity and love for nature. As the program is open to students with all majors, it is a great chance for me to meet new people with diverse interests!
What did you like most about Lehigh Launch?: The three-week backpacking with The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) opened a totally new horizon about nature and the backcountry lifestyle for me. It was more challenging to live with nature than I had thought. From sleeping in the tent under storms to doing a summit at dawn, the experience taught me how to be wild and present with nature. Moreover, I had a great bond with the rest of my group throughout our chances to lead the team, cook several creative dishes, and appreciate each other as a traditional reflection.
What was the best thing you learned?: The best thing I learned is how to evaluate my observational and analytical skills. Throughout the program, we did numerous field trips that taught us how to shift the classroom perspective to experiential learning. It was not easy to make the right observation the first time. By practicing drawing objects and journaling, I have improved and asked more analytical questions. Being able to analyze through real-world observation now guides me to pay attention along with curiosity to wherever I go.
What is a fun fact from the trip?: During NOLS, we learned to cook a lot of amazing dishes from a pot, mini stove, and fried bake. The best ones were definitely pizza and fruit cobbler.
What is something you wish you knew before you packed your bags?: If I could go back to my packing day again, I would bring more lotion, sunscreen, and a camera! Because the atmosphere was really dry here, I needed more lotion and sunscreen than I thought. Throughout the trip, there were tons of incredible views from nature, culture, and people. Although I could use my phone, it would be an exceptional experience to keep my eyes on these moments through the camera’s lens.
Allen Chen ’25
Allen Chen ’25, majoring in Integrated Degree in Engineering, Arts and Science (IDEAS), shares their experience.
Hometown: Kunming, China
What drew you to Lehigh Launch?: The enchanting west from the Rocky Mountain area to the desert in the south.
What did you like most about Lehigh Launch?: The magnificent scenery in different places.
What was the best thing you learned?: How to survive in the wild. How to make connections with mother nature and Western/Native literature.
What is a fun fact from the trip?: Almost everyone didn’t bring enough clothes!
What is something you wish you knew before you packed your bags?: Be prepared for the academics!
Finn Tarbox ’25
Finn Tarbox ’25, currently enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences with possible majors in Psychology and Biology, shares their experience.
Hometown: Belfast, ME
What drew you to Lehigh Launch?: The opportunity to spend a semester fully immersed doing field work, traveling and stepping out of my comfort zone.
What did you like most about Lehigh Launch?: I have thoroughly enjoyed the people here. Spending the first three weeks on The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) trip allowed us to form incredibly strong bonds and created a tight knit community.
What was the best thing you learned?: By far it’s the power of nature. How strong it is both for the spirit and the body. As well as, how to better appreciate and comprehend nature.
What is something you wish you knew before you packed your bags?: I wish I packed a photo of my family members for the NOLS portion of the trip.
Sarah Wilhelm ’25
Sarah Wilhelm ’25, majoring in Integrated Degree in Engineering, Arts and Science (IDEAS), shares their experience.
Hometown: Franklin, NJ
What drew you to Lehigh Launch?: I was drawn to Lehigh Launch because I love being in nature and traveling, so this was the perfect way to combine the two.
What did you like most about Lehigh Launch?: I liked the The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) portion of the program the most because we were fully immersed in nature and seeing new things every day. I had never gone camping or backpacking before so it was an amazing first trip, and the views were gorgeous!
What was the best thing you learned?: The best thing I learned was the ‘leave no trace’ principle during NOLS and how to camp/backpack minimally, leaving as little impact on the environment as we could.
What is a fun fact from the trip?: One fun fact I learned on a field trip was that a lot of fruit trees are in the rose family.
What is something you wish you knew before you packed your bags?: It would’ve been good to know how drastic the temperature changes were from day to night before I packed. Layers are key!