ATO alums, think back to the glory days playing pranks between Eaton and Miller or eurorailing across Europe with your fraternity brothers. After a couple years of cubicle life monotony, what if we could get the boys back together. The current E-Board threw down the gauntlet last year and invited us to spend the entire weekend with them at the Spring Brohood and it was a total hit. It was so fun and impactful that they want to make a tradition of it and are inviting us back again this year.
Now don’t you dare start imagining another wimpy camping trip. Last year we did it big, and this year we have even grander plans (i.e. way better campsite, improved amenities, better games, food, etc). Now remember, this is a chance to reunite with your pledge class so pick up the phone and start recruiting dudes to sign-up. But even more, this will be a special opportunity to invest into the fraternity. Thus, we are asking alumni to each chip in $100 so that we can completely cover expenses (we don’t want the chapter to pay a single cent). Most fraternities bombard it’s alums with fundraisers, but ATO never has. This is your one and only opportunity to pitch in. For those that can’t afford it we are offering a scholarship rate of $50. With those funds we will finally be able to afford epic games, loads of fireworks, and most importantly… good food. To put it in perspective, the chapter normally budgets $800 for the entire weekend, so if sixteen of us attend we will be able to double the budget. Even more though, this will be a catalytic event that actually connects alums with new members, thus building long-term friendships, and inviting you to speak into these young men’s lives. We earnestly believe this retreat will be the most fun you’ve had since graduation, but more importantly will allow you to give back to the institution that so shaped your four years at Pepperdine.
SCHEDULE
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FRIDAY
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7:00pm – Dinner
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SATURDAY
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8:00am – Breakfast
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9:00am – EBoard meeting: newly elected E-Board meets with previous ATO E-Boarders
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10:00am – Life After College: Alums introduce themselves, give a bit of life advice, and do Q&A
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11:00am – Free Time: board games, bouldering, hikes, mine shafts, corn hole, etc. (Lunch is self-served)
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2:00pm – Tribal Games: split into teams for axe throwing, Nunchucks, extreme archery, etc
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5:00pm – Dinner
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6:00pm – Foundations: new chaplain leads short devotion, old chaplains lead break-out groups.
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7:00pm – Final competition: Man Games, winner paints their names on top of the mountain
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SUNDAY
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8:00am – Breakfast
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9:00am – Sharing: Invite Actives and Alums to share favorite stories from the weekend. Current members have opportunity to ask questions to alumni.
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11:00am – Pack up/Depart
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12:00pm – Lunch at Pappy & Harriets
WHAT ATO IS PROVIDING
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Tents, Firewood, lanterns
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Food (per attendee): 3 burgers, 3 hot dogs, 2 x 1.5 liters of water, 2 costco muffins, 4 pop tarts, 6 bags of chips, 1 liter of soda
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Gnarly group competition
WHAT YOU ARE BRINGING
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Comfort: lawn chair, Sleeping bag/pad, pillow, down jack, long johns, extra socks, etc
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Favorite food: beef jerky, gatorade, healthy vegan stuff for when you get tired of hotdogs
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Games: settlers, monopoly deal, cards, corn hole, kan-jam, spike ball, frisbee
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Manly Stuff: bow and arrow, rock climbing gear, spears, face paint, headlamp, battle axes, etc
WHAT YOU ARE LEAVING AT HOME
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Alcohol
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Crappy attitudes/whining about the cold
GETTING THERE (important!!!)
We are doing a totally different campsite than ever before, and it is NOT in Joshua Tree National Park. It is in BLM Land 30 minutes north of Joshua Tree. In order to reach the campsite you must drive two miles down a dirt road/dry river bed (car must have high ground clearance and ideally 4-wheel drive).
The dirt road begins at: 52230 Quail Bush Rd, Landers, CA 92285 (or 34.344155, -116.522580)
At each fork in the road we will have signs pointing you in the correct direction, but we still recommend saving these SAT coordinates in your phone in case you get turned around:
Parking Spot: 34.312144, -116.532409
Campsite: 34.313798, -116.535279
Get tickets for this event on: EventBrite.