PennGreen
A Pre-Orientation Program for incoming students that provides opportunities to engage with sustainability.
PennGreen
A Pre-Orientation Program for incoming students that provides opportunities to engage with sustainability.
At a Glance
Our Pre-Orientation Program for new, incoming students dedicated to exploring sustainability and environmentalism at Penn and throughout Philadelphia.
Saturday, August 15th through Wednesday, August 19th.
The 2026 application period is Monday, May 11, 2026 at 12:00AM ET through Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 11:59PM ET. The application is found on this link and will open in May 2026.
Programming is centered on spotlighting environmental and sustainability-oriented adventures, initiatives, and opportunities. Participants will discover the rich eco-culture both on campus and throughout Philadelphia. If you’re looking to form meaningful connections with other incoming students and develop as a sustainability leader, this program is for you!
PennGreen is guided and orchestrated by upperclass students who either have participated in PennGreen or hold leadership positions in campus sustainability organizations.
Overview
PennGreen is a Pre-Orientation Program for incoming students sponsored by Penn Sustainability and the Undergraduate Assembly.
Penn fosters a robust culture of environmental sustainability, with numerous student organizations, leadership opportunities, research avenues, and courses dedicated to sustainability. Moreover, nestled within Philadelphia, Penn enjoys a distinctive setting for environmentalism and sustainability initiatives. PennGreen immerses incoming students in the vibrant eco-culture of both Penn and Philadelphia.
Joining PennGreen means connecting with like-minded peers, discovering local green spaces, exploring sustainable food networks, learning about academic and extracurricular pathways in sustainability, and engaging in community-building activities. A highlight of the program is an overnight camping trip. If you’re looking to form meaningful connections with other incoming students and develop as a sustainability leader, this program is for you!
Apply
Every year, the number of applications we receive exceeds the available spaces in the program. Participants are selected through a thorough review process conducted by program staff and student leaders. Those selected will be required to promptly complete registration forms and submit payment. Students are welcome to apply to other pre-orientation programs and make their final decision based on their acceptance status.
Applications for PennGreen open annually to incoming and transfer students through this link. The 2026 application period opens May 11, 2026 and closes June 9, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET. Application decisions will be available in the application portal in late June 2026.
Program cost:
Program tuition is $425. Financial assistance is available to eligible students who qualify for financial aid. The program fee is inclusive of early move-in privileges, meals, transportation, and activity fees.
If you have questions, please contact Penn Sustainability at sustainability@upenn.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
When applying for the program, you can indicate your eligibility for financial aid from Penn. Once acceptances are issued, PennGreen and the financial aid office will assess an applicant's level of aid. Subsequently, the applicant will receive discounted tuition based on their eligibility.
All meals are provided during the program. Meals are plant-forward (emphasizing plants and vegan protein while not eliminating animal protein) to expose participants to sustainable meal options near campus. Meals will be provided that meet participants' dietary restrictions. Participants are encouraged to bring their own snacks to supplement between meals.
All PennGreen participants enjoy early move-in privileges to their dormitory rooms at Penn, granting them the opportunity to settle in five days before other incoming students. You'll reside in your designated College House for the entirety of the PennGreen program, except for an overnight camping excursion, contingent upon weather conditions. Further details regarding early move-in will be provided to incoming participants.
Upon acceptance to the program, you'll receive a packing list. For additional inquiries, reach out to sustainability@upenn.edu.
Sample Schedule
The schedule below is based on previous years and gives sense of the activities. The actual schedule may differ.
Day One (starts at 5PM):
- Between 2PM and 5PM, move into assigned College House
- Vegan BBQ and orientation on Shoemaker Green
Day Two:
- Campus sustainability scavenger hunt
- Morris Arboretum trip
- Plant-based cooking and bonding
Day Three:
- Meeting environmental professionals on campus
- Sustainability leadership development
- Camping at Ridley Creek State Park
Day Four:
- Return from camping
- Kayaking on the river
- Environmental movie night
Day Five (ends at 12PM):
- Penn Farm volunteering
- New Student Orientation begins
The final PennGreen schedule will be shared with participants at the start of the program. Participants are expected to attend all programming. Meals are plant-forward (emphasizing plants and vegan protein while not eliminating animal protein) to expose participants to sustainable meal options near campus. Meals will be provided that meet participants' dietary restrictions.
Additional optional programming, such as reunions, may be planned during the academic year.
Special Thanks to C'1982
In Fall 2022, The University of Pennsylvania's Class of 1982 generously donated $250,000 to support five pre-orientation programs for incoming first-year students. Each program, including PENNacle, PennArts, PennGenEq, PennQuest, and PennGreen, received $50,000 to enhance their programming and make it more affordable for students.