On Wednesday, Bowdoin welcomed approximately 500 incoming first years to campus. Starting as early as 9 a.m., the Class of 2019 — plus family, friends, orientation helpers and residential life staff — unloaded and moved boxes from cars to into first year bricks.

Before final goodbyes, parents and guests attended President Clayton Rose’s welcome, which was followed by a reception hosted by him and his wife.

Reporters Talia Cowen ’16 and Elina Zhang ’16 caught up with a few members of the incoming class during their first day on campus.

See pictures of the day’s events here.

When they return from their pre-orientation trips on Saturday afternoon, the incoming class will officially begin orientation. From the standard matriculation, president’s welcome, class photo, convocation, and advisor meetings, this year’s orientation has a host of other activities that will help introduce the first years to Bowdoin and college life.

New to the orientation schedule this year is Bowdoin Stories, which will allow first years to record informal interviews with each other that will be preserved for the Bowdoin community. There will also be an evening movie on the quad with s’mores, an open mic night at the pub, laser tag, morning yoga classes, and much more.

Academic orientation includes faculty panels and an academic fair, as well consultations for students interested in taking classes in particular departments.

And of course, what would Bowdoin orientation be without food? The Maine Theme Dinner will introduce the new students to locally sourced specialties, while the Global Influences Dinner will feature food from the nationalities represented by the Class of 2019. As always, orientation for the incoming class will wrap up with the Convening Dinner and the Lobster Run and Bake.