What is FOP?
The First-Year Outdoor Program is Harvard’s largest and oldest pre-orientation program. Since 1979, thousands of students have started their college experience with us. FOP is a great way to meet new classmates and to ease the adjustment from high school to college. The variety of week-long hiking, hiking/service and hiking/canoeing trips we offer provide an excellent learning environment where cooperation, initiative, and reflection lead to the development of a strong community and to personal insights that are helpful even in the urban setting of Harvard. Our trips are led by second-, third-, and fourth-year Harvard students from all walks of life who represent the vibrancy and diversity of Harvard and have been trained in outdoor leadership and certified in Wilderness First Aid. FOP is run by a student steering committee and a director, and is administratively operated through Harvard’s Freshman Dean’s Office. FOP’s Mission FOP’s mission is to provide group adventure-based experienc
Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a very rare genetic disorder that causes dysfunction in the connective tissues in the body. When any injury occurs to muscles, tendons or ligaments, the gene mutation responsible for FOP causes damaged tissue to be replaced with bone growth. This has been called the gradual process of “turning to stone.” Eventually FOP does result in total paralysis of the body and is fatal. Most people with the condition do not live past thirty, though a few people have lived into their forties with the condition. FOP remains a challenging, and as yet, incurable condition. First episodes of abnormal bone growth tend to occur before a child is ten. The only possible indicator of FOP in the newborn is slightly short big toes. This can easily be overlooked. Often, abnormal growth of bones appears almost “overnight” and is frequently at first thought to be cancer. This incorrect diagnosis can create more problems for the person with FOP, because biopsies of b
