Project WILD (Wilderness Initiative for Learning at Duke) was the first pre-orientation program, founded in 1974 to give incoming freshmen a chance to meet classmates and learn through the outdoors before arriving at Duke. For many years, pre-orientation programs expanded in number, but were selective and limited in size. In 2022, Duke restructured the orientation model–expanding the number of programs so that all freshmen could participate in experiential orientation without cost.