Wolf Path Weekend

Wolf Path Weekend is a welcoming kickoff experience designed for incoming first-year students at NC State who are following Jesus or curious about what that looks like at State. It’s a chance to form deep friendships and discover the vibrant Christian community at NC State—through ministries on campus, local churches, and faithful believers throughout Raleigh. Over the course of the weekend, students will grow closer through group games, “cabin” conversations, and daily gatherings that include worship and teaching rooted in Scripture.

Our heart is to invite first-year students into lasting friendships and to offer a compelling vision of following Jesus at NC State on the path of life (Psalm 16:11).

WPW 2026 is in the books…

Check out the pictures below!

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Parents, join us for a Welcome Lunch!

After move-in, we’d love for you to join your first-year student at the Study Center for a kickoff lunch as well as a few words from the Study Center director and a member of the NCSU faculty.

Friday from 12 - 2pm

Have your child RSVP for you when they register!

What does WPW look like?

Wolf Path Weekend centers around “cabins”, all-group games and “sessions”, and free time. Cabins are gender-specific small groups of 7-10 freshmen, led by 2 or 3 returning students (Student Staff). Sessions are times where everyone will gather together throughout WPW for worship, games, and a message brought by a Study Center staff member, campus ministry staffer, or local church partner. Speaker topics in 2026 included “Your Identity in Christ”, “Friendship”, “Community”, and “the Church and Mission”.

Student Staff is made up of over 60 sophomores, juniors, and seniors from NC State who know the Study Center, are leading in their church or campus ministry groups, and desire to help first-year students get plugged into Christian life on campus!

Friday – Day 1 (at The Study Center)

12:00 - 2:00 PM | Welcome Lunch (Students & Parents) @ the Study Center

2:00 PM | Intro to WPW and Group Activity

4:00 PM | Session #1 and Cabin Time

5:30 PM | Dinner

6:30 PM | Dessert and Games

7:30 PM | Session #2 and Cabin Time

9:00 PM | Evening Send-off

Saturday – Day 2 (New Life Camp)

8:30 | Breakfast and Bus to New Life Camp

9:45 AM | Session #3 and Cabin Time

11:00 AM | Games and Free Time

12:00 PM | Lunch

12:45 PM | Free Time and Cabin Cup Competition

3:00 PM | Session #4 and Send off

4:00 PM | Return to Campus

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Inspired by programs like Carolina Way Camp and Summit (Formerly "Pre-School") at Wake Forest, we long for incoming first-year students to experience meaningful friendship and gain a holistic vision of following Jesus at NC State—loving Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27).

  • Day 1: We’ll be at the Study Center (201 Brooks Ave) and on NC State’s campus.

    Day 2: We’ll gather at the Study Center and bus over to New Life Camp in North Raleigh for the day.

  • Wolf Path Weekend is put on by the Study Center at State and its staff, with the help of incredible student staff and ministry partners who represent many campus ministries and local churches.

  • WPW and the Study Center are not directly affiliated with NC State University, therefore we aim to schedule the program around NCSU move-in.

    NC State Move-In will be by appointment. We suggest that you move in on Thursday or early on Friday in order to be ready for WPW! You can find more info on the Move-In process here: https://housing.dasa.ncsu.edu/assignments/move-in-information/

    It’ll likely be your first weekend on campus - so we don’t want to take you away from your new home. You’ll spend tons of Friday and Saturday participating in WPW, but get to sleep in your own dorm each night.

  • The registration fee goes to help cover the some of the cost of 4 meals, your T-shirt, and all activities including transportation and our time at New Life Camp!

    Regular Wolf Path Weekend Registration (Deadline July 14th) is $127

    Late Wolf Path Weekend Registration (Deadline August 1st) is $157

    Registration-related inquiries can be directed to Jordan Rustin at jordan@ncstatestudycenter.org

  • We do not want finances to prevent any student from registering for the Weekend, and we do have limited scholarships available. If you have significant financial need, please reach out to Jordan Rustin at jordan@ncstatestudycenter.org

  • Spring Connect: Yes! If you’ll be enrolling at NC State as a freshman this year, we would love for you to come to WPW even if you’ll be elsewhere for the fall semester. We hope that it will be an opportunity for you to glimpse the community that you’ll return to in the Spring! *Let us know on your registration*

    Transfer: If you’re transferring to NCSU (and you will not be a freshman/first-year college student) please email Jordan Rustin at jordan@ncstatestudycenter.org. We’d love to discuss if WPW, or another Study Center or partner program will be the best option for you!

  • Yes! Your whole family - parents, grandparents, siblings - are all welcome to join us. Make sure to RSVP with your expected number of guests an dietary restrictions when you register!