Though everyone heading to the dining hall was in rough shape, the new notice on the bulletin board still caught the attention of everyone who walked by. Every First Year student who had passed the exams could now volunteer for resource-gathering missions.
They were extra credit assignments in the wilderness, with some restrictions on the compositions of the teams so that they didn't go out without at least one competent Witch, and each mission lasted for a maximum of one week.
You needed to bring back the assigned resource, but you were also free to gather what you needed for your own amulets and potions.
On one hand, it was dangerous. But on the other, it was free resources. Many students who felt they were behind would volunteer in hopes of finding a rare resource to either exchange for credits or use in an amulet, wand or talisman.