Ice climbing.   Sea kayaking. Alpine touring. Whitewater kayaking. Telemark Skiing.
Whether you’ve never heard of, tried, or not been able to stop thinking about activities as enticing as these, now is the right time to give them a shot.

Fortunately, you live on a campus that has “one of the largest, most active OPs in the country for a school this size,” according to Outdoor Program (OP) Director Brien Sheedy. Getting involved is as easy as walking down to the Outdoor Rental Shop on the lower level of Reid Campus Center.

From here, it’s simply a matter of deciding which trip looks the most exciting (perhaps the hardest part of the process), and then putting your name on a sign-up sheet.

Roughly 80% of all OP Trips are designed for beginners with no experience to speak of, whatsoever. For those who have some knowledge of their activity, there are also a number of trips offered at intermediate or advanced levels.

“It’s a mix for sure,” says OP Assistant Director Salmon Norgaard-Stroich in regards to the range of skill levels.
One of the consequences of having such an accessible Outdoor Program is that trips tend to fill up quickly; many of the trips this semester filled before classes started. This may lead to prospective participants being intimidated by long waitlists.

“Definitely get on the waitlist,” says Sheedy. “It’s not uncommon for there to be movement.” As classwork piles up, clubs are joined, and parents become antsy to have their baby bird   back in the nest for a weekend, many students are forced to remove their names from the trip roster. This often means that even someone late on the list has a legitimate shot at going on the trip. So sign up as early as possible and don’t be afraid to put your name down, even if it is a long list.

One sure way to shorten the waitlists, however, is to increase the number of trips available. A large majority of trips are student-run, so the more students the OP has working as guides, the more trips   they’ll be able to send out. Some training is necessary (skills relating to desired area, basic First Aid & CPR), but much of this is offered by the OP on campus. The OP is looking for more student guides in virtually every area: rock climbing and rafting guides are in high demand, while backpacking and sea-kayaking require relatively little time to become certified.

Try to get involved somehow. “Set priorities,” Sheedy encourages students. He contrasts setting a weekend aside for a special trip, which may only be a viable opportunity once every two years, with going to “X party,” an experience far less likely to make for enduring memories.

So head down to the Rental Shop and sign up for an OP Trip, enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Northwest, learn a new skill, and meet amazing people.