Get your sneakers on and your energy high: the Outdoor Adventure Experience (OAE) is back and better than ever for the fall semester! With 18 day and weekend trips spanning from now through December, there are plenty of opportunities for students to try something new with no experience necessary. The lineup includes activities such as “Intro to Sea Kayaking” and “Stand Up Paddle Boarding” for anybody with a desire to get away from campus for an adventure..

Bruni Neaufield ‘21, a student leader for OAE, describes the program as “having an opportunity to get off of campus and meet new people and to try new things.” When she arrived on campus as a first year, she participated in the OAE pre-fall program without any experience with camping whatsoever. Neaufield absolutely loved it and recounts this as her start with the program. “When in your life are you ever going to say you’ve been in a cave? Or white water kayaking? Now is the time to do it and take advantage of this program.” Neaufield said.

“The outdoors is for everyone, always and forever,” said Jennifer Cusick, Assistant Director of Recreation and Wellness for Outdoor Adventure.  Cusick wants to welcome all students to the trips. She stresses that at OAE people’s expectations of what you’re supposed to look like to be into the outdoors isn’t true and that anybody can come to have a good time.

Neaufield and Cusick recommend everyone (yes, that means first years too!) go and try out the program and to see what they offer. Some of their big upcoming trips for the fall break include backpacking at Shenandoah as well as climbing, rafting, and caving in West Virginia. They also have two exciting weeklong trips to look out for: paddle boarding in Puerto Rico for winter break and backpacking in national parks for spring break. 

Their “Base Camp”, located on the second floor of the FAC behind the ping pong tables, is one of many places where you can sign up for a trip or ask questions. OAE also has tables for sign-ups located outside of Boulder on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 11-2 p.m. . Sign-ups for weekend trips ideally run up until the Wednesday before the trip.

The cost of most trips ranges from $15 (day trip) to $30 (weekend) including meals, transportation, and gear. It’s one of the many ways to get off campus and to bring or make friends in a beautiful setting and take awesome pictures for your Instagram feed. Happy adventuring!

Check here to view and sign up for any of the upcoming trips. 

Feature Image from the OAE Instagram page.