The University of Oregon has an abundance of resources, programs and support systems for its students, but one that might be overlooked by students is the Outdoor Program. Oregon is a beautiful state with numerous activities that can be done relatively close to the UO campus, and the Outdoor Program strives to make it easy for students to enjoy and explore Oregon’s great outdoors.
The OP cooperative began when a couple of UO students started posting notes around campus about outdoor excursions and equipment for activities in 1967. According to the Outdoor Program website, the program has only grown from there. They now offer students a range of trips, events, gear rentals and a bike shop and with the OP Barn being built in 1991, it serves as a headquarters for organized trips and rentals for students to take advantage of.
Hira Shamsuddin, the new and current Outdoor Program director, explains the purpose of the outdoor program, saying “The main goal is providing cheap gear for people to get outside while allowing students to propose trips, and that’s the common adventure model.” This model has allowed students to go on trips without the barrier of having to spend money on extremely expensive gear, especially if they’re trying it out for the first time.
The adventure model allows students to propose a trip they would like to go on, with either other UO students or a group of their choice, and have access to the equipment for that trip without having to buy the gear themselves. The OP Barn can be found next to Jane Sanders Stadium and offers a wide range of equipment that can be rented like rafts, paddle boards, kayaks, camping gear, climbing gear, outdoor kitchen equipment, snow gear and much more.
Located in the Erb Memorial Union, the Outdoor Program also supports students with the bike program that provides a maintenance workspace, classes, rentals and campus biking information. “You can fix your own bike for really cheap and also you get to learn how to fix your bike,” Shamsuddin said. “Somebody’s not doing it for you. And you get to be a part of a community within that space.” With the dependence of so many students on bicycles to get around campus, the bike shop is a perfect place to find the resources you need to fix and maintain your bike for free.
With the Outdoor Program being on campus for quite some time, it has everything that someone might need to get outside and try something new. Looking forward, the program plans to continue to offer more opportunities for underrepresented groups on campus. “They want it to be available to anyone and everyone, and a lot of students who come here have never been outside before, surprisingly,” Ben Prahl, the director of the Club Sports program who also helps oversee the Outdoor Program, said. “We’re spoiled by what we have here.”
The Outdoor Program has always been built for the students and continues to be, which is why students should utilize the program to gain great experiences and get out of their comfort zone.
The University of Oregon Outdoor Program helps students get outside and safely explore the state of Oregon. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)
