Stuck in summer school and have no wheels? Despair not.
The Outdoor Program has several activities and events planned for the summer term.
The summer event schedule starts off with a trip initiator’s clinic from June 28-30. The first date is a night session that covers OP philosophy, liability, trip planning and procedures.
On June 30, participants who want to become river trip initiators explore the OP barn, from which the mandatory river trip leaves. The cost for the river trip is $12.
Next on the OP agenda is the July 5-7 Whitewater Rowing Clinic on the McKenzie River. Clinic participants learn basic boat handling and loading, and how to read a river. Students pay $15 and non-members pay $20 for this trip; pre-registration is required.
On July 21, the OP holds a mountain bike skills clinic aimed at beginning and intermediate mountain bikers. Bike handling and trail techniques are covered, and participants have time to practice each skill before taking the whole package for a test ride on the McKenzie River Trail. This trip also requires pre-registration and sucks about $6 from the pocket.
Finally, the introduction to sea kayaking clinic takes place July 28.
“It’s rare to find a sea kayaking clinic,” said Susan Hanlon of the OP staff.
At the sea kayaking clinic, OP staff introduces participants to the boats, equipment and safety concerns surrounding the sport, as well as how to pack and how to paddle. The trip leaders also introduce rescue practices in an afternoon pool session. As most trips do, this one requires pre-registration and will lighten the wallet by $15.
If none of these events sounds appealing, head down to the OP office in the EMU basement and check out its trip boards, resource library and literature, which help users create a new trip or entice them to jump into an initiated trip.
The office is open when the EMU is, and the staff is on hand most days between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to answer questions.
Any initiated trip is open to all members and students, and an added benefit of these is a network of new friends with similar outdoor interests.