Outdoor Adventure Sports

By Kevin Stacy

One month of school is in the books, and after being trapped in stuffy classrooms for the past several weeks, many students are getting the itch for adventure and hearing the call of the great outdoors. Yes, fall is in the air, and as the temperature begins to cool off, it’s the perfect time to head outside and take advantage of the crisp autumn days. Now, with a few weekends in a row without a home football game, it’s an ideal opportunity to get away from the grind and spend some time hiking, biking, paddling, or climbing, your way to adventure.

Rec Sports Outdoor Adventures programs offers A&M students a chance to do just that. With a multitude of clinics, day -trips, educational courses, and weekend excursions, there are plenty of opportunities for Aggies to experience the fun of outdoor recreational activities.

Outdoor Adventures has many events planned for the remainder of the fall that are open to all students. These events include instructional sessions on different outdoor sports, as well as organized trips where you can put your skills to the test in the wild. Students interested in learning a new outdoor activity should start with one of the instructional clinics, which are led by experienced Outdoor Adventures guides.

These clinics allow students to learn basic skills such as rock climbing and kayaking techniques. They are held at the Rec Center, and usually last only a few hours. Next, for more adventurous students, there are day-trips. A group of students accompanied by a guide travel to various locations around the state and participate in a variety of activities ranging from rock climbing and bouldering, to kayaking, backpacking, and tree climbing.

If groups and guides aren’t really your thing, and you’d rather tackle the great outdoors on your own, then Outdoor Adventures can still help by supplying all your equipment needs. Students can reserve and rent gear such as tents, backpacking supplies, canoes, kayaks, and climbing equipment for up to eight days. This is a great option if you’re making a one-time trip and don’t want to go to the expense of buying your own equipment.

For some outdoor fun closer to home, Outdoor Adventures also offers equipment rental for many “backyard” sports. Volleyball nets, bocce ball sets, horseshoes, and softball equipment are all available for students to rent and use.

So if you’re looking for a weekend excursion to the great outdoors, or some fun in your own backyard, look no further than Rec Sports Outdoor Adventures program.

For more information about Outdoor Adventures visit their website at http://recsports.tamu.edu/programs/outdoor_adventures/.