News

Metro gets adventurous

New outdoor rec program seeks involvement

By Tim Esterdahl
testerda@mscd.edu

The Outdoor Adventure Center has released its program guide for the school year, offering what program leaders call a range of inexpensive, yet valuable learning experiences for all students.

"We really want to be a valuable part of the success of the institutions on this campus and we don't want to double up on what other people are doing," said Lynnea Atlas-Ingebretson, student coordinator for the Adventure Leadership Program. "We want to bring unique and new opportunities that will obtain specific success that all the institutions are talking about-diversity and retention."

The guide lists a total of 108 items, scheduled on different days and at different times before the end of the school year, providing plenty of opportunities for students to join in. Prices for these events range from free to $240, with the majority being around $5. Most of the events require little to no experience. Meeting places vary, although most take place on, or begin on campus.

Several events include diversity leadership retreats and brown-bag lunches to bring multicultural students together to foster a better understanding of cultures. A weekend retreat, Feb. 11-12, will be the highlight of these events, as the students will spend time at the Snow Mountain Ranch. This will offer students a chance to discuss diversity and an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.

Other events include different hiking expeditions for people who may have never been to the mountains, indoor and outdoor rock climbing events, and kayak lessons, along with skiing and snowboard trips.

The skiing and snowboard trips will cost $199 with an additional separate fee of $30 for transportation. These trips include four lessons and four equipment rentals along with a season pass.

The OA will be not always be staying in the Denver metro area; they plan on taking longer trips. One trip, during Fall Break, Nov. 18-22, will be to New Mexico for the Enchanted Circle Hike and hot springs. They will also be in Ouray from Jan. 7-11 for some ice climbing.

Bryan Ferguson, OA program coordinator, said that each outing would be led by students for students. This is change from the past where he would organize and either lead each event or serve as a backup. Changing this allows his students a chance at breaking down the barriers that stop multicultural students from getting together and growing. While he said he still wants to be part of the events, he said he eventually wants to be seen as the trainer's trainer.

Another factor this year is that the rock wall is in place and is creating so much excitement that the OA hasn't been able to keep track of the large number of participants.

"We knew that people would use it (the rock wall)," said Atlas-Ingebretson, "but that it would engage them to come down. And asking about ALP is not something that I thought would happen naturally. (Also) the number of women who are climbing on the wall, I am so happy with."

This is the third year Ferguson and Atlas-Ingebretson have worked together. They combine his knowledge of the outdoors with her multicultural experience to create the by-product of several diversity events, which have had a positive effect on those who have attended. Atlas-Ingebretson said several participants have left her "astounded" by how much they gained from the experiences.

Other factors impacting the OA this year are the hiring of President Jordan, who said recently in a Metropolitan interview that seeing students through to graduation is one of his goals.

For more information about Outdoor Adventure programs, visit http://www.mscd.edu/~cra/oa.html.