Brenna Patrick
Staff Writer
To give students and community members the opportunity to experience the outdoors, ISU’s Outdoor Adventure Center is open to all.
The OAC has brochures in its lobby and on its website listing the activities it offers. Each activity is accompanied by a description of the adventure and its difficulty level.
Located on the bottom floor of the SUB near the Student Involvement Center, it is open Monday and Friday from 9 a.m.to 6 p.m., and Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
OAC Director Dana Olsen has been an employee of the center since 1978. She got started with the center by teaching kayaking classes. Olsen said her love for kayaking has led to the creation of her nickname, Grandma Kayak.
Bear Gibson, a junior double-majoring in Outdoor Education and Psychology, has been active with the center.
“I would strongly encourage all students to sign up for one of these classes to challenge yourself in a new way, to refine your backpacking skills,” he said.
Gear rentals are available through the Outdoor Adventure Center. Popular winter rentals includes ski gear, snowshoes and yurts, which are wooden canvas structures with a wood-burning stove.
“People think we are more geared towards the more experienced but actually, that’s not true. We want to facilitate the beginner and get them out there and involved,” said Brian Hetrick, rentals director.
Gibson, the Outdoor Education major, said his favorite activity through the Outdoor Adventure Center, and in general, is whitewater rafting.
His involvement with the center started when he found his Outdoor Education advisers were located within the OAC. Since then, Gibson has done three river trips with the OAC and participated in one of their open climbs at Ross Park.
The opportunities for growth and refinement of existing skills, as well as the chance to particpate in activities, is what keeps Gibson coming back to the OAC. He hopes becoming a more well-rounded oarsperson will make him more hirable to future employers.
In addition to his love of rafting, Gibson has begun rock climbing with the center. This winter, he plans to add skiing to his repertoire of outdoor skills, which already includes snowshoeing.
The OAC also does activities with the Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Group, known as CW HOG, which provides outdoor programs for those with disabilities.
“They’re told they can’t do things but we all have to adapt to something for some reason,” said Olsen. “Anyone can go on CW HOG trips, depending on what their needs are.”
The program aims to “facilitate the outdoors to the disabled population, as well as integrate the able-bodied and disabled into the same activities,” said Hetrick.
Olsen said the OAC will have Friday night discounts on skiing and will offer pre-sold passes for the local ski area Pebble Creek to any ISU student with a valid ID.
Other events and contact information can be found on the OAC website at http://www.isu.edu/outdoor/.
