Venture Out with rock walls, kayaks

    Students and staff of GCSU seeking high levels of activity and adventure are offered experiences with non-traditional sports like rock-climbing, paddling and multi-day backpacking through the Student Activities Center’s portion of outdoor recreation called Venture Out.
    Through Venture Out, GCSU’s outdoor education students hone their skills by facilitating trips and activities of interest to people looking for an adventure. There is no need for expertise either, because most activities are planned to cater to novice participants as well as more advanced at little or no cost.
    “I’ve been on the rock climbing trip the past two years, and both times I made new friends and had a lot of fun climbing around and learning things I didn’t know about rock climbing,” said Rebecca Croft, a junior nursing major.
    Daniel Diddlemeyer, an outdoor education graduate student, is this year’s front man for Venture Out.
    “I’m really excited about the activities planned for this semester—like the indoor rock climbing trip in October, and the winter break ski trip," Diddlemeyer said. "And it’s okay if you don’t know much about either of those sports, you can learn while you’re there.”
    Several activities require a small participation fee to cover travel and food costs, but others do not cost participants anything. Free activities include tree climbing and kayak rolling clinics.
    Tree climbing clinics happen every week, usually on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. When the clinic is going on, it is easy to spot as it is the only place on Front Campus where ropes with people attached to them are hanging from the trees. The clinics consist of instruction in basic techniques of rope-assisted tree climbing and how to use the rope pulley system.
    This is also a time to meet Diddlemeyer and learn about upcoming activities. For students not interested in viewing Front Campus from a perch on a branch high up in the live-oak tree used for climbing, Diddlemeyer will allow you to just hang close to the ground and swing on the rope—so long as you fill out the short waiver form, and agree to wear one of the helmets provided.
    Kayak clinics also happen every week, usually on a Tuesday or Thursday. These clinics, however, are weather permitting because they are held in The Village at West Campus’ swimming pool. The last one for the semester will be held on Oct. 2, from 2 to 5 p.m.
    Participants are taught basic kayaking moves, such as rolling, which involves the paddler turning the kayak upside-down and then right-side up again while remaining inside the kayak in the water. Anyone even remotely interested in trying out kayaking is encouraged to attend the clinics, because skills like those covered in the clinics are necessary to have before attempting to paddle in open water. Also, it is a chance for beginners to find out what it feels like to be inside a kayak on the water.
   Activities such as local over-night camping, and bonfires with s’mores are also offered. Camping is planned for the beginning of December, and bonfires with s’mores are planned for Oct. 8, depending on participation and the level of interest. These activities are expected to be inexpensive for participants, but do require signing-up, unlike tree climbing or kayak clinics.
    There is always a new trip or activity being planned, and sign-up is required for many of them. More detailed information about dates and costs can be found in the Student Activities office located on the third floor of the SAC, or emails with questions or concerns can be sent to ventureout@gcsu.edu.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 5 2007. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry