Venture Out welcomes all GC students to adventures

On-campus group constructs new activities for Spring, invites all levels of experience to participate in events

The Venture Out group on campus is ready to begin the 2012 spring season of scheduled outdoor events. The current agenda for the semester consists of nine separate events, but if enough student interest is built up in an event that is not scheduled, members of the program have the potential to plan it. Any GC student is allowed, and encouraged, to attend one of these events or trips; the only skills needed are a willingness to try something new, meet new people and have fun.
“We’ve planned some afternoon trips this year, which allow students to get out without having to use up a whole weekend,” Venture Out Coordinator Griffen Williams said. “It’ll make it easier for people to get more involved.”
Although no skills are needed for these trips, those who go on them walk away with quite a few. During previous trips, students have learned how to canoe, roll in a kayak, rock climb and snorkel. They have also learned some back-country cooking methods and how to explore a cave.
“I like introducing people to different activities and making it a good experience for them,”  Department of Outdoor Education staff member and trip leader Sarah Canatsey said.
Venture Out also offers afternoon trips for people unable to commit to an overnight trip.
“The single afternoon or evening trips will be more accessible to people who want to get involved…I like showing people that there are things to do in Milledgeville,” Canatsey said.
Some of the trips that Venture Out has planned for the Spring include swimming the manatees in Crystal River, Fla. and canoeing down the Oconee River.                                                                                                                           Before each of these trips, a pre-trip meeting is held so the leaders can meet their group and let them know what to expect throughout the trip. Students may ask questions and get specific advice from the people who will be on the trip with them.
“Because Venture Out is a group organization for the whole school, it’s good to get to know other people outside of the outdoor education major, and also share what we know with them,” GC alumni, trip leader and member of the Department of Outdoor Education office staff Whitney Evans said.
Venture Out also makes sure to be fully prepared before going on a trip.
“So much goes into planning a trip—making a route plan, checking the weather, collecting contact numbers in case of emergency for local hospitals, put together the trip costs, get in touch with campsites, getting the equipment together…you have to cover everything,” Evans said.
The trip leaders ensure that all angles are covered, and everything is in order for a successful trip.
Venture Out’s next scheduled event is the Kayak Roller Clinic on Feb. 1 in the Wellness Center. For more information on pre-trip meetings and how to get involved with the Venture Out program, send an email to ventureout@gcsu.edu or visit their Facebook group’s page GCSU Venture Out.

Posted by KateRamsey on Jan 26 2012. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.