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CHATTANOOGA (mocsnews.com)- UTC Outdoors is bringing back multi-day trips for students looking to take part in a cross-country adventure for the first time in years, according to Campus Recreation.
The extended overnight trips have been on hiatus due to COVID-19 and will run over spring break this semester. The aim is to give students a chance to experience the outdoors on a whole new level in an affordable way.
“For the price being what it is, it gives an awesome opportunity for students at UTC to get out west and do something completely out of their comfort zone that they wouldn’t be able to do on their own,” said Abby Moore, a staff member at the UTC Outdoors Center in the ARC.
At Big Bend National Park, students can expect to canoe on the Rio Grande, while participants headed to Arizona will collaborate with UTK to rock-climb at Horseshoe Canyon. Both programs are described as beginner-friendly and cost under $330.
“UTC Outdoors’s main agenda is to connect our peers with the outdoors, so I think these extreme level trips are just really fulfilling our passion,” Moore said.
According to staff, the Big Bend Canoeing trip reached capacity in a matter of days while Climbing Horseshoe Canyon Arkansas is filling quickly.
UTC Outdoors has plenty of trips left this year though the semester has passed its halfway point. Adventures range from overnight weekend kayaking trips at the end of March to white water rafting day trips in April, according to the Campus Recreation webpage.
The Outdoors center also invited students to get involved in other ways, like in their bouldering room or three-story climbing tower at the ARC. Micro adventures are available for students looking to get involved, which introduces students to paddleboarding or biking in brief sessions.
According to their website, UTC Outdoors also offers assistance in creating Custom Adventure Trips, where staff members can provide “trained staff leadership, equipment, transportation, logistical planning, food, and more.” And, as always, equipment is available for check out.
Spring break participants will return to campus Saturday, March 19.
