Getting outside

For students with no plans for spring break and a little extra cash burning in their pockets, there is an alternative to the traditional spring break locations. IU's Outdoor Adventures is sponsoring trips over break as far away as Utah and Arizona and as exotic as the Virgin Islands. \nSenior Brianne Williams, the coordinator for the Virgin Island trip, said not enough people have signed up for the trip yet, and if there are not enough people signed up within a week and a half, the trip might not happen. The trip to the Virgin Islands is the inaugural trip for IU Outdoor Adventures, so if this trip does not happen, then the chances of it being offered again are slim. \n"I'm just trying all the different avenues to advertise the trip," Williams said. "It's not closed to anybody. I can take three to five participants because the yacht is only so big. None of the spaces are full…no one has committed yet. It is still up in the air whether we'll go or not."\nThe trip to the Virgin Islands is a sailing/scuba diving/snorkeling adventure. The cost of the trip is about $875 and is well worth the price, Williams said.\n"It's an expensive trip because of everything it involves," Williams said. "That doesn't include airfare...so what we're doing on the trip, it's actually a good deal. If someone were to go out like this on their own and rent a yacht and sail around for a week, it would be more expensive."\nWilliams said the exact price is still being negotiated because she is not sure of everyone who is going. But she is excited about the trip. \n"We'd be sailing around on a yacht for a week, and each day, sailing to a new scuba location," Williams said. "(It's) scuba diving and snorkeling for people who aren't certified to scuba. If we wanted to stop on ports, I'm sure the captain would let us."\nGreg Martz, program director for IU Outdoor Adventures, said being outdoors can lead to self discovery. \n"There are many benefits, many 'discoveries,' that can take place when persons access the outdoors," Martz said. "Persons can discover things about the environment, about themselves and about those with which they are participating. The power of wild areas and adventure activities is undeniable."\nIU Outdoor Adventures was founded in the late 1970s by Union Board graduate assistants. Martz said these students realized the need for low-cost equipment rental and were initially given a limited budget to secure outdoor equipment. Since that humble beginning, IU Outdoor Adventures has continued to grow. \nThe program now has more than 90 tents, sleeping bags, snowshoes, skis, climbing and mountaineering equipment, backpacks, canoes and kayaks. In addition to rental equipment, IU Outdoor Adventures offers more than 30 recreational trips per semester, eight spring break trips and 20 one-credit outdoor skill courses through the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. In addition, IU Outdoor Adventures also provides customized team building programs and serves more than 4,000 people a year. \n Martz said the uniqueness of the program comes from the students who work with the program. \n "Besides the myriad of services we offer, our uniqueness comes from our staff," Martz said. "IUOA trip coordinators -- the people that propose and lead our trips -- equipment managers and Activities Desk staff are students. They are the backbone of the organization, and they give IUOA its unique flavor."\n Williams is still looking for people interested in the Virgin Islands Spring Break trip, a trip she believes will the best IU Outdoor Adventures trip so far. \n "If there is someone out there who has money to burn and wants a great spring break trip, this would be it," Williams said. "The trips are always so fun because the people who sign up are always fun and adventurous people. All of the outdoor adventure trips have been great, and I think this one will be the best so far."\n Senior Lauren Kellen, president of Circle K, went on a team building and leadership excursion with Outdoor Adventures last year and said she really enjoyed it.\n"Our main trip was a canoeing trip, and before that they had us play some games," Kellen said. "They had us play a type of tag game. Just little activities like that. It was a lot of fun, and besides from the team building and leadership, it was a good time. It was a fun way of doing it."\nKellen said Outdoor Adventures was great to work with, friendly and very accommodating.