Q_
O CD
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Outdoor Recreation
Committee offers
‘common outdoor
adventure’ concept
Joseph Donaldson
A LIMITED RETROSPECTIVE
Drawings & Paintings 1940-1979
February 5-28,1979
J. Earl Rudder Exhibit Hall Texas A&M University
Sponsored by University Art Exhibits
By Rhonda Watters
Battalion Reporter
For those people whose idea of fun is whipping through the white
water of the Guadalupe River in a canoe, backpacking through Big
Bend National Park, or rock climbing at Perdnales Falls, the MSC
Outdoor Recreation Committee might be a club worth looking into.
“To get people into the outdoors is one of our main goals,” said
Charlie Walter, public relations chairman for the committee. He said
Outdoor Rec was originally set up on the ‘‘common outdoor adven
ture” concept, where taking part in the planning and organizing of
the adventure is as important as the experience itself.
Every semester, the committee offers various outdoor activities
and trips for students, faculty and staff members. Although it is
trying to become more of a club this semester by including regular
meetings, it has no official members or membership fees, but is
open to anyone who wants to participate in any of its programs.
Outdoor Rec offers three activities — canoeing, backpacking
and rock climbing — every semester because of their popularity,
but has other programs as well. In past semesters it has offered
such programs as fishing, wilderness medicine, caving and camp
ing techniques.
As part of its programs, the committee has a series of seminars
that are designed to teach the skills involved in each of its activities.
After each seminar, and sometimes after a practice run on what
was taught, a trip is planned and carried out.
Walter said that teaching outdoor skills is an important part of the
program. He said that besides being fun, learning and using the
skills helps a person build self-confidence because “you’re doing
something for yourself” instead of performing for someone else.
Walter said Outdoor Rec is also trying to educate people in per
sonal safety and wise use of the outdoors, to “respect the wilder
ness and leave it as they found it.”
This semester the committee has added some new things to its
regular format. On separate dates there will be the regular seminar,
a trip, a general meeting and a film or slides of an outdoor adven
ture.
In additiion to the trips related to the seminars, Outdoor Rec also
plans other trips. In its cubicle in the MSC the committee has a “Trip
Sign-Up Board” where various excursions, some requiring a certain
amount of experience, are posted, and people can sign up to go.
Walter said the trip board is not limited to organized Outdoor Rec
trips, and anyone wanting to arrange a trip of his own is free to use
the board to find people interested in going along.
Walter said the cost of most trips, including gas, food and equip
ment rental, is low. As an example, he said, an average overnight
canoe trip to the Guadalupe costs about $15 to $20.
The committee also operates an equipment rental service.
Tents, sleeping bags, stoves and other equipment can be reserved
at the beginning of a week and checked out on Thursday and
Friday for weekend and holiday trips.
One of Outdoor Rec's newer activities is an outdoor program
designed to include handicapped people. Walter said members of
the committee are working with the P. E. department to learn more
about the capabilities of the handicapped, and this semester he
hopes to have some canoeing, backpacking and rock climbing trips
that will include both able-bodied and physically disabled people.
“We’re really hoping to expand our programs,” Walter said. He
added that many of their active participants are graduating, so any
one wanting to get involved in the committee’s activities should
have plenty of opportunities.