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02/16/2016
By Ed Brennen

Matt Tannenbaum considers himself an 鈥渙utdoorsy鈥� type of person. So when the senior mechanical engineering major saw that Campus Recreation was offering students, faculty and staff an 11-day sea kayaking and camping trip to Florida over winter break through its Outdoor Adventure Program, he jumped.

鈥淣ot only do I enjoy kayaking and camping, but the idea of getting out of the city for a few days appealed to me,鈥� says Tannenbaum, who joined a group of nine students and staff members for the trip to Florida鈥檚 Gulf Coast. 鈥淚鈥檓 certainly not qualified to do something like this on my own, though. I just don鈥檛 have the experience or resources to pull it off.鈥�

Fortunately for those like Tannenbaum who want a safe, organized and affordable way to enjoy the great outdoors 鈥� be it on a day or weekend trip around New England or a longer excursion to another part of the country 鈥� the Outdoor Adventure Program (OAP) provides the experience and resources to make it happen.

鈥淭he more people we can get outdoors and unplugged for a little bit, the better,鈥� says Kevin Soleil, Campus Recreation鈥檚 assistant director of outdoor and bicycle programs. 鈥淎 lot of people spend the week in front of a computer screen. For us to get out and smell the fresh air in the forest, stand on top of a mountain peak, jump in the surf or ski down a hill, that鈥檚 a great break.鈥�

The OAP, which updates its trip calendar each semester, offers regularly scheduled Tuesday night events like indoor rock climbing or local hikes for $10. On weekends the trips venture a little farther out, like an overnight ski and snowboard trip to Killington, Vt., in March ($240) or a two-day bike and camping trip to Cape Cod in April ($40).

And then there are the more ambitious trips like the recent one to Florida, or the upcoming Spring Break Southeast Rock Climbing and Hiking in Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina, which will run March 12 through 18 for $375.

鈥淵ou can do a lot of these trips with a commercial outfitter somewhere else, but our prices are so much lower because Campus Rec helps subsidize our program,鈥� says Soleil, who notes that the trip price covers transportation in OAP鈥檚 12-passenger van, equipment (such as tents, kayaks and life jackets), as well as food and lodging if necessary.

For those who want to go on their own outdoor adventure, without the guidance of trained university staff, the Campus Rec also offers gear rental available by the day, weekend or week.

All-Inclusive Experience

While climbing a mountain, riding a wave or kayaking through Florida鈥檚 Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge may sound like the stuff of a GoPro thrill-seeker, Soleil points out that every OAP trip is designed to include people of any ability.

鈥淭here鈥檚 something for everybody,鈥� he says. 鈥淣o matter your skill level, you鈥檙e going to have a fun time.鈥�

Graduate student Isabel Silvestre, who has taken part in several of OAP鈥檚 trips around New England, joined the Florida trip despite being a novice kayaker.

鈥淚t was my first time doing so much kayaking, but it was the perfect workout,鈥� says Silvestre, who is pursuing her master鈥檚 degree in chemistry. 鈥淎nd instead of feeling tired each day, I was so energized.鈥�

In addition to developing outdoor skills and environmental awareness, Soleil says it鈥檚 that physical and mental exhilaration that participants get from pushing themselves beyond their comfort zones that makes the OAP so beneficial.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of personal growth happening, be it in a new social circle that鈥檚 being formed, or just spending 10 days with the same 10 people, which can be a 鈥� growing experience,鈥� says Soleil, who adds that the trips are a great way for younger students to 鈥渆xpand their frame of reference and learn ways to navigate collegiate life鈥� from older students with whom they might not normally interact.

Life鈥檚 a Beach

For the Florida trip, four of the participants opted to buy their own plane tickets and fly to Tampa, while Soleil, staff member Brock Pfaff, student-staff member John Lessard and the rest of the group made the three-day drive in the OAP van, towing a trailer loaded with nine kayaks.

鈥淭hat was like a whole other trip,鈥� Soleil says. 鈥淲e crossed Chesapeake Bay, drove through the rural South, camped out on the Georgia coast. We got to see a lot of different parts of the country.鈥�

Once the group was together in Tampa, it drove south to Goodland, Fla., and launched the kayaks in the Ten Thousand Islands refuge. For the next four days they paddled from Jackfish Island to White Horse Key to Camp LuLu, catching glimpses of alligators, turtles and frogs along the way. They landed on a new beach each afternoon, setting up camp before relaxing in a hammock with a book or going for a swim. After preparing dinner (鈥淕reek Night鈥� included falafel, couscous and hummus), they rested up for the next day鈥檚 mid-morning launch.

鈥淚 enjoyed the 鈥榚ngineered adventure鈥� of it, of having that safety net of experienced people with me,鈥� says Tannenbaum, who is looking forward to his next OAP outing. 鈥淭he trip allowed me to push my comfort level and gain experience because they knew what they were doing.鈥�

鈥淚 like the opportunity of meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures and exchanging ideas,鈥� Silvestre adds. 鈥淚 take advantage of the excursions because in some way they make a stronger person both inside and out.鈥�