Winter camping, backpacking, and kayaking are some of the upcoming events that will test the mettle of the intrepid in the upcoming spring semester. Lycoming College will begin offering a variety of outdoor trips that build outdoor and leadership skills as part of its new Outdoor Education program, which will launch this semester.
“We have more than a dozen trips scheduled for next spring that will get students physically active and provide them with skills not normally learned in traditional classroom settings,” said Jae Ellison, who was hired as Lycoming’s director of Outdoor Education in September. “There’s no better way to teach innovation or leadership than by offering safely planned experiences where students can test their approach to leadership and creativity by adapting to new situations with limited resources.”
The first event will be held from 2 to 6 p.m., Jan. 21 on the Quad to introduce students to the new program. Several exhibits will be available to allow students to learn a number of basic outdoor skills in a hands-on environment. Students also can enjoy a bonfire and eat s’mores.
Additional events planned for the spring semester include hikes at local parks, a one-day cross country skiing at Crystal Lake Camp and a spring break backpacking trip to Shenandoah National Park.
“Although a handful of professors already have outdoor experiences integrated with their classes, we plan to work closely with faculty to integrate even more to reinforce concepts learned in class,” Ellison said.
For a list of events and to register, go to: http://www.lycoming.edu/outdoor/.