Climb, kayak, canoe with Outdoor Adventure Program
Christine Underwood
Issue date: 2/24/05 Section: News
Any plans for your spring break?
Then you might be interested in backpacking through the Grand Canyon for seven days with a group of students. If interested, call Greg Hawkins, the program's coordinator, who said he along with a group of students plan to fly to Arizona for their spring break.
"Every year a group of students and I go backpacking in the Grand Canyon where we spend three nights and four days in the canyon and two nights on its south rim," Hawkins said. "We will also be hiking in Havasu Canyon, Arizona, which is located on the Havasu Indian Reservation."
For 20 years, VCU has provided activities for students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests through its Outdoor Adventure Program. Adventure-based trips include kayaking, whitewater rafting, hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, backpacking, skiing and sea kayaking. Undergraduate and graduate students as well as some staff, faculty and others take advantage of these trips.
Hawkins said the program introduces physically conditioned inexperienced students to activities.
"I want students to know that we have activities set up for beginners to experts," Hawkins said, adding that students need no previous skills if they are interested in the available activities.
Michelle Bright, a senior environmental-studies major, said she likes joining other students in the outdoor program.
"I worked at Cary Street Gym in the center and decided that I wanted to be a part of the Outdoor Adventure Program because I liked the programs that were being offered and did not want to be left out."
Hawkins, a graduate of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, who has served as the program's coordinator the past seven years, identified kayaking and rock climbing as the two most popular programs.
Eve O'Connor, a second-year-graduate biology major, said she meets new people from the program and enjoys rock climbing.
"I enjoy getting to meet knew people from the program as well as being a graduate student, the program helps to clear my mind by participating in activities."
Then you might be interested in backpacking through the Grand Canyon for seven days with a group of students. If interested, call Greg Hawkins, the program's coordinator, who said he along with a group of students plan to fly to Arizona for their spring break.
"Every year a group of students and I go backpacking in the Grand Canyon where we spend three nights and four days in the canyon and two nights on its south rim," Hawkins said. "We will also be hiking in Havasu Canyon, Arizona, which is located on the Havasu Indian Reservation."
For 20 years, VCU has provided activities for students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests through its Outdoor Adventure Program. Adventure-based trips include kayaking, whitewater rafting, hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, backpacking, skiing and sea kayaking. Undergraduate and graduate students as well as some staff, faculty and others take advantage of these trips.
Hawkins said the program introduces physically conditioned inexperienced students to activities.
"I want students to know that we have activities set up for beginners to experts," Hawkins said, adding that students need no previous skills if they are interested in the available activities.
Michelle Bright, a senior environmental-studies major, said she likes joining other students in the outdoor program.
"I worked at Cary Street Gym in the center and decided that I wanted to be a part of the Outdoor Adventure Program because I liked the programs that were being offered and did not want to be left out."
Hawkins, a graduate of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, who has served as the program's coordinator the past seven years, identified kayaking and rock climbing as the two most popular programs.
Eve O'Connor, a second-year-graduate biology major, said she meets new people from the program and enjoys rock climbing.
"I enjoy getting to meet knew people from the program as well as being a graduate student, the program helps to clear my mind by participating in activities."
