Located in the University of Idaho Student Recreation Center, the Outdoor Program Office somewhat restricts the view of a warehouse full of thousands of items of recreational gear for rent.
The office advertises weekend surfing excursions on the Oregon coast and boasts one of the largest climbing wall of any college campus in the country.
The program sponsors an outdoor recreation leadership minor through the university.
Despite those facts, Outdoor Program Director, Trevor Fulton said many students don”t know the program exists.
“I would love every student to walk in the door at some point,” Fulton said.
UI senior Emily Renzini walked through the door last year not knowing what she wanted to major in or what she wanted to do as a career.
It wasn”t until she visited the Outdoor Program Office at the advice of a friend and applied for an internship that she realized she had a passion for recreation and decided to make it her major.
Working for the Outdoor Program office, Renzini said she has learned different outdoor safety skills including how to repair rafts and tents. She said she”s excited to learn how to tune skis this winter.
“I get to experience, like, a lot of different things,” Renzini said. “Just having that knowledge, I think it”s good to have.”
Earlier this school year, Renzini, along with a group of students, woke up bright and early to drive to Cannon Beach, Oregon, where the group camped out and surfed.
“We have everyone from, you know, “I”ve never gone surfing before and I can kind of swim,” to “I”ve surfed my whole life,”” said Outdoor Program Coordinator, Elise Clausen, who also went on the trip.
The Cannon Beach trip is one of many offered to students at a relatively low cost by the program. Other trips include open kayak pool sessions, Mountain Bike Mondays and avalanche safety courses.
Fullton said one common concern among students is cost.
But the cost, Fullton said, is not much different than that of a typical Saturday night in Moscow.
“That”s one night out on the bar that you don”t do, and you could go surfing for three days,” Fulton said.
A typical activity ranges in cost from $5 to $85 depending on the time and equipment required.
And for students wondering if they have enough time to dedicate to recreational activities, Fullton said it”s never easier for students to participate than right now, when they can rent gear and participate in activities at a fraction of the normal cost.
Recreational gear from the outdoor program is available for rent to the community, but students get exclusive discounts. Full-time students with their own climbing equipment use the climbing wall for free.
The program offers activities for all experience levels, Fulton said.
Upcoming events include an Idaho Canyonlands backpacking trip and a backcountry skills and avalanche safety course. All students are eligible to apply.
Fulton said the college experience does not come solely from the classroom. He recommends students take advantage of opportunities on campus while they have time.
“Go whitewater rafting. Rent equipment and do a ski trip with your friends. Those are the types of experiences that you”re going to remember as a student when you”re looking back on your college experiences,” Fulton said.
For more information, visit the Outdoor Program Office located in the SRC, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Taylor Nadauld can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @tnadauldarg