One of the biggest draws for students at the University of Wyoming is all the opportunities for getting outside and enjoying outdoor recreation during any season. The Outdoors program strives to provide something for everyone from a horsemanship clinic to beginner backpacking expeditions.
“We offer a really broad spectrum of activities during the school year,” said Garrett Genereux, coordinator for the Outdoors Program. This fall semester the Outdoor Program is offering over 50 clinics, courses and workshops. A few of these clinics are series with bike maintenance being one of the staples. Most of the series that the Outdoor Program offers are three or four classes over a month.
“All undergraduate students or field staff as we call them lead our trips,” commented Generaux. Staff members are trained in risk management, policies and procedures. For those who lead certain types of activities special training takes place each August before any of the programs begin for the semester.
“Our goal is to offer really affordable programs that give people the opportunity to get outside and recreate,” said Generaux. Most of the programs offered are extremely affordable and some events are even free to attend. A portion of the costs and operations of the program are subsidized by the university. This allows programs to be offered at a price that covers only the essential aspects of the trips like transportation and supplies. The Outdoors program also offers rental equipment for those who want to try something new without breaking the bank.
There are options for one time events such as weekend hiking and camping trips to areas around Wyoming and in neighboring states. For those wanting to stay closer to Laramie there are clinics offered on campus and in surrounding recreational areas and state parks. Climbing workshops in the Vedauwoo recreational area and full moon hikes around Happy Jack are regularly on the schedule with the Outdoors Program. There are also opportunities for students who opt to stay on campus for Thanksgiving break to go on a trip to Moab with the options of hiking, climbing or mountain biking.
“There’s been quite a few studies that have shown how outdoor programs can help retention of students,” Generaux said. These programs can be an outlet for students to relieve stress. Participating in group activities also helps students gain skills, knowledge and feel more connected to a community.
“Most of the programs do pretty well, sometimes if it’s really specific or new it’s challenging to fill,” Generaux said “We open up registration at the beginning of each semester. Some of our trips for the fall have already filled up.” Participation is high for many of these activities and students and faculty can register online for whatever interests them. For registration, a list of programs and more information visit uwyo.edu/rec/outdoor-program/
