Sandra Townsend does not believe in indoors people.
For her and the rest of the staff at the University of Idaho Outdoor Program, anyone can find something to do outside.
“There are a lot of folks who hear the word ‘outdoors,’ and then they just tune right out,” said Townsend, an outdoor program coordinator. “They’re like, ‘I’m an inside person,’ which is false. Everyone goes outside.”
With classes, organized trips and discounted equipment rentals, the outdoor program tries to make it easy for all students to explore the great outdoors.
For complete beginners, Townsend said the upcoming “Intro to Outdoors” set of events is a good introduction to the wilderness.
The outdoor program will provide instruction, transportation and equipment for paddle boarding at Spring Valley Reservoir for $30 on Sept. 5, hiking through Elk Creek Falls for $20 on Sept. 9 and backpacking overnight through River Canyon for $40 Oct. 6 and Oct. 7.
Students can sign up for these and any other outdoor program event at the Outdoor Program Office in the Student Recreation Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Staff accommodate students from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels, said Sarah Page, a student assistant coordinator.
“Sometimes it can be kind of tricky, but for the most part it hasn’t been an issue,” Page said. “The majority of our trips are geared toward beginners, so we try to make them accessible.”
Regardless of skill level, Townsend said most who take advantage of the outdoor program leave happy.
Alexandra Stutzman | Argonaut
Snowboards in the recreation center.
“We offer an avenue for everyone of all abilities to go outside,” Townsend said. Later in the fall, the outdoor program will host a bike-packing trip. Participants will tour the Palouse Range, riding north of Moscow Mountain from Sept. 29 to Sept. 30.
“It’s just like backpacking but with your mountain bike,” Townsend said.
During Thanksgiving break, students will have the opportunity go backpacking through sandstone canyons in Utah.
“There’s nothing like having five whole days in the desert,” said Sarah Page, who co-led last year’s trip with Townsend. “The Utah trip was a complete blast.”
Students who choose not to participate in any outdoor program trip can still make use of the rental center for their own excursions. The center is the largest in the Northwest according to Townsend, boasting anything from climbing shoes to canoes.
“We have about half a million dollars’ worth of outdoor equipment for students to use,” Townsend said. “It’s an incredible resource.”
More information about equipment rentals or the outdoor program’s events can be found on the program’s page on the UI website or at the program’s location in the Student Recreation Center.
Danny Bugingo can be reached at [email protected].