Outdoor Action Newsletter
Equipment Room: 48 University Place, 8-6417
Climbing Wall: The Armory
Trip Hotline: 8-3552
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Outdoor Action Newsletter |
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Office: 330 Alexander Road, 8-3552 Equipment Room: 48 University Place, 8-6417 Climbing Wall: The Armory Trip Hotline: 8-3552 |
September - November '00 |
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Last page update 10/31/00
| Activities | Training | Resources | |
The Outdoor Action Program (OA) is Princeton University's outdoor experiential education program. We offer trips and courses throughout the academic year to Princeton undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff in many different outdoor activities. All OA trips are led by students who have gone through our extensive Leader Training Program. If you are interested in becoming an OA Leader, see the back of the newsletter for details and schedules.
How Do I Sign up for a Trip?Sign-ups for trips will begin on Thursday, September 14. Look for the sign-up table at the Frist Campus Center staffed by OA Leaders or sign-up on the OA TripStore beginning on the 14th. Payment for trips is due in advance, and will be charged to your University account. If you have any questions, please call the OA Office. OA Tripstore Sign-ups: oa.princeton.edu/tripstore/ This newsletter is published twice each semester to provide information about Outdoor Action's upcoming trips and programs. The Outdoor Action Program (OA) is Princeton University's outdoor experiential education program administered by the Princeton-Blairstown Center. For more details on OA activities see the OA Web Site. |
Interested in getting involved in Outdoor Action (OA), but not sure where to begin? Interested in learning more about the Leadership Training Program or other OA courses and trips? Join us at our annual Open House in the Multipurpose room of the Frist Campus Center. Leaders and OA Staff will be present to answer questions and share information about outdoor activities.
Tuesday, 9/19, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Beginner's Whitewater Kayaking Course If you are interested in learning how to kayak, whether for gentle cruises on a lake or challenging whitewater, then this is the course for you. OA is offering a comprehensive 2-week kayaking course. You don't need any prior experience to take this course. We begin with basic flatwater and stroke skills on Lake Carnegie and then move to moving water and easy whitewater maneuvers like Eddy Turns, Peel Outs, and Ferries. All equipment will be provided by OA. Course fee: Students $75, Faculty/Staff $100, OA leaders $45. The course will meet on the following dates:
Dillon Pool: Sunday, 10/1, 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Lake Carnegie: Tuesday, 9/26, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Lake Carnegie: Thursday, 9/28, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Local River: Tuesday, 10/3, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Local River: Thursday, 10/5, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Day Trip: Sunday, 10/8, 12:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Anyone who paddles on whitewater should be competent at handling basic river rescue. This two-day river rescue course is designed for anyone who paddles on whitewater. It is a complete hands-on course that will be taught on and in the water on the Delaware River. You will learn how to rescue swimmers with throw ropes and tows, rescue from strainers and foot entrapment, and more. Equipment provided by OA. Bring a bag lunch on Saturday. Course fee: students $85, faculty/staff $100, OA leaders $65.
Friday, 10/6, 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10/7, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Introduction to Rock Climbing Course If you are interested in learning to rock climb, then this 2-week course will teach you all the essential techniques of climbing, including tying in, belaying and specific climbing techniques like weight shifting, stemming, and laybacks. The course will meet at OA's indoor Climbing Wall in the Armory. Course fee: Students $65, faculty/staff $90.
Class 1
Monday, 9/25, 8 - 10 p.m.
Wednesday, 9/27, 8 - 10 p.m.
Monday, 10/2, 8 - 10 p.m.
Wednesday, 10/4, 8 - 10 p.m.
Outdoor Day Trip: Saturday 10/7, 9 - 5 p.m.
Class 2
Tuesday, 9/26, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, 9/28, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, 10/3, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, 10/5, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Outdoor Day Trip: Saturday 10/7, 9 - 5 p.m.
Once you have become comfortable with basic climbing techniques, the next step is to learn the technical skills of setting up ropes and anchoring systems so you can climb outdoors on your own. The course will focus on learning to set up safe systems for top rope climbing in the outdoors. Topics include use of trees and boulders as anchors, anchor-building technique, equipment, site management, and safety. The course will also emphasize teaching climbing to beginners, guidebook interpretation, and climbing ethics. This course is a requirement for anyone interested in leading a rock climbing OA Trips. Classes will meet at OA's indoor Climbing Wall in the Armory. Course fee: Students $65, Faculty/Staff $95, OA Leaders $35.
Climbing Wall: Tuesday, 9/26, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Climbing Wall: Friday, 9/29, 3 - 6 p.m.
Climbing Wall: Tuesday, 10/3, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Ralph Stover State Park: Friday, 10/6, 12 - 6 p.m.
Climbing Wall: Tuesday, 10/10, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Ralph Stover State Park: Friday, 10/13, 12 - 6 p.m.
Rain Date: Friday, 10/20, 12 - 6 p.m.
Rock Climbing provides an opportunity to challenge yourself both physically and mentally as you work your way up a rock face. We are offering a day trip to a local climbing area for beginners and experienced climbers alike. No previous experience is necessary. Equipment will be provided by OA. Bring a bag lunch. Trip Fee: Students $15, Faculty/Staff $20
Saturday, 9/30, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday, 10/14 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Climbing Wall
The Climbing Wall is an indoor rock climbing practice facility located in the Armory next to Jadwin Gym. Climbers of all abilities are welcome. Experienced instructors are on hand to teach skills and assist in solving particular climbing routes. The Climbing Wall is open only to students, faculty, and staff of Princeton University. PUID required. Children of members of the University community may climb with a parent present. The Climbing Wall is open throughout the academic year except during breaks and final exams.
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Passes can be purchased at the Climbing Wall. You must have your University ID.
New Climbers can climb free for the first visit! Climbers of all abilities are welcome. Only individuals who have passed the belaying course are eligible to belay at the Wall.
OA offers free belaying classes for new climbers to give you instruction on how to properly tie-in and belay. Classes are offered at 5:00 PM during regular Wall hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and at 8:30 PM on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Only individuals who have passed the belay test are eligible to belay at the Wall.
If you want a fun group building activity for your organization or group, schedule a night at the Wall. Contact the OA Office for details.
Interested in learning the natural history of the land right here in Princeton? Not sure how to tell the difference between a beech and a hemlock? Interested in learning who makes the tracks you see in the woods? Discover the secrets of nearby forests in this series of Friday afternoon hikes. The series will meet on Fridays from 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. and meet in the Dillon Gym parking lot. Fee per outing: $5.
• Animal Tracking with Rick Curtis, Friday, 9/29
• Tree Tour of Campus with Jim Consolloy University Arborist, Friday,
10/6
The Coast of New Jersey at Cape May is one of the best places in the country to view many types of birds as they fly south for the winter. In the morning we will attend a 2-hour class on hawk identification with the NJ Audobon Society at Cape May. In the afternoon we will have a picnic lunch on the beach and walk along the ocean to test our identification skills and enjoy the beauty of the beach. Trip fee: students $18, faculty/staff $25. Bring a bag lunch.
Saturday, 9/30, 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
In mid-October the trees are blazing with colors in southern New York. Join us for a day hike through beautiful Harriman State Park. During the Ice Age, glaciers plowed through the hills of this area scraping away debris and loose rock. The mountain tops of Harriman are rocky and exposed which allows for spectacular views. The park also has many glacial lakes and miles of beautiful forest trails. Trip fee: students $10.00, faculty/staff $15.00. Bring a bag lunch.
Saturday, 10/14, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Fall Break Trips
Outdoor Action is offering an all Graduate Student Backpacking trip to one of the beautiful forests of the east coast. We will travel approximately 5-8 miles each day at a leisurely pace. This is a great opportunity to get to know other Graduate Students and to spend some time in the outdoors. Trips are led by experienced Outdoor Action Leaders. Basic wilderness skills and minimal impact camping skills will be taught. Equipment will be provided by Outdoor Action. Sign-up deadline: Friday, October 13. Participants receive a 50% refund for cancellations after October 6. Trip Fee: $95.
Pre-trip preparation: Saturday, 10/28
Trip: Sunday, 10/29 - Wednesday, 11/1
Sand dunes, sea birds, bayside marshes, and surf are just part of the special environment of the Atlantic barrier islands. This four-day canoeing trip to Assateague National Seashore will follow the Chincoteague Bay canoe route to bayside wilderness campsites. There will be time to play in the dunes, hike, swim, and see the wild horses of Assateague and Chincoteague. All equipment will be provided by OA. Sign-up deadline: Friday, October 13. Participants receive a 50% refund for cancellations after October 6. Trip fee: students $95, faculty/staff $120.
Pre-trip preparation: Saturday, 10/28
Trip: Sunday, 10/29 - Wednesday, 11/1
The autumn color views from the summits of the Shenandoah Mountains in Virginia are spectacular. There will be two 4-day backpacking trips to the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park over fall break. Discover the excitement of living in the woods and hiking along beautiful ridges and beside winding streams. The sensation of carrying everything you need on your back can be incredibly satisfying, particularly when you can share the experience with a group of friends. Each trip will cover 4-8 miles each day and basic wilderness and minimal impact camping skills will be taught. Equipment, transportation, and food will be provided by OA. Sign-up deadline: Friday, October 13. Participants receive a 50% refund for cancellations after October 6. Trip fee: Students $95, Faculty/Staff $120.
Trip I
Pre-trip preparation: Saturday, 10/28
Trip: Sunday, 10/29 - Wednesday, 11/1
Trip II
Pre-trip preparation: Wednesday, 11/1
Trip: Thursday, 11/2 - Sunday, 11/4
OA's Leader Training Program is considered one of the most comprehensive in
the nation and has been used as a model by numerous schools across the country.
In the Leader Training Program participants develop skills in leadership, group
facilitation, safety, and first aid, as well as valuable wilderness travel skills.
Upon completion of the program, participants are eligible to apply to lead OA
trips. The components of training are offered several times each semester.
The Leader Training Trip serves to tie together all of the other skills.
We encourage all students, faculty, and staff to participate in the OA Leader
Training Program.
HEART (Health Education and Rescue Training) Wilderness First Aid is an intensive course that covers patient examination and evaluation, body systems and anatomy, wound care, splinting, environmental emergencies, and backcountry medicine. Hands-on simulations provide first-hand training in treating patients. This is an excellent course taught by experienced Wilderness First Responders and Emergency Medical Technicians and is highly recommended to all wilderness travelers. Adult CPR certification by American Red Cross Instructors is included. This class fulfills the First Aid requirement for OA Leader Training. Course fee: $89 leaders-in-training, $100 students, $120 faculty/staff. See the Fall Leader Training Schedule (right) for times and locations.
HEART Wilderness First Aid & CPR:
*Section A (Monday and Wednesday class):
*Section B (Tuesday and Thursday class):
Facilitating groups requires developing special sensitivities to teachable moments. The facilitator's role is to provide an experience and then to guide people through personal growth and development. This workshop will train OA leaders and others who work with groups in specific techniques for effective group facilitation. This is a hands-on, experiential workshop. Be prepared to have fun!
Saturday, 10/28, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Frist Multipurpose Room
One of the greatest challenges of being a group leader is learning how to lead and motivate a group, and how to use group experiences to promote self-exploration and learning. This workshop is designed to teach OA leaders and others how to effectively lead groups. This is a hands-on, experiential based workshop so be prepared to be active. You must have completed the Facilitators Workshop previously in order to attend.
Sunday, 10/29, 12 p.m. - 7 p.m., Frist Multipurpose Room
This seminar is designed to make all wilderness travelers familiar with the causes of accidents in the wilderness, how to prevent accidents through effective pre-trip planning, how to identify risks in the field, and how to increase your margin of safety. See the Fall Leader Training Schedule (right) for times and locations.
Monday, 10/30, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., Location TBA
Leading a group on a backcountry trip requires extensive training in wilderness camping skills. The Leader Training Course (LTC) is designed to teach all the wilderness skills necessary to lead multi-day backpacking trips, including route planning, equipment preparation, wilderness travel techniques, map and compass, outdoor cooking, and minimal impact camping. The course includes 16 hours of pre-trip classes and preparation, and a 5-day trip. This fall we are offering the Backpacking LTC. Most of the trips we offer are backpacking trips, therefore, most leaders-in-training participate in a Backpacking LTC. We also offer a Backpacking & Canoeing Leader Training Course in the spring which provides training in both skill areas (see below). Trip participants will plan all aspects of the trip, including route, food, and equipment, and each participant is required to research and teach a class on a particular wilderness topic. Participants are required to attend all meetings and classes. The text for the course will be the Backpacker's Field Manual, written by Outdoor Action.
This fall Leader Training is being offered in Fast Track format, which means that all components of training other than first aid and van driver training will be held during Fall Break. If you sign up to do Fast Track, plan to spend all of break doing leadership training. It's a great way to fit in all of the requirements and a fun way to spend a break! Course fee: $95 students, $120 faculty/staff.
This course covers the same skills taught in the Backpacking Leader Training Course, plus the skills necessary to lead a multi-day canoeing trip. This course is not offered in the fall; look for dates in the Spring!
Additional Adult CPR Classes and Refreshers:
OA Leaders are strongly encouraged to become authorized van drivers. You must attend a two-hour training class
and complete a 15-minute road test. Additional information can be obtained by calling the Public Safety Office. See
the Public Safety Office website for dates and times (http://webware.Princeton.edu/pubsaf/Fleet.htm).
Outdoor Action's Equipment Room (ER) is located on the bottom floor of 48 University Place, facing the Foulke Hall quad. The ER is open two evenings a week while classes are in session. Any member of the campus community may rent equipment. Rental costs are minimal. Please come and visit! Call with any questions, 8-6417.
Tuesdays, 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Thursdays, 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.
All online information at the Outdoor Action Web Site is protected by copyright laws. You may set up links to material found at the Outdoor Action Web Site. Printed versions of the material may be distributed for nonprofit educational use as long as no fees are charged for the material, attributions are made to the author, and no content changes are made. Commercial use of this material either in electronic or printed form is prohibited without express written permission from the author. Copyright © 1995 - 2004, all rights reserved, Rick Curtis, Outdoor Action Program, Princeton University. Send your comments and suggestions on the OA Web Site to Outdoor Action