By Stephanie Antonetti
Staff Writer
Denison University’s Outdoor Club was designed to provide students with a unique opportunity to participate in outdoor activities away from school. The club, which originally started out as the schools Ski and Snowboard Club, normally runs events throughout the fall and spring.
These events include, but are not limited to, mountain biking, backpacking, rock climbing, caving, skydiving, hiking, kayaking, rafting, downhill skiing, and canoeing.
The Outdoor Club’s main activity though is rock climbing. Every Wednesday and Sunday the club goes climbing in their very own converted grain silo, which the club uses as their climbing gym.
“We affectionately dub it, ‘The Shady Shack in the woods,” club President Lin Teng ‘16 and Treasurer Ryan Liedke ‘16 said.
Besides rock climbing, the team prides themselves in all the activities that they take their participants on.
“During the fall we took several trips out to Hocking Hills to hike and explore the state park. In February, we took two ski trips out to Mad River Mountain.”
“Due to popular demand, more ski trips will be planned for the next year. We are also looking to take a ski trip to Pennsylvania to Seven Springs. The club has also taken advantage of Fall break to go climbing, rafting and hiking in West Virginia. Occasionally, we take a weekend and drive down to Kentucky to hike the forests and mountains as well as get some outdoor climbing in,” Teng and Liedke expressed.
One of the best parts of the Outdoor Club, that Teng and Liedke shared, is that anyone who wants to can participate in the club. The club loves getting a wide range of students and sharing new experiences with them.
“Definitely one of my best memories with the Outdoor Club was the fall break trip to The New River Gorge in West Virginia. We got to climb on 100 foot rock walls, raft in the New River and hike through the mountains.”
“Even without all the activities, just sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows under a full sky of stars is pretty amazing. I never thought I’d have the chance to do all of these activities.”
“The reason why I enjoy being in the Outdoor Club is because it opens up opportunities to new places and new activities that are otherwise difficult to experience,” Teng shared enthusiastically.
If anyone is interested in getting involved with the Big Red Outdoors Adventure Club, all they need to do is send an email to [email protected]. The team hosts dinners on Wednesday nights at 6:15 p.m. in Curtis Café for current members and individuals who are interested in joining the club.
“The club dinners are a great way to meet people who also share a love for the outdoors,” Teng and Liedke said. “[Later], if you’re not too busy, a great way to work off that Wednesday dinner is by climbing with the club right afterwards!”
Photo courtesy of Ryan Ledke ’16