The great outdoors is a wonderful place for everyone to explore with activities ranging from kayaking, backpacking, whitewater rafting, surfing and more. Outdoor Pursuits at Pacific University is here to make that dream a reality for students on campus.
Due to COVID-19, the freshman voyages were canceled in the beginning of the school year. The incoming class of 2024 didn’t get to experience the thrills of all the activities that Outdoor Pursuits had planned. With the school year nearing its end, OP has announced that the voyages will resume in August 2021, with the option for the class of 2024 to be able to get their Voyage trip they missed, along with the soon-to-be coming class of 2025 and incoming transfer students.
Voyages are 5-day pre-orientation trips for the incoming students at Pacific in August. You do not need a prerequisite skill set to join these voyages – all people are welcome and are supervised by Voyage Leaders. The fee to attend is $450.
“Our Multi-Element trips we have coming up are in Leavenworth, WA and will be reserved for the incoming freshman next year as well another trip for the class of 2024.” says assistant director Justin Hall. “It will be in the mountains and they get to spend a couple days doing some rock climbing, day hiking, and rafting down the Wenatchee River.”
Other trips they have planned besides the multi-element trip include wilderness voyages such as backpacking and canoeing in Central Oregon and rafting on the Deschutes River. Outdoor voyages include surfing on the Oregon coast as well as the multi-element excursions.
With COVID-19 still very much prevalent, they have plans and backup plans if anything happens during the trips. They have categorized these plans from A to C depending on the situation.
“Plan A is to get everyone vaccinated through August, plan B is to figure out how to get everyone tested and isolated, and plan C would be if things were like last year then we would need to make changes to where we can safely do our voyages.” said Hall.
Outdoor Pursuits are always looking for new voyage leaders by reaching out to the voyage participants and students on campus by getting to join information sessions.
“We try to market around the campus with our class HYPER-157, which is a one-credit and outdoor recreation class where taking it is a prerequisite to become a voyage leader.” Hall said. The voyages will begin on the 21st of August and will go through the 25th with orientation beginning on the 26th. Many of the voyage leaders are stoked to be able to lead the new students and get to show them the wonders of Oregon through the many adventures they have planned.
“There’s something truly wonderful about being in the great backcountry for multiple days, the groups that bond and the connections they’ll make, I truly believe that you will form friendships that you won’t recreate anywhere else.” said voyage leader Joseph Schmitz.
Make sure to check out Outdoor Pursuits at www.pacificu.edu/sport-recreation/voyages for more information! The deadline for registration is March 15th, 2021. — Rush Williams
Photo Courtesy Rush Williams
Leave a Reply