In Pursuit of the Great Outdoors

Colorado is home to some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the United States, and with these landscapes come unforgettable experiences. The Rocky Mountains offer trails down national forests that are perfect for hiking and wandering through, the campsites found deep in the woods give many the opportunity to sit by a fire underneath the night sky, the lakes and whitewater rapids are sure to make someone feel like they are on an adventure, and many wait eagerly for the first heavy snow of the season so that they can finally ski and snowboard.

There is so much that Colorado has to offer outside of city life. Colorado truly has one of the most breathtaking landscapes of the United States, a landscape that is not often available to be enjoyed by college students, who often are not afforded the opportunities and resources to explore these places. Lucky for UNC students, however, there is a campus-funded program that gives them exactly this.

Outdoor Pursuits is a division of Campus Recreation, and focuses on providing students opportunities to spend time in the great outdoors, and does so through offering equipment rentals and school-sponsored trips.

Outdoor Pursuits has been a part of UNC for over 10 years, according to Wilson Obenhaus, the Assistant Director of the division. It was started by the student government as a way to encourage students to “go outside” and remain active while they are in an academic setting.

Outdoor Pursuits, hereafter referred to as “OP”, operates out of the Campus Gear Shop, which is located in the west entrance of Harrison Hall, facing the Campus Recreation building. OP allows students to rent out equipment necessary for multiple outdoor activities such as water sports and camping, as well as bicycles through the “Free Bike Program”. The program allows students an alternative transportation method as opposed to using cars. It is incredibly popular with students, as there is no cost to rent out the bicycles for the semester, and the policies for using the bikes are easy to follow. 

Students are able to rent out equipment and bicycles through the UNC website, where one would have to simply fill out a short form regarding the type of equipment and bike needed, and wait 1-2 business days for a response from the program. If their rental request is accepted, students then pick up their equipment at the Campus Gear Shop.

OP gives students the opportunity to participate in school-sponsored outdoor trips, such as hiking, paddle-boarding, skiing and much more. In order to participate in a trip, a student would need to sign up for a spot on the UNC website and fill out the "Outdoor Pursuits Trip Registration" form. The trips are incredibly beginner friendly, employing friendly instructors to teach first-timers the basics of the trip's subject, and often gives students transportation to the trips location through a bus ride. 

“Right now, we’re on the best track we have been since the COVID pandemic,” Says Obenhaus. “We are seeing interest in our program on an uptick.” The uptick follows a rising trend in the United States, where, according to The Outdoor Industry Association, as of 2023, outdoor participation grew by 4.1%- unlike in 2022, where participation only grew by 2.3%. Many people report that after being outside and in nature, they find that their mental health has improved through decreased anxiety, depression and general stress.

OP also runs the climbing wall that resides inside the Campus Recreation building, which allows students of all skill-levels to ascend the 30-foot wall under instructor supervision with the safety of a roped-in harness and multiple crash pads. According to Obenhaus, the climbing wall is incredibly popular amongst students. 

Many students have asked how to “join” OP, but it is not necessarily a club. Obenhaus tells students that, “The best way to meet us is through the climbing wall,” Located in the Campus Recreation building or to "just visit us in the gear shop".