Outdoor Adventures Center reconnects students with nature | Culture
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Outdoor Adventures Center offers students connections and a break away from academics every semester.
The Outdoor Adventures Center offers activities such as pedaling, canoeing, white water rafting, recreational kayaking, outdoor climbing, backpacking and bike trips across campus. They even offer one credit academic classes to help different majors gain on-field experience.
Every year, the Outdoor Adventures Center plans trips where students can take a break from school and enjoy the outdoors. This year during fall break, they will take three different trips: canoeing on the Current River in Missouri, outdoor climbing at Interstate Park in Minnesota and backpacking in the Ozarks.
Each of these trips are open to both the public and students. With a discount, students can go on the trip for $300 dollars, while non-students will spend an average of $450.
Katharine Wadas, a senior secondary education and social studies major, works at the Outdoor Adventures Center and has attended many backpacking and paddling trips.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wadas turned to nature because she felt it was one of the only places she could exist. When Wadas came to UNL, she discovered there were more opportunities for her to learn nature skills.
“The community felt friendly and open, and I wanted to be a part of that,” Wadas said.
After attending one Outdoor Adventures Center trip and spending time with the staff at their indoor climbing area, Wadas was hooked.
With each trip that the Outdoor Adventures Center hosts, they offer experiential learning and are beginner friendly. This means they require no prior experience or knowledge to attend the trip.
“We teach them how to backpack and what they need to learn,” Wadas said.
Jess Callahan, a first-year graduate student in teaching and teacher education, works at the Outdoor Adventures Center.
“The reason why I like it so much is the connections that you can make with people on trips like these, and just seeing (people) grow and develop so much from where they started,” Callahan said.
On all fall break trips, students will participate in outdoor adventures like canoeing, outdoor climbing or even backpacking, but they will also meet others who might have the same interest as them.
There are leaders on each trip that are trained in the importance of building connections. Each night, they spend time around the campfire and reflect on their day.
“We’ve seen a lot of people be able to connect and form connections that last beyond these weekend trips, and really get to form a really cool community with each other,” Callahan said.
Attending these trips can also allow students to take a break from school, make new friends and experience activities outside of everyday classes.
“You can have more experiences at college than just sitting in class and taking classes to fill a box in your major,” Wadas said.
The Outdoor Adventures Center has been discussing student mental and physical wellness. They find that being outside can be impactful, regardless of what outdoor activities you are doing.
“(Nature) started to become my meditation, my solitude, going out to a place that’s so much simpler than you, but so much more alive,” Wadas said. “Sometimes when I’m on trips with people, I call them natural resets.”
Although the fall break trips for this year are closed for registration, be on the lookout for other trips coming up during spring break and throughout the school year.
culture@dailynebraskan.com
