Pavan Antony, an graduate student from India who had never been backpacking, recently found himself hiking in Glacier National Park with a group of WSU students. He was on a trip with WSU’s Outdoor Recreation Center.

It was an amazing experience that gave him the opportunity to see a different part of the country and meet people with diverse backgrounds, he said.

Hannah Nevitt, also a graduate student, went on a kayaking trip and two whitewater rafting trips with the ORC. She said she appreciates the ORC for offering affordable trips that include learning, environmental responsibility and excitement.

“It’s just a lot of fun, the ORC is great in a lot of ways,” she said.

The ORC is a three-part system that provides students with resources for outdoor activities.

Rental equipment is the first part. If students or groups want to plan their own trip, the ORC rents them necessities including stoves, ski boots, sports gear or rafts.

Jonathan Stahl, coordinator of WSU Adventure Programs, said the ORC has magazines, guidebooks and other resources to help students plan adventures. The ORC staff is also very knowledgeable, he said.

The second section of the ORC is the climbing wall. To use the wall, students must take a half-hour orientation, either at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays or 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Ashley Gray, a graduate assistant for the ORC, said the climbing wall is oriented toward bouldering, a lower type of rock climbing done without a rope.

The third part is trips. The trips are varied as far as interest and experience, though most trips are beginner-oriented, Stahl said. The trips include camping, biking, rock climbing, hiking, kayaking and canoeing.

“There is something offered for any outdoor interest,” Gray said.

The trips also vary in length. Some are a few hours on a weekday, a full day, an entire weekend or a longer trip.

The ORC staff is planning a 10-day climbing trip in Southern California during Thanksgiving break. Gray said this trip will be a great time to see a gorgeous and popular climbing destination for students who don’t go home for vacation.

The ORC also cooperates with the Center for Civic Engagement to plan Eco Adventures, trips including environmental sustainability and community service, Gray said.

“I believe the goal of the ORC, as it pertains to the trip program, is to facilitate an enjoyable, adventurous and relaxing experience for all members involved – a memorable experience in a physically and emotionally safe environment,” Gray said.

An emotionally safe environment means the ORC staff helps participants work through any fears they have about the adventures by explaining the safety of the system and working as a group, she said.

“So many students say there is nothing to do in Pullman, and that is just not right,” Antony said. “The ORC has lots of things to do.”