Saturday November 21, 2009
Outdoor Action Newsletter
October 2009 - January 2010
35 years of Outdoor Adventure 1974–2009
Welcome to Outdoor Action
The Outdoor Action Program (OA) offers trips and courses throughout the academic year to Princeton undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff in a variety of outdoor activities. OA trips are led by students or staff who have gone through an extensive Leader Training Program. Interested in becoming an OA Leader? Click OA Leader Training from the top menu bar.
Backpack the Shenandoahs
Sunday, Nov. 1 - Thursday, Nov. 5
Location: Shenandoah National Park, VA
The views from the summits of the Shenandoah Mountains in Virginia are spectacular! OA is offering a 5-day backpacking trip to the beautiful mountains of Virginia during Fall Break. The trip will cover 4-8 miles each day and basic wilderness and Leave No Trace camping skills will be taught. Equipment, transportation, and food will be provided by OA. This trip is open to Princeton University students, faculty and staff. Pre-trip preparation: date & time to be arranged by trip leaders; will be announced.
Fee: $150 OA Leaders, $185 Students, $225 Faculty/Staff. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
Rock Climbing
Outdoor Action Indoor Climbing Wall
Location: OA's state-of-the-art Climbing Wall is inside the southeast column on the second level of the Football Stadium
The top rope climbing room is 32 feet high and 66 feet across with 12 belay stations. It incorporates the latest in climbing wall technology with both vertical and overhanging sections as well as a roof and three artificial cracks.
Climbers of all abilities are welcome. Experienced instructors will be on hand to teach skills and assist in solving particular climbing routes. OA will provide harness and climbing shoes. The Climbing Wall will be open only to students, faculty, and staff of Princeton University and PUID required. Children of members of the University community may climb with a parent present. The Climbing Wall is open throughout the academic year except during breaks and final exams. Visit the OA Climbing page for open hours, semester passes, location of the Climbing Wall, classes, and more information.
Climbing Wall Open Hours
-
Monday, 8 p.m.–10 p.m.
-
Tuesday - Friday, 4:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
(EXCEPT DURING READING PERIOD & FINAL EXAMS)
Fees:
-
CLIMBING IS FREE FOR ALL UNDERGRADUATES AND GRADUATE STUDENTS
-
Day Passes: Faculty/Staff and their children $8
-
Semester Pass: Faculty/Staff $95 and their children $65
-
Half-semester Pass: Faculty/Staff $50and their children $35 (available after fall break)
Thursday nights at the OA Climbing Wall - FREE! (Alcohol Initiative Event)
Starting Thursday, Sept. 17, 10:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. (and every Thursday night this semester except Oct. 29 and Nov. 5)
Location: OA's Climbing Wall in the southeast corner of Football Stadium (second level)
These events are funded by the Trustee Alcohol Initiative Fund promoting non-alcoholic social activities on campus. No previous experience is required and we have all the gear (and snacks!) you'll need. The Climbing Wall opens for regular hours next week and it's free to all students!
Beginner & Intermediate Rock Climbing Trip
Date/Time: Saturday, November 7, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Allamuchy State Park, NJ
Rock climbing provides an opportunity to challenge yourself both physically and mentally as you work your way up a rock face. We are offering a day trip to Allamuchy State Park in New Jersey that offers both beginning and intermediate level climbing routes. You’ll learn the basic techniques of rock climbing including tying in, how to belay, and climbing techniques like weight shifts, using your legs, etc. This is an ideal trip for beginners and experienced climbers alike. Equipment and transportation provided by OA.
Fee: $30 OA leaders, $40 students, $55 faculty/staff. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
.jpg)
Rock Climbing 101
Dates/Times: Mondays, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., 11/16, 11/23, 11/30, 12/7
Location: OA Climbing Wall, southeast corner of Football Stadium, 2nd level
If you are interested in learning to rock climb, this course will teach you all the essential techniques of climbing, including tying in, belaying and specific climbing techniques like weight shifting, stemming, and laybacks. The class includes a half-semester climbing wall pass. All equipment provided by OA.
Fee: $55 OA leaders, $75 students, $95 faculty/staff. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
First Aid
CPR and Wilderness First Aid Courses
Outdoor Action offers AHA HeartSaver CPR Classes and HEART Wilderness First Aid Training courses, satisfying the first aid requirements of the OA Leader Training Program.
CPR and first aid training can be a great team-building event for your staff or organization! OA will coordinate with your group for private instruction. Please contact OA at oa@Princeton.EDU, or 609-258-6230.
HeartSaver CPR course (with AED training) 
Heart disease is a significant health problem that, according to the American Heart Association, affects nearly 8 percent of all Americans and results in nearly 350,000 deaths each year. While several electrical abnormalities can result in sudden cardiac arrest, the majority begin with ventricular fibrillation. Rapid treatment of ventricular fibrillation, through the application of a controlled electrical shock, is essential to the victim’s survival.
Outdoor Action teaches American Heart Association (AHA) CPR classes. Our HeartSaver CPR Course teaches lay rescuers how to recognize and treat life-threatening emergencies, including cardiac arrest and choking for adults and children over age 1. Students also learn to recognize the warning signs of heart attack and stroke in adults and breathing difficulties in children. This course will instruct you how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
People successfully completing the course will receive AHA certification good for two years. Outdoor Action also offers additional CPR courses during the school year including courses that cover CPR for adults, children and infants. Departments wishing to schedule a special course should contact 8-6230. CPR course fees: students $35, faculty/staff $45, OA leaders $25. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
- Tuesday, 11/3/09; 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Location: Frist MPR "B" ** CANCELLED **
- Thursday, 11/5/09; 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Location: Frist 307
- Friday, 11/6/09; 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Location: Frist 307
- Tuesday, 11/17/09; 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Location: Frist MPR "C"
HEART (Health Education and Rescue Training)
Wilderness First Aid
This is an intensive American Safety & Health Institute course that covers patient examination and evaluation, body systems and anatomy, wound care, splinting, environmental emergencies, and backcountry medicine. Hands-on simulations provide first-hand training in treating patients. This is an excellent course taught by experienced Wilderness First Responders and Emergency Medical Technicians and is highly recommended to anyone traveling in the outdoors. Successful completion of the WFA and CPR courses fulfills the First Aid requirements for OA Leader Training (other first aid courses do as well, contact the OA Office for more information). When there are two sections offered at the same time is possible to combine classes and take a Monday/Thursday class or a Tuesday/Wednesday class. Certifications: ASHI Wilderness First Aid is included for those who pass the course. WFA course fee: $105 leaders-in-training, $105 students, $130 faculty/staff. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
- "A" Section (Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.): CANCELLED; or
- "B" Section (Fridays, 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.): 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 11/13, 11/20, 12/4/09; Location: Jadwin Physics A09; or
- Fall Break "Fast Track" Section- (Wednesday, 11/4/09 through Sunday, 11/8/09, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.; Location: Jadwin Physics A09
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Course - Intersession 
Dates: Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., then daily 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ending Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, around noon
Location: On Campus (to be announced)
This 80-hour advanced first aid (WFR) course, taught be Wilderness Medical Associates, is specifically designed to emphasize the wilderness context-remote locations, severe environments and simple improvised equipment. The course will cover patient examination and evaluation, body systems and anatomy, trauma care, environmental emergencies, splints, wilderness rescue, and backcountry medicine. This course meets 10 hours each day with morning lectures and afternoon skills practice including simulated rescues, daily quizzes, and a final exam. Be prepared for awesome outdoor first aid simulations!
People who successfully complete this course receive a three-year certification and are eligible to teach wilderness first aid on campus. The course will be held on campus to make it easy for seniors and others to participate.
Fee: $515 OA Leaders, $615 Students, $715 Faculty/Staff. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
Paddling
.jpg)
There are no kayaking classes or trips scheduled at this time. Please check back for updates.
OA Leader Training Program
How Do I Become An OA Leader?
Are you interested in leading a Frosh Trip or leading other OA Trips during the year? Complete your Leader Training this spring! OA's Leader Training Program is considered one of the most comprehensive in the nation and has been used as a model by schools across the country. In the Leader Training Program participants develop skills in leadership, group facilitation, outdoor safety, first aid, and valuable wilderness travel skills. Don't consider yourself outdoorsy? You don't need to have any previous outdoor experience to become an OA Leader. We provide all the training you need to learn to lead and facilitate groups in the outdoors. We are looking for a diverse group of students, graduate students and staff who can provide leadership for incoming students. Upon successful completion of the program you are eligible to apply to lead OA trips.
For complete information on OA Leader Training Requirements and the Leader Training Schedule including this semester, visit: Leader Training Requirements & Schedule and sign-up on the OA TripStore.
Leader Training Course
Leading a group on a backcountry trip requires extensive training in wilderness camping skills. The Leader Training Course (LTC) is designed to teach wilderness skills necessary to lead multi-day backpacking trips. The course meets one evening a week and includes workshops on route planning, equipment preparation, wilderness travel techniques, map and compass, outdoor cooking, and Leave No Trace camping. Trip participants will learn how to run a wilderness trip by planning all aspects of the trip, including route, food, and equipment. Participants are required to attend all classes. The text for the course will be The Backpacker's Field Manual, written by Outdoor Action. Sign up at the OA TripStore. 20-HOUR LTC! Get your LTC training completed in 20 hrs. and have fun camping on campus!
Date: Sunday, November 1, 2009, 3 p.m. - Monday, November 2, 2009, 11 a.m.
Location: overnight campsite on campus; meet in Jadwin A06 at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1.
Facilitator’s Workshop
Facilitating positive group interaction and teamwork requires excellent listening and observation skills and a set of activities and techniques to guide people through personal growth and development. This workshop will train OA leaders and others who work with groups in specific techniques for effective team building and group facilitation through fun games and activities. 
This is a hands-on, experiential workshop. Be prepared to have fun! Sign up at the OA TripStore.
Date: Monday, November 2, 2009, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Location: Frist Multipurpose Room (A/B/C)
Leadership & Group Dynamics Workshop
One of the greatest challenges of being a group leader is learning how to lead and motivate a group, and how to use group experiences to promote self-exploration and learning. This workshop is designed to teach OA leaders and others how to effectively lead groups. This is a hands-on, experiential based workshop so be prepared to be active. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Location: Frist Multipurpose Room (A/B/C)
Leader Training Trip 
Sunday, 1/24/2010 - Sunday, 1/31/2010 (packing on 1/23/2010)
Location: someplace warm (to be announced)
The final part of OA Leader Training is the Leader Training Trip, a 6-day backpacking trip which pulls together all of the skills you have been learning all semester.
During the trip participants will be Leaders-of-the-day and in charge of the group practicing skills.
Trip fee: $260 for Students/OA Leaders; $325 for faculty and staff. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
Mini-Van Driver Training
OA Leaders are strongly encouraged to become authorized van drivers. You must complete an online course and quiz on driving mini-vans. Drivers must also complete a 30-minute road test.
To gain access to the online course and schedule a road test see the Public Safety Web Site (web.princeton.edu/sites/publicsafety/FleetSafety.htm).
How Do I Sign up?Sign-ups for trips and courses are on the OA Tripstore on the Web. Students are billed to their University account. Faculty and staff must pay by check. If you have any questions, please call the OA Office. OA Web Site: www.princeton.edu/~oa/ This newsletter is published each semester to provide information about Outdoor Action's upcoming trips and programs. The Outdoor Action Program (OA) is Princeton University's outdoor experiential education program administered by the Princeton-Blairstown Center. |
