OA Logo

Outdoor Action Newsletter

Fall 2004

30 years of Outdoor Adventure - 1974 - 2004

What is Outdoor Action?

The Outdoor Action Program (OA) is Princeton University’s outdoor experiential education program. We offer 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 and staff who have gone through an extensive Leader Training Program. If you are interested in becoming an OA Leader, see the back of the newsletter for details about the OA Leader Training Program schedule for this semester. oa@princeton.edu


Crossing

Hiking

Towpath Hikathon for The Breast Cancer Fund

OA and Princeton Against Cancer Together (PACT) are sponsoring our annual fall community service hike. This is a walk, bike or run (your choice) on the Towpath. There are different route options of 3 miles, 7.6 miles and 9 miles. Participants register with a minimum $5 free. All proceeds go to The Breast Cancer Fund to support breast cancer research. This is a great activity to do with friends - your OA group, sports team, student organization, etc. The Hikathon will be from 10 AM - 12 PM starting at the Frist Campus Center. Register on the TripStore or sign up at the Registration Table on the Frist Lawn starting at 9:30 AM.

Saturday, 10/2, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. raindate 10/3, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, 10/2, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. raindate 10/3, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Fall Foliage Hike

In mid-October the trees are blazing with colors in southern New York. Join us for a day hike through beautiful forested trails of Harriman State Park. During the Ice Age, glaciers plowed through the hills of this area scraping away debris and loose rock and creating a series of glacial lakes.. The mountain tops of Harriman are rocky and exposed which allows for spectacular views including the fall colors along the Hudson River. Fee: students $10.00, faculty/staff $15.00.

Saturday, 10/9, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.


Rock Climbing

Access Fund Adopt-a-Crag Day

The Access Fund helps conserve and protect rock climbing areas around the country. Join us for this volunteer day helping to do trail and preservation work at Allamuchy State Park in New Jersey. The local Access Fund and park rangers will provide tools and instruction. Date: Sunday, September 26. Fee: FREE. Transportation provided by Outdoor Action.

Introduction to Rock Climbing Course

If you are interested in learning to rock climb, then this 3-week 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 course will meet at OA’s indoor Climbing Wall in the Armory. There will also be a field trip to the cliffs at Ralph Stover State Park to practice all that you have learned at a real rock climbing site. Fee: Students $70, faculty/staff $95, OA Leaders $40.

Tuesdays & Thursdays 8 - 10 p.m. - 9/28 - 10/14
Outdoor Day Trip: Sunday 10/10, 9 - 5 p.m.

Rock ClimbingRock Climbing Day Trip

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 a Ralph Stover State Park in Pennsylvania that offers both beginning and intermediate level climbing routes. You’ll learn the basic techniques of rock climbing including tieing 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. All equipment will be provided by OA. Fee: Students $15, Faculty/Staff $20.

Sunday, 10/3, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

OA Climbing Wall

The Climbing Wall is an indoor rock climbing practice facility located in the Armory next to the football stadium. Climbers of all abilities are welcome. Experienced instructors are on hand to teach skills and assist in solving particular climbing routes. OA provides harness and climbing shoes. The Climbing Wall is open only to students, faculty, and staff of Princeton University. 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.

Climbing Wall Open Hours

Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday, 4:30 -6:30 p.m.
Monday & Wednesday, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Groups can schedule Wall Sessions on Saturdays from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM by appointment. To schedule or for other available times contact aglotzba@princeton.edu

Climbing Wall Fees

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/
OA Tripstore Sign-ups: https://oa.princeton.edu/tripstore/
OA Office: 350 Alexander Street, 8-3552
OA Equipment Room: The Armory, 8-6417 open Tues. & Thurs 7:30 - 9:30 PM for Equipment Rental

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. For more details on OA activities see the OA Web Site.


Frosh Trip 2004 & Beyond

OA Frosh Trip 2004 Slide Show

Come see yourself and your group on the Big Screen!
Friday, October 1,
7:30 - 8:15 PM or 8:30 - 9:15 PM, McCosh 10

We are hosting the annual Frosh Trip 2004 Slide Show. It's a great time to get your group back together and relive the week. We've put together some great slides from all the photos that you've sent in. There are just so many people that we have to do two showings based on group number.

7:30 PM Showing - G6, G7, G8, G9, G10, G11, G12, G13, G15, G16, G17, C18, C19, C20, C21, C22, C23, C24, C25, C82, C83, C84, C85, BF26, BF27, BF28, BF29, L42, L43, L44, L45, GR46, GR47, GR48, GR49, GR50

8:30 PM Showing - CT52, CT53, CT54, CT55, CT56, MA57, MA58, MA59, MA60, MA61,PA62, PA63, PA64, PA65, PA66, VA70, VA71, VA72, VA73, VA74, OA80, OA81, OA92, OA93, OA94, LH95, LH96, LH97, LH98, LH99, LH100, LH101, LH102

Repeat Showings during Freshmen Parents Weekend. Bring your family!

Friday, October 8, 5:30 - 6:15 PM, McCosh 10
Saturday, October 9, 7:30 - 8:15 PM, McCosh 10

OA Frosh Trip 2005 Positions

It's not too early to start planning for Frosh Trip 2005. The Fall OA Leader Training Program is starting up now (see details below). We also will need Support Teams and Command Center Staff. You can sign up on the interest list for Support or Command Center now at the OA TripStore.


Fall Break Trips

Backpacking TripShenadoahs

The autumn color views from the summits of the Shenandoah Mountains in Virginia are spectacular. There will be two 4-day backpacking trips to the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park over fall break. Discover the excitement of living in the woods and hiking along beautiful ridges and beside winding streams. The sensation of carrying everything you need on your back can be incredibly satisfying , particularly when you can share the experience with a group of friends. Each trip will cover 4-8 miles of hiking each day. You’ll learn all the basic skills for backcountry travel and camping including route finding, equipment use, and Leave No Trace camping. Equipment, transportation, and food will be provided by OA. Sign-up deadline: Friday, October 12. Fee: Students $95, Faculty/ Staff $120.

Pre-trip preparation: Saturday, 10/23 Trip : Sunday, 10/24 - Wednesday, 10/27

Wilderness Whitewater Canoeing Trip

Flowing through the scenic Shenandoah Valley the Shenandoah River boasts a wonderful section of easy whitewater(Class I-II). In October the colors should be near their peak as the group paddles to backcountry campsites along the river. OA is offering this three day wilderness whitewater canoeing trip. All canoeing and outdoor equipment will be provided by OA. Cost for the trip will be $175.00. You should have previous basic canoeing experience in order to participate. We will do some afternoon canoeing instruction on Lake Carnegie on Saturday, 10/23.

Pre-trip preparation: Saturday, 10/23 Trip : Sunday, 10/24 - Wednesday, 10/27

OA Leader Training Program

How Do I Become An OA Leader?

Are you interested in leading a Frosh Trip for the Class of 2009 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.

OA Leader Training Requirements

Over the past year Outdoor Action has been working on expanding the Leader Training Program. The goal is to provide leaders-in-training with all of the skills needed to effectively lead their own trips in the wilderness as well as lead Frosh Trips. We have developed a series of workshops to teach you all the essential skills of outdoor leadership. Below are the training requirements to become an Outdoor Action Leader. Many of these trainings are offered multiple times to allow flexibility to fit into your schedule.

• HEART Wilderness First Aid and CPR Training

HEART (Health Education and Rescue Training)Wilderness First Aid is an intensive 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. Adult CPR certification by American Heart Association and American Safety & Health Institute Wilderness First Aid certification is included for all those who successfully complete the course. This class fulfills the First Aid requirement for OA Leader Training (other first aid courses do as well, contact the OA Office for more information.) Fee: $89 leaders-in-training, $100 students, $120 faculty/staff.

*Section A (Monday and Wednesday class, 7:30 - 10:30 PM)
CPR: Mon., 9/20 – Frist 307
First Aid Classes: Wed. 9/22, Mon. 9/27, Wed. 9/29, Mon. 10/4, Wed. 10/6, Mon. 10/11 – Jadwin A07 Final Exam: Wed., 10/13

*Section B (Tuesday and Thursday class, 7:30 - 10:30 PM)
CPR: Tues., 9/21 – Frist 307
First Aid Classes: Thurs. 9/23, Tues. 9/28, Thurs. 9/30, Tues. 10/5, Thurs. 10/7, Tues. 10/12 – Jadwin A07
Final Exam: Thurs. 10/14

*Section C (Monday class, 7:30 - 10:30 PM)
CPR: Mon., 10/11 – Jadwin A07
First Aid Classes: Mondays - 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, 11/22, 11/29, Wed. 12/1 – Jadwin A07
Final Exam: Mon. 12/6

• 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!

Sunday, 11/14/2004 - 1:00 - 7:00 PM, Frist Multipurpose Room

• 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.

Sunday, 11/21/2004 - 1:00 - 7:00 PM, Frist Multipurpose Room

• 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 all the 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 minimal impact 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 Rick Curtis, Director of Outdoor Action.

Section A – Mondays, 7:30-10:30 PM, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, 11/29, 12/6 - Jadwin A07
And a map & compass field class Friday, 11/19 3:30 - 5:30 PM or Saturday, 11/20 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Section B – Tuesdays, 7:30-10:30 PM, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16, 11/30, 12/7 - Jadwin A07
And a map & compass field class Friday, 11/19 3:30 - 5:30 PM or Saturday, 11/20 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Section C – Wednesdays, 7:30-10:30 PM, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 12/1, 12/8 - Jadwin A07
And a map & compass field class Friday, 11/19 3:30 - 5:30 PM or Saturday, 11/20 1:00 - 3:00 PM

• Leader Training Trips

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. Trips: OA offers trips over Intersession in January and “Dead Week” after finals in May. The Intersession trip will be traveling to a warm location (to be determined). The extra travel time will mean that the trip will take up all of Intersession.

Intersession

Sunday, 1/22/2005 - Saturday, 1/29/2005

"Dead Week"

• 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 (http://web.princeton.edu/sites/publicsafety/FleetSafety.htm).


Wilderness First Responder Course Over Intersession

For those who want to expand their first aid skills Outdoor Action offers a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course over Intersession in January. This 80-hour course taught by Wilderness Medical Associattes 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 is an intensive course that meets 10 hours each day with morning lectures and afternoon skills practice including simulated rescues, daily quizzes and a final exam. Be prepared for some awesome full-on sims! The course will be held at the beautiful Princeton-Blairstown Center. Fee: OA Leaders $300, students $400, faculty/staff $500 includes the course, transportation, food and lodging for the week. Saturday 1/22/2005 - Sunday, 1/30/2005. Sign ups are now available at the OA TripStore.