Outdoor UW creates outdoor recreation learning series for people of all skill levels
Posted: 02/01/22
The Outdoor UW team at the Wisconsin Union will soon debut a program open to all and for every level of outdoor adventurer, called the Outdoor Explorer Series by Outdoor UW.
The Outdoor Explorer Series includes a wide variety of outdoor recreation educational and skills-developing programs led by outdoor educators and industry professionals throughout the year, from a winter camping introductory course to a wilderness first responder certification course.
“As an outlet to the outdoors with patrons of every skill level, we wanted to create a learning and skills-development series that helps our patrons explore and make the most of outdoor recreation opportunities,” Outdoor UW Director Dave Elsmo said.
The program includes three categories of programs including:
- Introductory courses that present new outdoor experiences to people of all skill levels
- Leadership courses that can help leaders in the outdoors improve outdoor recreation programs and hone their leadership abilities
- Advancement courses for those interested in advanced skill development, certifications and other transferable learning opportunities
Upcoming courses include but are not limited to introduction to backpacking on March 1, introduction to backcountry cooking and nutrition March 29, and NOLS Wilderness First Aid training April 16-17.
The Outdoor UW team aims for this program to help people easily choose outdoor experience courses based on their skill level and to reduce barriers to enjoying the outdoors by providing instructor-guided experiences with all needed equipment included.
In addition to its new series, the Outdoor UW team offers camping, hiking, climbing equipment and snowshoes rentals as well as kayak and canoe storage space rentals. The team also holds private outdoor group experiences by reservation, such as group paddling.
Outdoor UW is home to six outdoors clubs that make up the Wisconsin Hoofers, which welcomes all 18 and over to join the organization. The clubs include the Hoofer Mountaineering Club, the Hoofer Outing Club, the Hoofer Riding Club, the Hoofer Sailing Club, the Hoofer Scuba Club, and the Hoofer Ski and Snowboard Club. Hoofers is part of the Wisconsin Union Directorate, the programming and leadership board for the Wisconsin Union.
Patrons can learn more about the Outdoor Explorer Series at union.wisc.edu/explorerseries.