By Kyle Kittredge
Staff Writer
The New Hampshire Outing Club recently hosted its sign ups for final fall semester trips in the Strafford room of the MUB for students who want to get an experience of adventure and the trips that it has to offer.
However, at the most recent in-person sign-ups this past Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., there was no rush for students who showed up.
President of the Outing Club, Megan Phelan had an explanation for why this may occur.
“I would say the first trip sign ups of the year are usually the most packed. People tend to have more free time then, and are eager to make new friends,” Phelan said.
“I think it’s because that people get excited about the trips going out and word tends to spread,” David Agan, vice president of the Outing Club said.
“I’m not sure if it’s on people’s bucket list but I hope it is,” Phelan said when asked if going on a trip with the club is an item on students’ bucket lists.
“The trip sign ups are in person because they are first come first serve, and the Outing Club needs to receive the money for them in person,” Phelan explained.
The cold weather also deters people later in the semester, with the least popular trips being winter hiking trips because students think that in the cold they need special gear.
“Which they don’t. We have plenty of gear to lend out,” Phelan said, “but we keep this in mind and have a good variety of trips,” she added.
The Outing Club often goes on trips throughout the northeast, at low costs for UNH students.
The group takes trips as often as every weekend and trips can range from a single day, overnight trips, or weekend trips.
For day trips, there is a cost of $5, for overnight $10 and weekend trips are $15 with everything else covered by the student activity fee.
The Outing Club leads activities such as hiking, climbing, surfing, paintballing, skiing and snowboarding, yoga trips, camping, backpacking, white water rafting, canoeing, kayaking and swimming.
“We usually have around 7 to 10 different trips each month,” Phelan explained.
“We go to the White Mountains a lot where we have two cabins for hiking and backpacking trips,” Phelan said, “and hiking, backpacking and camping are probably most popular.
“We get huge turn out for trips like surfing and climbing,” she added.
Although the Outing Club is based around physical outdoor activities, the group runs other types of trips as well.
This month the club even has a trip going to a ski movie premiere and another going to see the world’s largest globe.
As for advice to students, Phelan said, “My advice is come on a trip. Outing club is so welcoming and loves having new participants; the trips are low cost, fun, diverse and a great way to meet others interested in the outdoors.”
The Outing Club meets on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in MUB 203, with “all experience levels welcome and make sure everyone has a kick-ass time,” according to Phelan.
