OAP climbs western Virginia

Maya Earls
Spectrum Editor

Going into a no-internet zone, the Outdoor Adventure Program at VCU will tackle large boulders and the great outdoors on Oct. 25 and 26 in western Virginia.

Staying in tents and cooking outside, eight participants and two trip leaders will head to the climbing spot called Elizabeth’s Furnace near Front Royal, Virginia. Experienced climbers and first-timers will try their hands and legs at climbing solid rock.

Going on trips nearly every other weekend, OAP Director Andrew Parent said he tries to keep pushing himself as a climber.

“It’s important to fit personal trips into my schedule and make sure I’m getting out on my own, challenging myself,” Parent said.

After several hours of climbing, the participants will also get the chance to enjoy the scenery of western Virginia while enjoying fire-cooked meals.

While there is a physical challenge when climbing, Parent said he enjoys the mental exercise the most.

“I love how mental the challenges in climbing can be,” Parent said. “There’s a bit of problem solving involved in a good climb.”

Evolving from an outdoor club at VCU, the OAP has been in operation since receiving funding from VCU in the ’80s. Parent said the program grew in the past 10 years from holding 30 trips to more than 200 trips a year. With facilities that can house outdoor equipment such as sea kayaks and mountain bikes, the program offers varied adventures to VCU students.

“This program has grown tremendously from its roots,” Parent said. “We are constantly looking to expand and diversify.”

Parent said he wants more programs that bring various disciplines together to locations like the Outer Banks and Puget Sound in Washington state. Last spring the OAP collaborated with the biology and history departments at VCU to offer a hands-on course on the James River.

“I would like to see more collaborations like that in the future, exploring the interdisciplinary aspects that make the outdoors so multidimensional,” Parent said.

By putting a lot of energy into educating trip leaders and participants on safety, Parent said he is looking forward to another entertaining OAP trip.

“My goal is to have a fun and enjoyable trip where everyone comes back with their fingers and toes,” Parent said.