From the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, North Carolina boasts myriad opportunities to get outside and enjoy its natural beauty any time of year.
For spring semester, the Outdoor Adventures (OA) team of the Department of Recreation and Wellness has planned more than 20 outdoor trips and events for the UNCG community to relish the fresh air and take advantage of all the state has to offer.
Take On New Challenges with Peers
In line with the Department of Recreation and Wellness mission to “foster comprehensive wellness by engaging students and the UNCG community in experiential and educational opportunities,” OA strives to plan outings that will appeal to varied interests and ensures all trips are beginner friendly.
“Students benefit by experiencing local State and National Parks and learning about the areas,” Alex Hauer, assistant director, Outdoor Recreation & Education, says. “They get to meet new individuals, learn about an outdoor activity, develop new skills, and challenge themselves by stepping outside their comfort zones.”
Janiah Lindsey, OA supervisor and kinesiology major, agrees: “It’s a great time for students to enjoy some new experiences. With the trips, they are not only a participant but also part of a community. And no matter what, they will walk away feeling more accomplished.”
OA’s planned trips offer a variety of activities, including caving, hiking, kayaking, and rock climbing.
“With my time at OA I have been able to do so many different activities that growing up I never thought I would be able to do,” says Elliot McLaughlin, trips and events program assistant and Geography major. “From trips as short as standup paddleboarding at Lake Brandt on a Friday afternoon to spending a week in Florida island-hopping over Spring Break, the moments, hours, and days OA has provided me outside are irreplaceable.”
Hauer describes two upcoming trips as particularly exciting: “We are offering a Spring Break backpacking trip to the Foothills Trail, which crosses over the NC/SC border and provides great views, waterfalls, and large suspension bridges as the group hikes the trail. We also have a surfing weekend that will head to Wilmington for a weekend of surfing instruction and experience.”
Check here for the full list of trips and events.
Forge Your Own Trail
“When I went on my first canoeing trip with OA, I was nervous and afraid I would mess up,” says Lindsey, “but the trip leaders helped guide me through it, and now I have a newfound talent. I get to go around different parts of Greensboro and even different states at times, and I know I will enjoy the experience more and more as I continue to improve!”
For students like Lindsey who discover an interest or talent, three NC State Parks are within one hour’s drive of campus.
Just 15 miles north of Greensboro is Haw River State Park, a great location for day-trippers to hike and fish along the headwaters of the Haw River. A boardwalk provides access into wetlands and a floodplain swamp.
Mayo River State Park, 30 miles northwest of GSO, is ideal for hiking, paddling, and fishing. The park offers four access points onto the river, which include Class II rapids and a picturesque waterfall.
About an hour northwest of Greensboro (30 miles north of Winston-Salem), Hanging Rock State Park offers hiking and biking along its trails, complete with mountain views, rock outcrops, waterfalls, and a mountain cave. There are even opportunities for horseback riding, paddling, swimming, and fishing.
And if staying local to Greensboro and relaxing in the outdoors is more appealing, McLaughlin offers this suggestion: “Piney Lake (once it opens up in March) really is the hidden gem of UNCG. It’s a 44-acre property with lounge chairs, yard games, and a lake to boat, swim, or just hang out in. It honestly is my favorite place to just escape to for a few hours on the weekend.”
Want to get outside?
You can with UNCG!
Story by Amanda Saber, AMBCopy
Photography provided by UNCG Department of Recreation & Wellness, Martin Kane
