Winter is here! With the new season (and quarter), UREC Outdoors is gearing up to get students involved in all of the beautiful recreation that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
With winter comes snow, and UREC will be initiating their programs for snowshoeing and snow sports, with transportation and both single-day and multi-day trip opportunities. Toward the end of the quarter, as spring rolls around, they will start transitioning toward more backpacking and climbing trips.
They provide most gear rentals free of charge if you are attending one of their trips and rent them out at a low cost to students who want to go out on their own. For example, a snowshoe rental is $5 for a week, whereas at REI, it would cost you $24 for a day and an additional $8 per day thereafter.
Ski and snowboard programming this quarter will involve shuttle vans taking students to Snoqualmie Pass for night skiing on Thursdays and Crystal Mountain day skiing on Sundays. UREC does not rent ski equipment or passes, but using the shuttles is free, as long as you register ahead of time.
This quarter, UREC Outdoors will also be putting on a 5Point film festival. The festival will be an opportunity to showcase the work of underrepresented students in the outdoor space.
According to Kevin Sutton, the associate director of UREC Outdoors, the festival will have a heavy focus on representation.
“It’s fantastic, because the people that actually are out there recreating that are marginalized and disenfranchised are the ones that are the focus,” Sutton said.
The festival will also have representatives from various outdoor organizations and companies, including the forest service, so attendees will have the ability to learn more about the outdoor and recreation industries and network.
This quarter, UREC also hopes to reach out to students that might be interested in the outdoors, but not fully utilizing the resources that the school provides. Sutton argues that the structure that the program provides makes it so that a lack of experience may not be a detriment, but even more reason to get involved.
“[If you are scared or nervous] this is like the best opportunity, because our staff are trained to show you the ropes and make you an expert at doing it,” Sutton said.
There is also flexibility within the program to help students with independent trip planning.
“If there’s any kind of trip that just a general student wants to do, send us an email, and we
will try to make it happen. If it’s something that we can’t do, but you are still interested in doing it, we have the resources to help you plan the trip for yourself,” Sutton encouraged.
Additionally, UREC’s mission goes far beyond just putting students on trips. They also strive to create community and connect students through a shared love of the world around us.
Nikki Bashaw, a fourth-year environmental studies major, is a manager of the outdoor program and a manager of facilities at UREC. She reflected on her experience within the program before and after starting to work there.
“Coming out here into a community that really values connection and that student forward mentality has been a really supportive way to get to know different people on campus… At the end of the day, we’re not really doing anything that difficult. You’re just going out to experience the nature and to connect with some people that you would never normally have a conversation with,” Bashaw reflected.
Students can get more involved than just participating; UREC Outdoors is currently seeking to hire new Outdoor Leaders on Handshake. Leaders, even if they don’t have experience, will be trained in outdoor and leadership skills to take other students on a wide variety of trips.
According to Barbara Makowski, a fourth-year computer science and finance double major who also works as an outdoor leader, highly recommended the position.
“I think this is a great way to gain leadership. As long as you are open to learning and you want to show others the outdoors, apply!” Makowski encouraged.
So, whether you just want to find a ride up to the mountain, explore a new outdoor hobby, be part of a new community, or even work to enable other students to pick up outdoor skills for the first time, UREC Outdoors has been working hard this quarter to make those opportunities accessible to all.
So, get out there and go outside! More information can be found at seattleu.edu/life-at-seattle-u/university-recreation/outdoors.
