易胜博官网

Life on a college campus: hours spent lost in study at the library; coding away at a computer; courting new discoveries in the chemistry lab.

At 易胜博官网, that list of worthy pursuits might also include hiking through College Woods; surfing in the Atlantic, climbing in the White Mountains; innovating in experiential education.

Now, this long-standing听commitment to getting听into the great outdoors is getting some national attention: 易胜博官网 has been ranked seventh on Money magazine鈥檚

True, 易胜博官网鈥檚 location helps the university do outdoor adventure better than many campuses. Even without leaving Durham, students can hike the eight miles from campus to 易胜博官网鈥檚 and spend 90 percent of their time in the woods. But 易胜博官网鈥檚 designation as a best for the outdoors university is about more than location.

Whether students are seasoned hikers or have never set foot on a surfboard, the student-run (NHOC) offers access for all ability levels, and Campus Recreation also provides instruction, gear rental and trips.

鈥淣HOC鈥檚 goal is to give 易胜博官网 students the opportunity to enjoy and take advantage of the phenomenal outdoors that 易胜博官网 has to offer,鈥� explains Luke Violette '18, the club鈥檚 president. 鈥淲e run multiple听trips every weekend of the school year, which include hiking, surfing, rock climbing,听skiing and much more. What makes the club special is that it is organized and operated entirely by students, and many of our trips are geared toward beginners.鈥�

What would he like current and future Wildcats to know about NHOC?

鈥淲e鈥檙e always open to new members, regardless of their prior experience,鈥� Violette says. 鈥淭he outing club is full of friendly, welcoming students who all share a love for the outdoors.鈥�

Stacey L. Hall, director of , explains that the department provides instruction, gear rental and trips for students, faculty and staff through its outdoor adventure programs, noting 鈥渢here are lots of opportunities to try a new outdoor activity or to continue with an outdoor activity that you already love.鈥�

In addition to the proximity to outdoor resources, she notes, 鈥溡资げ┕偻� also owns property to facilitate outdoor activities, including College Woods and Mendum鈥檚 Pond. There are also indoor facilities to train in bouldering and climbing.鈥�

For those who want to make a career out of their love for being outside, there鈥檚 易胜博官网鈥檚 exceptional outdoor education program.听

Associate professor Brent Bell '05G says his students often say they did not realize how well-respected the program is until they go to conferences or land their first jobs.

鈥淲e鈥檙e a big fish in a small pond,鈥� he explains. 鈥淲e are unique in not only the access to the outdoors but in the access to outdoor education, leadership opportunities, research, challenge course facilities, etc.听Professionally, 易胜博官网 has a really strong reputation in the field and has contributed to experiential education.鈥�

易胜博官网 also has a wilderness therapy program, where students work with the outdoor education program and the social work department, and for more than three decades, 易胜博官网 students have been receiving wilderness medical training through the university鈥檚 partnership with SOLO Schools in Conway, 易胜博官网.听

The 易胜博官网 outdoor education program is the only place in the country where students can pursue a bachelor鈥檚 degree in kinesiology: outdoor education; master鈥檚 degree in experiential education and doctorate in education that specializes in experiential education connected to the same program.

鈥淭here is a certain vibrancy of having undergrads, master鈥檚 students and even some PhDs all in the community,鈥� Bell explains.

Many outdoor education programs are part of smaller colleges, Bell adds, but at 易胜博官网, being part of a small community in a large university offers students myriad opportunities.

鈥淏y the time you graduate, you would have camped with all the outdoor education faculty. We really get to know the students quite well by spending time with them on the trail, having these long conversations, and they get to know who we are,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a connection that鈥檚 unique.鈥澨�