Katie Schulzetenberg-
There is a group that offers action-packed trips and resources for students and community members interested in outdoor activities right here on the University of Wisconsin–Stout’s campus. Unknown to many, the outdoor program Stout Adventures offers frequent trips and events at low cost to students.
“A lot of people don’t know that we have a trip program,” said Stout Adventures Coordinator, Houston Taylor. “We just led a spring break trip out to Utah for a week where we did backpacking and day hiking. We also went to two national parks and one national monument and just did a ton of fun stuff,” Taylor said.
Stout Adventures hosted a free bouldering trip on Saturday, March 24, and a day hike at Hoffman Hills on Sunday, March 25. Now that the weather is milder, they will continue to host new trips and adventures for everyone to join in on. Trips are open for everyone to participate in, and you can rent gear such as Go-Pros, camping supplies and paddling supplies.
There is a membership fee for the climbing wall, but you don’t have to be a member to go on trips or rent gear. If you love climbing but don’t want a membership, Stout Adventures has Free Climb Friday every Friday for Stout students.
Stout Adventures is getting close to their annual Wisconsin indoor climbing series competition, RockFest, on April. 7. The event is open to anyone who has an interest in climbing. There will be prizes to win in the competition and also raffles with prizes from local businesses.
“Because we are part of the Wisconsin indoor climbing series, people come from all over such as Oshkosh, Stevens Point, Duluth, Eau Claire, Winona, Madison, Milwaukee, River Falls and parts of Minnesota,” said Brennen Schrader, lead student manager of the climbing wall.
There may be some new additions to everything that Stout Adventures has to offer next Fall. “The Stout Student Association (SSA) has approved us to purchase twenty bikes to rent out, and if everything goes according to plan, we will be renting out bikes soon next fall,” Taylor said.
The challenge course open house will be on April 18 and offers a good opportunity for people curious about the course. For more information on the org and trips they host, contact stoutadventures@uwstout.edu.