Many organizations and clubs call Colorado Mesa University home. One specific organization, the Outdoor Program, reaches out to students who have an adventurous side and want to expand their horizons.
The message of the OP when you first walk in the door is “come hang out!” Staff member Eric Almanzar puts down the phone and greets you with a big smile and says, “Hello! What can I do for you today?”
Whether you’re looking for some rental camping gear for the night, want to learn how to raft or rock climb, or just want to know what there is to do around the Grand Valley, the staff at the OP are more than happy to help you out.
If you secretly wish you were outdoorsy, the OP has info sessions on Monday nights and a great hang-out spot in their office with comfortable couches and a TV for movie nights. As Almanzar puts it, “We don’t get bored easily.”
They love to see their own passion for the CMU community and the outdoors reflected in the students who come in to rent gear or sign up for trips. Almanzar says that getting involved in the Outdoor Program can be as easy as popping in to “show your face” and see what’s coming up on their fall agenda.
In the height of their busiest season, fall, the OP offers 4-5 trips per weekend. The trips range from climbing to rafting to backpacking the 14’ers of Colorado. They take several trips to the Grand Mesa and Rocky Mountain National Park as well. Andrew Wolocatiuk, the “boss,” as Almanzar dubbed him, said that his favorite trip with the OP was to 14,158-foot Mt. Sneffels.
The OP also offers a developmental rock climbing class (Rock Climbing 101), where the goal is to expand student skills, from indoor to outdoor solo climbing.
“As much as we like people coming on trips with us, we like to encourage people to get out on their own,” said Almanzar.
While the OP is always looking for eager adventurers, they sometimes have to turn people away from their most popular excursions. But, don’t let the numbers scare you off. The OP staff has many ideas for the upcoming season, and is excited about what they have to offer students.
“People come to Grand Junction because they know that this is a great place for the outdoors,” Wolocatiuk said. “The OP is here to help those people take advantage of the wilderness surrounding Grand Junction and find the fun they are looking for at CMU.”
Wolocatiuk said that his favorite part of working at the OP is the students he meets and the community they form. He sees several of these students in his classes, some of whom he has shared hot chocolate on a rainy day.
He also praises the OP for giving students “the freedom to go to your limits.”
“It’s really easy to come in as a beginner and leave as intermediate or advanced,” Wolocatiuk said.
Still unsure about how to get involved? Wolocatiuk suggests coming in to join an event—ANY event. “Whether it’s a Monday night session, an afternoon outing, or a Wednesday night Wandering in the UC, the Outdoor Program shouldn’t be missed,” Wolocatiuk said.
