The Outdoor Program (OP) is an undeniably large part of campus life at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) as it provides a safe space to experience what the outdoors has to offer. 

The purpose of the program is to offer and promote affordable, safe and environmentally conscious outdoor trips. For many students, freshmen especially, the OP is a good way to meet people, make friends and even learn important life skills. 

During a climbing trip on the weekend of September 27, one trip attendee, CMU sophomore Brooke Kamphaus, explained how the OP has pushed her to become a better climber. 

“Today I did a 5.10,” Kamphaus said. “[It was] one of my hardest climbs so far. Each trip I’ve gone a little higher in levels.” 

While the OP has given students the opportunity to improve their skills, it also gives them the tools to go out into nature on their own. While the program has been growing and changing since it was first established on campus, the challenges brought on by COVID-19 are apparent within the program. 

In addition to sanitizing equipment, wearing masks, having limited seating in the vans and following social distancing guidelines, they have only been doing day trips so far this year. OP employees Aiden Ocampo and Camille Olson said that they’re both disappointed by this. Ocampo misses doing overnight trips because spending the whole day outdoors and then staying the night was always a special experience for him. Olson said that though the OP will be having overnight trips over breaks, it’s not the same. 

“It definitely sucks to not have those, because overnight trips are super fun. We do actually have a couple of overnight trips going out for Fall Break, we just got [them] approved. It does add a few extra layers of planning and thinking about social distancing while camping, but we’re making it happen,” Olson said. 

The changes put in place because of the virus have made things a little tougher for the employees, but Ocampo said that he loves his job at the OP. 

“This for me is not work, this is play,” Ocampo said. “I go out there and get to climb for five hours – for my job. For people who love to do it, that’s not work at all. Those are the only kind of people that work at the OP, and that’s what I love about it.”

Ocampo is not the only one who gets something extra out of OP excursions, Olson has also benefited greatly from her time as a trip leader for the OP.

“I like working at the OP because I like doing things outdoors. It gives me a great opportunity to get paid and do the stuff I do anyway,” Olson said. “It’s a win-win scenario. Also, I really love teaching people climbing so it’s really cool to see people push themselves and try really hard.”

Getting outside has always been a great way to take a break from life, and now it’s even more important to go experience what the outdoors has to offer. Even if you don’t know anything about the outdoors, the OP community will welcome anyone with open arms and give you the outdoor experience of a lifetime.