The Outdoor Adventures program at ETSU has four main components: Open Climb, Adventure Trips, Equipment Rental and Team Building programs at the Basler Challenge Course.
Open Climb
The ETSU Campus Recreation Department operates two
artificial rock-climbing facilities for ETSU students, staff, and
faculty. The outdoor climbing wall is located at
the Basler Challenge Course and an indoor wall located inside the
Basler Center for Physical Activity. There is open
climb generally 6 days a week during the academic school
year. Open climb is held outdoors during the daylight
hours with nice weather, otherwise open climb is held
indoors.
The program recognizes 4 levels for skills associated with
climbing wall activities:
• 1st time climbers and climb only participants
• Outdoor wall top rope belay
• Indoor wall top rope belay
• Sport climb/belay on the indoor wall only.
Outdoor Adventure Trips - “
Get out there!”
ETSU Campus Recreation Department provides a variety of
outdoor activities, trips and skill clinics. We are committed
to providing enjoyable, challenging and affordable programs that
allow participants to learn skills necessary to safely enjoy the
outdoors. Our goal is that these experiences will develop
attitudes and behaviors that foster connectedness to the
environment, the Earth and to one another.
Trip Philosophy
– Activities are based on a common adventure philosophy
– “to achieve an enjoyable and worthwhile experience
while displaying the greatest respect for the environment.”
The common adventure is a group experience and group effort.
Although non-structured “down-time” will be provided,
individuals are expected to participate in all activities and at
times may be asked to make group needs a priority over personal
needs.
T.I.P.S.
– Trip Information and Planning Sessions
(T.I.P.S.) prepare participants by familiarizing them with
equipment, route descriptions, activity schedule, menu planning,
skill development and other pertinent pre-trip planning and
preparation activities. Unless prior arrangements are made
with the program coordinator, attendance at T.I.P.S. is
required for participants.
Code of Conduct
– Participants in Campus Recreation Outdoor Adventure
activities are expected to adhere to and are subject to
“Institutional Student Disciplinary Rules” as described
in the SPECTRUM Student Handbook. Trip participants are
expected to act and serve as representatives of the university when
activities take them off campus.
Outdoor Ethics
– In order to minimize our impact on natural resources
and fragile habitats, program activities will practice “Leave
No Trace Principles and Ethics” for trip planning and
decision-making.
Team Building – Basler Challenge Course
The Basler Challenge Course is a ropes course experience
where mental and physical problem solving activities are designed
to create group challenges in a safe and supportive
environment. Programs can range from one and a half hours to
a full day. Activities can include a variety of portable,
prop-less and low ropes activities along with climbing activities
such as the Alpine Tower and outdoor climbing tower. High
adrenaline activities such as the Giant Swing and Pamper Pole can
also be included. Goals of the challenge course experience
are to: work together as a team, challenge and application of
learning and observations, and have fun!
