Road Tripping the Southwest

By: Rachael Vorster

NEWBERG, Ore.- At George Fox University, Outdoor Recreation (OREC) often works behind the scenes to offer students as many unique opportunities as possible, even for those who have no outdoor experience. As a result of OREC’s hard work there are two chances for students to get away this spring.

These trips take advantage of students’ time off during spring break, one lasting ten days and the other nine. In order to reduce overall costs and allow students to see more of the country they will be road trips.

The first of the two spring break trips is dubbed “Arizona Adventure Road Trip.” This 10-day trip begins on March 18 and ends on March 27.

“This fast-paced adventure road trip takes you almost 2000 miles across the Southwest through Idaho, Utah, and ultimately Arizona,” said an announcement email from Outdoor Recreation (OREC).

The majority of the trip is spent in Sedona, Arizona, with several days also focusing on other famous spots such as the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Antelope Canyon.

“There’s an option to sleep outside or in tents… but I do recommend sleeping under the stars,” said Julia Bedell, one of the leaders for this trip.

This trip offers “opportunity for good conversations, and fun adventuring and growth amidst community,” said a presentation at an informational event hosted by OREC on Monday. It’s about “experiencing unfamiliar places, taking risks, and exploring one’s own personal growth alongside each other.”

Another focus of the trip is students’ chance for spiritual formation and the opportunity to connect with God through the outdoors. Bedell said she wants to make sure all students have the chance to “grow and engage with other people as well as creation.”

The second trip is based in Utah, where students will get to experience all five of Utah’s National Parks “The Mighty Five.” The trip spends a day in each of the parks with an extra two in Zion National Park, the main stop of the trip.

In a break from hiking, students will be able to go canyoneering in Zion, as a part of a tour group. Other highlights of the trip include several famous arches in Arches National Park, Petroglyphs in Capitol Reef National Park, and the social media famous Angel’s Landing in Zion.

Although all the hiking may seem intimidating, AJ Heil, leader at OREC, said the goal is for them to be “iconic but accessible.” He added that “OREC is for everybody, so we tailor trips towards people who have never done the activities before or maybe never participated in an outdoor trip.”

Most importantly the trip is about “cultivating community in an outdoor environment,” said Beth Girard, one of the leaders of the trip.

“The Mighty Five” trip leaves a day later than “Arizona Adventure”, starting on March 19 and ending on March 27. Both trips take students on an immersive experience through the beautiful landscape of the southwest.

Although the price, with each trip starting at $595, might seem expensive, it is actually much lower than what the trip would cost if students did it on their own. If finances prove to be a barrier for some students OREC does offer a scholarship that anyone can apply for, and only takes about ten minutes to fill out.

Information on the scholarship was shared both through emails to students and in a presentation at the informational night.

These trips are about opening up students to God, the outdoors, and new community, and OREC has worked hard to make them a possibility for anyone who might be interested.

“Both spring break trips open for registration on Tuesday, November 16 at 8 a.m.,” said Heil in an email to those interested in attending. “We expect slots to go quickly for these trips!”