Outdoor Pursuits to make Spring Break an adventure
By: Kathryn Blevins
Issue date: 2/26/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Outdoor Pursuits at SFA is working with Sam Houston State University to offer an adventure alternative during Spring Break. The adventure is a one-week camping and canoeing trip through South Texas, with such highlights as Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande River.
To start off the trip, SFA students will meet up with students from Sam Houston at Texas State University in San Marcos. Once in San Marcos, they will take advantage of Texas State's university camp site and practice basic canoeing skills on the San Marcos River.
From there, the group will progress to Big Bend National Park to indulge in some day hikes, including a hike on the tallest peak in the park, Emory Peak.
After a few days of hiking, the group will then enjoy a three-day/two-night canoe trip down the Rio Grande River through the Voquillas Canyon. The river boats a fairly easy ride with some class one and two rapids.
Once off the river, the group will head back to the camp site for a day of rest and some hiking through Pine Canyon and the South Rim.
According to Michael Maningas, coordinator of outdoor pursuits at SFA, students do not need to have prior experience camping or canoeing to take part in the trip. "Because the outdoor pursuits program is new to SFA, a majority of the trips will be geared toward the beginner," he said. "There will be more advanced trips in the future, but beginners will always have the opportunity to join in on the fun."
Students embarking on the trips offered by SFA's outdoor pursuits program will be in experienced hands. Maningas has been in the outdoor adventure field for 14 years. Prior to joining the campus recreation program at SFA, he lived in Guatemala for four years and operated an adventure travel company named Old Town Outfitters.
When asked why he chose to come to SFA, Maningas replied, "I wanted to get closer to family and the draw of starting an outdoor adventure program from scratch is exciting."
"Because this is a new program, we have lots of creative freedom. Students can come by the office and let me know what types of outdoor activities they want to see at SFA and I will try to provide them."
Future trips provided by the outdoor pursuits program include a canoe trip to Caddo Lake, A cave trip on Easter weekend, A climbing trip to Enchanted Rock and a Galveston camping trip.
The cost of the Spring Break trip is $150 and includes all transportation, equipment and food. Contact outdoor pursuits at 468-6234 or outdoorpursuits@sfasu.edu with any questions.
kblevins@thepinelog.com
To start off the trip, SFA students will meet up with students from Sam Houston at Texas State University in San Marcos. Once in San Marcos, they will take advantage of Texas State's university camp site and practice basic canoeing skills on the San Marcos River.
From there, the group will progress to Big Bend National Park to indulge in some day hikes, including a hike on the tallest peak in the park, Emory Peak.
After a few days of hiking, the group will then enjoy a three-day/two-night canoe trip down the Rio Grande River through the Voquillas Canyon. The river boats a fairly easy ride with some class one and two rapids.
Once off the river, the group will head back to the camp site for a day of rest and some hiking through Pine Canyon and the South Rim.
According to Michael Maningas, coordinator of outdoor pursuits at SFA, students do not need to have prior experience camping or canoeing to take part in the trip. "Because the outdoor pursuits program is new to SFA, a majority of the trips will be geared toward the beginner," he said. "There will be more advanced trips in the future, but beginners will always have the opportunity to join in on the fun."
Students embarking on the trips offered by SFA's outdoor pursuits program will be in experienced hands. Maningas has been in the outdoor adventure field for 14 years. Prior to joining the campus recreation program at SFA, he lived in Guatemala for four years and operated an adventure travel company named Old Town Outfitters.
When asked why he chose to come to SFA, Maningas replied, "I wanted to get closer to family and the draw of starting an outdoor adventure program from scratch is exciting."
"Because this is a new program, we have lots of creative freedom. Students can come by the office and let me know what types of outdoor activities they want to see at SFA and I will try to provide them."
Future trips provided by the outdoor pursuits program include a canoe trip to Caddo Lake, A cave trip on Easter weekend, A climbing trip to Enchanted Rock and a Galveston camping trip.
The cost of the Spring Break trip is $150 and includes all transportation, equipment and food. Contact outdoor pursuits at 468-6234 or outdoorpursuits@sfasu.edu with any questions.
kblevins@thepinelog.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Shane Allen
posted 2/26/07 @ 9:59 PM CST
Saw the article in the PineLog about BigBend. I was only there 7 times last year and have already been once this year. Need any information or anything, contact me. (Continued…)
Shane Allen
posted 2/26/07 @ 10:02 PM CST
Big Bend is SO crowded during Spring Break that you should consider Big Bend Ranch State Park.
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