November 4, 2024

Two separate groups of about 15-20 students and staff members spent their spring break with the Office of Community Life on Outdoor Adventure trips to the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Big Sur and Santa Barbara.

One of the groups, led by Tucker Carl, Community Life program coordinator, traveled to Arizona to camp and hike around the Grand Canyon. The second group, led by Tyler Cox, director of Recreation Programs, drove up the coast of California to Montaña de Oro State Park, just outside of Big Sur in Los Osos, and to the Santa Barbara coast.

The Outdoor Adventure student interns planned the majority of the trips by putting together events and activities for the students, preparing and cooking all the camp meals and leading morning and evening devotions throughout the trips.

Jonah Mackin, senior Christian studies major, went on the Northern coastal trip to Big Sur and Santa Barbara with his two roommates.

Mackin said he had been on a few outdoor adventure trips with Comm Life before but said this trip was one of the most enjoyable because he was able to spend it with his close friends before he graduates in May.

“I came on this trip because I wanted to enjoy quality time with my best friends and have a good time exploring the coast,” Mackin said. “The price was very affordable and it was just an all around a good time.”

Mackin said he appreciated the staff’s hard work planning the activities and cooking the meals every day. Mackin said some of the highlights of the trip were hiking over the bluffs by the ocean, time around the fire with other students, canoeing in Morro Bay, the zip line and exploring the city of Santa Barbara.

Reilly Tom, sophomore business administration major, also attended the Northern coastal trip to Big Sur and Santa Barbara after hearing about the trip from her friends who work in Comm Life.

Tom said she enjoyed the zip line because it was a new experience for her.

“(The zip line) was something I had not done at that level before, it was fun to get to watch people be really nervous but then jump off the ledge,” Tom said. “I really enjoyed spending my spring break (on this trip) instead of just staying home and watching Netflix.”

Tom said this trip was one of her first camping experiences and said she enjoyed getting to know people she had never seen on campus before.

“(The trip is) a really great way to get to know other people and get outside your comfort zone a little bit, but have a relaxing environment as well,” Tom said.

Josh Thomas, senior mechanical engineering major, went on the trip to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. Thomas said he enjoyed being able to spend some time away from campus and meet a lot of new people.

“I would go a hundred times again,” Thomas said. “Experiencing Arizona was everything I expected and more. I had a great time making new friends and catching up with old ones.”

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