The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Outdoor Nation

  • Defending the title

    Defending the title

    By | Charlotte Rutigliano

    According to Recreation and Administration professor Gen Marchand, the challenge started in 2013 with only about 10 participating schools. This year, there are 92 colleges and universities across the nation participating in the challenge.

    “Last year was the first year HSU participated, and we won,” Marchand said.

    HSU won about three thousand dollars worth of North Face camping gear. Any HSU student can rent the gear for free, minus a small cleaning fee.

    Marketing professor Nancy Vizenor said events like this are really great for HSU, and that it’s good for both students and the school to be involved in a competition like this.

    “So many of our students are attracted to HSU because of the amazing outdoor experiences,” Vizenor said, “so if potential students who enjoy time outdoors see that HSU is apart of this challenge, they may feel sure that the university will offer experiences they desire.”

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    Students preparing to hit the water. Photo credit: Charlotte Rutigliano

    Marchand said there is an outdoor for everyone, that going for a walk in the park is the same thing as mountain biking.

    “There’s a point system that has many layers,” Marchand said. “Most things are either five or ten points, but you get more points for being in groups, or participating in school-sponsored activities.”

    Activities like last Sunday’s Paddlefest, a school-sponsored event that took place at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center in Eureka.

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    Students preparing to hit the water. Photo credit: Charlotte Rutigliano

    The event allowed students and community members to use paddle boards, kayaks and canoes for free. Each person who logged their activity on the Outdoor Nation app gained ten points for participating in a paddle sport. Center Activities also set up hammocks, which would add an additional five points. Participants also gained more points for either having three or more people in the photo, sharing the post on either Facebook or Twitter, and indicating that it was a school-sponsored event.

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    Students who have signed in and are waiting to get on the water. Photo credit: Charlotte Rutigliano

    Because of Paddlefest, HSU was able to pass CSU Sacramento and move into third place, with the point total currently at 86,314. HSU is trailing behind second-place Texas Woman’s University by almost seven thousand points.

    You can join the challenge by downloading the Outdoor Nation app. The challenge ends on October 15th.

  • The challenge is ON

    The challenge is ON

    By | Robert Brown

    “Outdoor Nation is a fun way to get outside and be active,” Bridgette Hanson of Center Activities said. “That’s different for everyone, it’s why Humboldt won last year.”

    Open to students and anyone in the community, all you have to do is download the app, get out and take pictures of yourself, then post them to win prizes. The challenge is sponsored by REI, The North Face, eno, and Hydro Flask, and local businesses Adventures Edge, Minor Theatre, and Muddy Waters.

    “It’s so inspiring to live in this community,” Scott McCrary, student representative for ON said. “We have some of the most amazing nature spots here in Humboldt.”

    Some examples of ON Challenge events are guided walks, tidepool exploration, restoration projects, crafting, and volunteer events, also workshops on hiking, bike maintenance and birding.

    ON flyer.jpg

    “Our biggest event is Paddlefest,” Hanson said. “Around 200 people come to that event, some people get to try kayaking for the first time.”

    Each event accomplished earns a certain amount of points, for instance, backpacking, camping, and biking earn 10 points. Skateboarding, slacklining, and yoga earn 5 points. Birdwatching, gardening and stargazing earn 2 points. Add up points by completing as many events as you can and use them to redeem prizes.

    “A really fun event is the scavenger hunt,” McCrary said. “People follow clues through the week hidden in different places. Then take a picture with the clue once they’ve found them and post them in the app. to win a North Face backpack.”

    Along with an individual winner, schools are also competing to have the most number of people participating in their communities challenge. Last year HSU won the title of number one outdoorsiest school.

    “Winning was exhilarating,” one of last years winners, Ruby Garcia said. “Especially because we did it as a community and we won a $3,000 gear library that is available to students free of cost.”

    To find out more go to hsuoutdoors.humboldt.edu or www.oncampuschallenge.org

    “A big thank you to the Humboldt community,” McCrary said. “This wouldn’t be possible without the local radio and local sponsors.”