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Camping
Our camping and hiking trips are great for those who want to get outside and camp without having to carry all the equipment on their back. We will “car camp” or camp with the van in close proximity, usually with picnic tables, fire rings, and restrooms of some sort. Our trips are designed for a group of 10-15 people, and require no previous experience. Each trip is led by Outdoor Rec. Trip Coordinators who are experienced in camping and hiking. Group equipment, such as tents, stoves, cooking gear, is included in the trip price. The hiking part of the trip is simply a day hike.
Upcoming Trips
MARCH 2 – 8 (Saturday – Friday)
CLIMBING and CAMPING (Beginner to Advanced)
Horseshoe Canyon, AR
Cost: $305
Sign-up by: Friday, Jan. 11 Bring $100 cash, check, or Vanderbilt Card
Pre-Trip Meeting: Wednesday 1/16 at 5:00 PM
Why spend your spring break worrying about how you look in a bathing suit when you could be worrying about how many climbs you can squeeze into a day?!? This March, join the Outdoor Rec. team as we head due west to enjoy some bullet hard sand stone at the Horseshoe Canyon Ranch (HCR) in Arkansas. HCR is home to hundreds of quality sport climbs that range in grade from 5.6 to 5.13. Situated just outside of the town of Jasper, AR, HCR is a modern day dude ranch that operates during summer months to program for families and groups of travelers.
Our plan will be to spend the start and final day travelling to and from HCR and fill our middle 5 days with nothing but rock climbing. The campsite will be on location at HCR, so once we arrive, we will set up camp and stay in the same location for the week. With such a wide swath of grades this trip is open to participants of all abilities. The only thing you need to bring with you will be a tenacious spirit and a desire to have some fun.
Click here for a colorful, printable PDF that outlines the trip in greater detail:Horseshoe Canyon Ranch PDF
Cost includes transportation, in-camp food, group camping equipment, climbing equipment, camping and entrance fees. This trip is limited to 8 participants, so sign up early to ensure your space on this great Spring Break offering.
APRIL 5-6 (Friday – Saturday)
CLIMBING and CAMPING (Intermediate to Advanced)
Jackson Falls, IL
Cost: $65
Sign-up by: Friday, March 29
Pre-Trip Meeting: Tuesday 4/2 at 6:00 PM
Join the VU Outdoor Rec. Program as we head to the fabled mid-west climbing location of Jackson Falls, Il. This trip will offer participants the opportunity to test their climbing skills on bullet hard sand stone cliffs. We will depart Friday night to camp out that night and spend the duration of our Saturday climbing. Jackson Falls offers a plethora of climbing styles to push your prowess and abilities. Estimated trip duration: 5 pm Friday – 11 pm Saturday.
Price includes all technical climbing gear, group camping gear, transportation and food while on site. Participants are responsible for all personal gear including but not limited to: sleeping bag, sleeping pad, headlamp, climbing shoes, etc. These items can be rented for a nominal fee from the Outdoor Rec. Center.
APRIL 12-13 (Friday – Saturday)
WHITEWATER RAFTING, HIKING, and CAMPING
Ocoee River, TN
Cost:$112
Sign-up by: Friday, March 29
Pre-Trip Meeting: Tuesday, 4/9 at 6:00 pm
Whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River is packed with fun and excitement on back-to-back rapids! After camping out on Friday, we will be guided down the mighty Middle Ocoee in rafts of 5-6 paddlers each. As a bonus, the Ocoee River is located in a beautiful gorge. No experience is necessary. We’ll eat lunch and have a chance to shower before heading back. The tip for your guide is included. Estimated trip duration: 6 PM Fri. – 7 PM Sat.
APRIL 19 – 20 (Friday – Saturday)
HIKING and CAMPING
Waterfall Tour: Cumberland Plateau, TN
Cost: $49
Sign-up by: Friday, April 12
Pre-Trip Meeting: Tuesday, 4/16 at 6:00 pm
We will camp at the popular Fall Creek Falls State Park, and check out their three waterfalls in the morning. Then we’ll drive over to the Laurel Falls trailhead to hike an 8-mile moderately difficult trail. Features include a beautiful creek, house-sized boulders, scenic overlooks, and the spectacular Laurel Falls. Estimated trip duration: 6 pm Fri – 10 pm Sat.
Canoe-Camping
May 18 – 26 (Saturday to Sunday)
Location: Buffalo National River, Arkansas
Cost: $390
Sign-up by: 4:30 pm Friday, May 3
> Bring $100 cash, check or Vanderbilt Card to register.
Pre-Trip Meeting: Friday, May 3 at 4:30 pm at the Outdoor Rec. Center
The Buffalo National River of northwest Arkansas is one of America’s finest free flowing rivers. This entire trip will be in the national park; the Buffalo was the first river named as a national river in the United States. We plan on paddling 63 miles in 7 days on this beautiful river. The first day will have some whitewater rapids, but the rest of the trip will be a moderate to easy Class 1 float. Massive limestone bluffs, waterfalls, and side hikes will add to the fun of this trip. We will camp every night on the river in either a developed campsite or along a more remote gravel bar. We will have one day of rest, where we will not pack up and paddle. We will be primarily paddling canoes, 2 people plus gear per boat. We will also have 2-3 long kayaks on the trip to give everyone the chance to paddle a kayak. Previous paddling experience is helpful, but not required. Participants must know how to swim. We will stay in a cheap hotel on the last night of the trip, in Conway, Arkansas. Participants are expected to attend two Pre-Trip Meetings. Estimated trip duration: 7:00 AM Sat. to 4 PM Sun.
Cost includes: van transportation, on-the-river food, hotel at the end of the trip, group camping equipment, river bags, paddling jackets, canoes, kayaks, and paddling gear. Space is limited to the first 12 people that sign up, so don’t delay.
For more info, click on BuffaloNR.web.5.13d for a colorful pdf.
Trip Information
Most trips are designed for a small group of people (10-12), and many of the trips require no previous experience. The fee for each trip covers the activity, transportation, in-camp food, camping fees, and group equipment. For more information, look for flyers around campus or stop by the Outdoor Recreation Center (along Children’s Way and the Intramural Fields behind the Student Recreation Center) during rental hours. This is also where trip sign-up takes place. Trips are open to all VU students, faculty, staff, and Rec. Center members. Alcohol is not permitted on any trip.