Venturing outdoors

When students feel like they’ve run out of things to do, Bloomington has a variety of different outdoor activities students can take part in, through IU programs or simply on their own.

The closest lake to campus is Griffy Lake, about five miles from campus at 3500 N. Hinkle Road, equipped with hiking trails as well as water gear and boat rentals, according to the City of Bloomington Web site.

For students willing to travel a bit farther, there are many other lakes, such as Lake Monroe, Lake Lemon and McCormick’s Creek State Park.

McCormick’s Creek State Park, located about 14 miles west of Bloomington, is not just an average park with playground equipment. It features a swimming pool, more than 10 miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, a nature center, tennis courts, fishing and a saddle barn for anyone interested in pony rides, according to the park’s Web site.

Lake Lemon, located about 10 miles from Bloomington, is an artificial reservoir that is open for water skiing, boating, fishing and swimming. It is also home to the IU Women’s and Club Rowing Teams.

Finally, there’s Lake Monroe, Indiana’s largest lake.

“Lake Monroe is probably the most-visited lake in the summer,” said Marty Dunson, a representative from Indiana’s Division of State Parks and Reservoirs.

Lake Monroe offers boating, fishing, swimming, camping, hotel lodging and numerous restaurants to satisfy the needs of its visitors, according to the lake’s Web site.

However, if these locations are a bit inaccessible, IU offers an alternative to getting away with Outdoor Adventures. This is the most easily accessible outdoor-savvy store on campus, and is located right in the Union by the bowling alley and Burger King.

The store offers equipment for basically anything students would want to do outdoors, but it also offers opportunities to take trips all over the Midwest, said Alex Topper, IU junior and Outdoor Adventures employee.

“Our trip prices are usually enough to just cover the trip, and usually go on the bursar bill,” Topper said.

Sarah Jane Pepper, a former Outdoor Adventures employee who now leads trips through a program in Alaska, said they also partners with Hoosier Heights, 5100 S. Rogers St., an indoor gym that offers classes, rock climbing and an escape from the stressful college life.

Specifically for freshmen, Outdoor Adventures partners with Residential Programs and Services for orientation trips.

Dave Frost, custom experience coordinator for Outdoor Adventures said these trips, called IUBeginnings, range from kayaking to climbing to white-water rafting in places such as Michigan, North Carolina and Tennessee, with the average price being about $350.

“When I was in college I didn’t take advantage of a lot of these opportunities,” he said.

“It’s a great way to get to know yourself as well as trying different things, and that’s what I think college is all about.”

More affordable weekend trips, such as caving in Southern Indiana or kayaking at Indiana Dunes, average around $125, Frost said. Students can also sign up for skills courses through the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation and learn how to snowboard or white-water raft, in addition to receiving college credit.

Frost said many students who go on the trips end up wanting to learn how to lead trips in the future.

“A lot of times people learn what they don’t like,” he said. “If you get involved in one of these activities you might find something that you love doing.”