Outdoor Adventures settles in Eigenmann space

As a trip leader for IU Outdoor Adventures, junior Jack Brumbaugh guides adventure troops, teaches classes through the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation and aids in outdoor safety.

With the program’s move to Eigenmann Hall, Brumbaugh said there are more resources available for the trips because all of the equipment is in one area.

"Our office is somewhat legitimate now," he said. "The space is designed for us. It makes us feel like a real part of the University. And the boats aren’t in the boiler room anymore."

Outdoor Adventures relocated from the Indiana Memorial Union to a space in Eigenmann at the beginning of the year and opened its doors to the public on Jan. 18, said Ginelle Heller, assistant program coordinator for Outdoor Adventures.

“This space allows us to be much more efficient,” she said. “There’s space to extend retail operations.”

One of the largest improvements, Heller said, is the “boat barn,” which is right next to the program’s office. At the location in the Union, boats were kept in the basement, and renters had to carry them up multiple flights of stairs.

In addition to the boat room, the program’s space also now includes a food room, a lounge and classrooms, Heller said.

“We used to do classes in the IMU in different rooms,” she said. “Or we would do them in our own space. It was just crowded. Now we have larger tables, more chairs, more room to spread out.”

Kim Collins, assistant program coordinator for Outdoor Adventures, said the program recently directed a backpacking trip for 20 people.

“There were 20 people in the food room learning how to pack food,” she said. “And there was plenty of room. Before, we could fit about four people in the food room.”

The winter season is a slower period for Outdoor Adventures because people do not go outside as much, Heller said.

“Generally we see less traffic,” she said. “So it’s hard to gauge if we’re doing better. It’s probably just about normal. But there is more curiosity about our space.”

Collins said though her office is away from the front door, she has heard the doorbell go off “quite a bit.”

“I think we’ve seen a number of people wander in the door,” she said. “But a lot of people can get right up to the door and see a lot; they don’t have to come in.”
Brumbaugh said the move exceeded his expectations.

He said he was worried about the logistics of the move, but it seems to be going well.

“We were in a big transitional phase at the Union,” he said. “And we were growing too big for our space. We’re no longer getting hand-me-downs, which is exciting. It’s indicative of how successful our program is. We’re being rewarded for being bomber people.”