Stay updated on University’s Adventure Recreation getaway trips

Sudyen Navarrete/Staff writer

The Wellness & Recreation Center at the Modesto A. Maidique Campus celebrates its 10-year anniversary. But the center’s Adventure Recreation program has been active for over 12 years.

The program offers opportunities for students to socialize outdoors and experience getaway trips outside the University.

According to the program’s website, it allows students to visit a certain place and enjoy what’s there — all at a discounted price.

Previous trips include airboat riding in the Everglades, going to shark valley, bike-riding, snorkeling, sea-fishing at night-time and paddle boarding at the Biscayne Bay Campus, said Robert Frye, WRC director at the main campus.

The program began in Spring 2002, back when the wellness center was known as the Student Fitness Center and was located inside the arena.

According to Frye, the program works differently than at other universities around the country.

“We piggy-back on existing programs,” he said. “We don’t have a staff of our own people who actually run the trips. Instead, we negotiate with trip providers and arrange the transportation and promote the trips. Once students make it to their destination, local staff take care of them.”

University staff and the general public are allowed to go on the trips if they pay full price.

“We always have a few of our own staff just to be there and help supervise the trip,” Frye said.

This year’s upcoming trips include water rafting in Georgia, football tickets for a Dolphin’s game against the Houston Texas and horseback riding in Davie.

The prices vary depending on the location of the trip.

Overall, the whitewater rafting is $300 for University students and $325 for the general public. Horseback riding is $40 for students and $55 for the general public and Dolphin tickets are $35 for students and $40 for the public.  But after a certain deadline, prices increase.

Costs include transportation and for the out-of-state trips, it includes hotel and equipment rental.

The costs for students and other participants help the program defray part of the expenses — according to Frye.

“If anybody wants to go somewhere, we’re open to suggestions and we’ll always try to look into it,” said Michael Prociuk, assistant director of intramural and club sports.

Frye said that the first thing they do is check into the levels of risk to assure safety. Then, they check if it’s affordable or not.

Prociuk said that the trips always tend to fill up — depending on its destination.

“The trips are limited in numbers, like the White Water rafting is limited to 20 students and the snow-ski trip was 48,” he said. “Each trip kind of varies with how many students are allowed to go.”

Adrian Pichs, junior liberal studies major, has never taken part in the program, but would consider experiencing it.

“However, I am also concerned about safety because I can get hurt if I do an extreme sport without knowing how,” she said.

Breylis Riech, freshman chemistry major, thinks that money for these trips are no longer a burden, due to lower prices.

“I believe it’s an amazing program because any student or family is able to travel and learn through different means,” said Riech.

“[The mission] is to get students exposed to nature and outdoors,” said Frye, “For example, many students have never seen snow before and with our snow-ski trip they get to experience that.”

Prociuk agrees and thinks it’s a great way for students to make friends and get away from school.

“It’s a stress-relief for students,” Prociuk said. “It gives them an opportunity to see and experience new things.”

sudyen.navarrete@fiusm.com

Image courtesy of Creative Commons

Be the first to comment on "Stay updated on University’s Adventure Recreation getaway trips"

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*