Outdoor Leadership Series
Our Outdoor Leadership Series offers University Scholars a variety of ways to develop their leadership skills, challenge themselves and gain confidence with the new and unknown. All trips offered through our Series feature small groups and are led by experienced guides. Group discussion and individual reflection play an important role in each experience. From hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains to kayaking the Outer Banks, from exploring the depths of Roberts Cave to hang gliding at Kitty Hawk, our students can participate in a wide range of trips that stretch their curiosity, communication, and courage. To see pictures from our recent trips, visit our Scholars Scrapbook page.

The events associated with the Outdoor Leadership Series are directed at the following three objectives:

• To give students a venue to explore their curiosity of the natural world
• To foster students' confidence with the uncomfortable and unfamiliar
• To cultivate students' understanding of themselves and their capacity for compassion in relating to others
  

Upcoming OLS Trips:

Mexican/U.S. Border Wilderness & Service Learning (Click here for an application)
Friday, March 2 - Saturday, March 10
Cost: $900
Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 11
Information Meeting: Wednesday, November 30, 6pm, Lee Classroom
Trip Overview: This trip includes both a wilderness experience, hiking and camping in the 8,000 ft. mountains of Saguaro National Park, and a service learning experience with Fronteras de Cristo in the border region of Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico. During a few months each spring, the 8000 ft. Rincon Mountains of Saguaro  National Park are a beautifully bizarre mix of cacti and waterfalls, desert vistas and dense foliage, including the iconic cactus of the southwest, the Saguaro. The only way to access much of this terrain is by foot. We will  backpack in Saguaro National Park’s Rincon Mountains Wilderness Area for 4 days, hiking approximately 30 miles. Our group will then spend 4 days in the region south of Tucson, AZ with governmental and non-profit organizations on both sides of the border learning about economic, historical, legal, and practical aspects of border and immigration issues, which will include service in a variety of contexts. We will fly in and out of Phoenix, Arizona, and a valid U.S. Passport is required. The trip will cost $900, due at time of acceptance. Participants will need to supply some gear.  Gear of a very high quality can be rented at a low cost at the NCSU Outdoor Storehouse. There will also be a series of mandatory pre-trip meetings scheduled at the time of acceptance. Note: We are regularly monitoring safety issues in Mexico and are prepared to revise portions of the trip, if necessary, to ensure the safety of USP students. Please contact Chester Brewer for more information at ckbrewe2@ncsu.edu or call 919-513-0704. More information is also available in a presentation online.

Day Cycle on the Reedy Creek Greenway (Click here for an application)
Saturday, March 31
Cost: $10
Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 29
This event will start in the Sullivan parking lot and head down to the NC Museum of Art via the Reedy Creek Greenway path for a picnic lunch. Cost for the event is $10, lunch is included, and group size is limited to 10. So if you are pumped about exploring town on a bike - this is the trip for you! Applications are online and due by February 29th to Chester Brewer ckbrewe2@ncsu.edu.

Spring Holiday Service Adventure: Pickards Mountain Eco-Institute (Click here for an application)
Thursday, April 5 - Saturday, April 7
Cost: $45
Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 29
If you are interested in organic farming, sustainable food systems, and community building - this is your adventure! We will spend three days working, learning, camping and playing on an incredible organic farm in Carborro, NC. Cost for the trip is $45 and group size is limited to 12. Applications are available online and due by February 29th to Chester Brewer ckbrewe2@ncsu.edu.

Focus on the Night Sky Camping Trip (Click here for an application)
Friday, April 20 - Sunday, Aprill 22
Cost: $45
Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 21
There are precious few places left in North Carolina where the night sky is mostly unaffected by light pollution. Pettigrew State Park in Northeastern NC is one such place. We'll spend two nights here exploring the night sky with the culminating event of the Lyrids Meteor Shower Saturday night. If you've never watched a meteor shower - this will be a truly awesome way to experience one. Cost for the trip is $45 and group size is limited to 10. Applications are available online and due by March 21st to Chester Brewer ckbrewe2@ncsu.edu.

Recent OLS Trips:

Wilderness to Farm: Fall Backpack and Land Stewardship Experience
Thursday, October 6-Saturday, October 8
We left Thursday morning, October 6 and headed to Grandfather Mountain State Park near Linville, NC.  The climate, vegetation and terrain of Grandfather Mountain is some of the most diverse and beautiful found in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The only way to access the vast majority of this region is by foot, and therefore we backpacked on Thursday and Friday, returning to Anatoth Garden near Cedar Grove, NC on Friday evening. Anatoth is directed by a recent NC State graduate and has a wide variety of agricultural land (including an orchard). The farm focuses on sustainable agricultural practices and seeks to involve people from the local community. (http://www.anathothgarden.org/) We joined the workings of the garden for Friday evening and Saturday morning, including consumption of amazingly fresh meals throughout our time there. 

Sea Kayaking the Southern Outerbanks
Friday, September 30-Sunday, October 2
Hammocks Beach State Park is located near Swansboro, NC and provided excellent paddling opportunities in and around the sound.  This trip included paddling to and around Bear Island and throughout the sound around Hammocks Beach.  We left campus on Friday and arrived around 2:30pm.  We packed the boats and began our paddle out to Hammock’s Beach State Park. We spent most of Saturday paddling.  On Sunday, we got up early, broke camp, paddled half the day, and then returned to campus that afternoon.

Canoeing Eastern NC's National Wild and Scenic River: The Lumber (See photos here! Photos courtesy of Tim O'Brien)
Friday, April 1- Sunday, April 3, 2011
Through the beautiful forested swamps and wetlands of the Piedmont, Sand hills and Upper Coastal Plain flows a one of North Carolina's Ten Natural Wonders, the Lumber River. Designated by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a Wild and Scenic river in 1989, the Lumber is the only blackwater river to have this distinction. The preservation of land on each side of the Lumber for over 80 miles creates an extraordinarily rich and diverse ecology mirroring the river's original state. We left on Friday and drove to the Lumber near Princess Anne. We paddled most of the day on Saturday and Sunday, and returned to campus Sunday evening.

"There are always skills to take away from interacting with a group of people who you do not know. Although this experience would have been fun with a large group of friends (and I did have one friend on the trip with me), meeting and getting to know new people is great. I am trying to be more outgoing, especially with people who I do not know, and I got good practice with that throughout the trip. Getting along with and communicating with people are two very important skills, and when you live, camp, and canoe with the same group for 3 days, you need to have or improve on these skills."
- Eric Larsen, Freshman, College of Engineering

Saguaro National Park and Mexican/U.S. Border Wilderness and Service Learning Experience (See photos here!)
Friday, March 4 - Saturday, March 12, 2011
During a few months each spring, the 8000 ft. Rincon Mountains of Saguaro  National Park are a beautifully bizarre mix of cacti and waterfalls, desert vistas and dense foliage, including the iconic cactus of the southwest, the Saguaro. The only way to access much of this terrain is by foot, and so we backpacked for four days in the Rincon Mountain Wilderness. Our group then traveled south to the border region of southern Arizona and Northern Mexico. Over 5 days we met and worked with governmental and non-profit organizations on both sides of the border learning about economic, historical, legal, and practical aspects of border and immigration issues.

"Since I knew so little about the border previously, group conversations helped me digest and understand each new input. Our opportunities ranged from personal interaction with migrants and other involved individuals to upper level, big picture information about the issue as a whole. Each time, it was the group understanding that clarified the significance in my mind. Upon returning to NC. I now have a network of students and leaders who can help support continued involvement in border issues"
- Erin Lineberger, Sophomore, College of Natural Resources

Fall Break Black Mountain Crest Wilderness and Service Learning Experience
Wednesday, October 6 - Sunday, October 10, 2010
We left on Wednesday, October 6 and headed to the Bowlen’s Creek trailhead near the beginning of the Black Mountain Crest.  The climate, vegetation and views of the Black Mountain Range are some of the most diverse and beautiful found in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The only way to access the vast majority of this region is by foot, and therefore we backpacked on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and returned to the town of Black Mountain on Saturday, October 9th. We then spent Saturday and Sunday volunteering at the Veteran’s Rehabilitation Quarters and a safe-house and rehabilitation center for homeless women and children. Both are extremely well run outreaches to people in need from diverse backgrounds.

"It turns out that after this trip, I now really like backpacking. Even though it is challenging, it is very rewarding at the same time. Pushing oneself to the limit physically and overcoming that is something to be proud of and you can't beat the view from the top either! Each person on the trip contributed something different, whether it was viewpoints, personalities, or backgrounds. This made the trip so much more enriching and now I have more friends because of the trip."
- Forrest Kraus, Junior, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Sea Kayaking North Carolina’s Core Banks (See photos here!)
Friday, September 24 - September 26, 2010
Just south of Ocracoke Island and the Outer Banks of North Carolina are a remote chain of barrier islands called the Core Banks. As part of Cape Lookout National Seashore, there are no bridges to or developed roads on these islands. Because boats are the only way to access these islands, they are a wilderness setting in terms of vegetation, animal life, exposure to the elements and land usage history. We left Friday, September 24th, drove to Harker’s Island, loaded our gear into boats and embarked that evening. We paddled most of the day on Saturday and Sunday.

"It was interesting to hear how different everyone was, even though we all shared an interest in kayaking. I think my favorite part of the trip was simply talking and getting to know people as we paddled. I feel like those were the times when everyone really started to bond. I really enjoyed meeting all those people; in fact, I have plans to see a few of them next week."
- Daniel Long, Freshman, College of Engineering

Rocky Mountain Wilderness/Front Range Homeless Issues Experience
Wednesday, June 2 - Thursday, June 10, 2010
This trip included both a wilderness experience in the over 14,000ft. mountains of Central Colorado and a service learning experience in the Front Range cities of Colorado Springs and Denver, CO. We backpacked in Collegiate Peaks Wilderness area of the Gunnison National Forest for 5 days. We then spent 3 days in the Colorado Springs and Denver metro areas with governmental and non-profit organizations learning about economic, historic and practical aspects of homelessness.

Linville Gorge/Peacehaven Wilderness and Farm Experience
Thursday, April 1 - Saturday, April 3, 2010
We left Thursday, April 1st and headed to Linville Gorge Wilderness Area north of Morganton, NC. The climate, vegetation and terrain of Linville Gorge is some of the most diverse and beautiful found in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The only way to access the vast majority of this region is by foot, and therefore we backpacked on Thursday and Friday, returning to Peacehaven Farm near Whitsett, NC on Friday evening. Peacehaven Farm is home to 4 recent NC State (including 2 USP) graduates, and has a wide variety of agricultural land, chickens, cows, pigs, sheep, 3 dogs and a cat named “Boom”. The farm focuses on sustainable agricultural practices and seeks to involve people of all abilities. (www.peacehavenfarm.org) We joined the workings of the farm for Friday evening and Saturday morning, returning to NC State Saturday.

"I slept in a hammock, and didn't really sleep that much. Despite the lack of comfort, that was my favorite part because I watched the stars and moon all night, which were beautiful that night. Being outside for long periods of time is refreshing to me. There is something about nature that reaches my soul in a way nothing else does. At Peacehaven, I loved meeting all kinds of people and sharing in on the work. Coming up against such real people and real struggles make the trivial things in my life seem less real/important. I am compelled to seek some of what I experienced there in my life in Raleigh."

Saguaro National Park and Mexican Border Wilderness and Service Learning Experience (See photos here!)
Friday, March 12-Saturday, March 20, 2010
This trip included both a wilderness experience in the 8000 ft. mountains of Saguaro National Park, and a service learning experience in the border region of southern Arizona and Northern Mexico. We backpacked in the Rincon Mountains Wilderness area for 4 days, then spent 4 days in the region south of Tuscon, AZ with governmental and non-profit organizations on both sides of the border learning about economic, historical, legal, and practical aspects of border and immigration issues.

"The backpacking trip was a success. I felt like a true backpacker; the experience was not glorified or a made-easy backpacking trip. It delivered the raw, bare-bones intensity that I expected from a backpacking trip. The border experience expectations were also thoroughly met. This was due to us living on the border and meeting with organizations/people integrated with the border issues."

Fall Break Black Mountain Crest Wilderness and Service Learning Experience (See photos here! Photos courtesy of Tim O'Brien)
October 7 - 11, 2009
On October 7th we headed into the backcountry with full packs at the Bowlen's Creek trailhead near the beginning of the Black Mountain Crest. The climate, vegetation and views of the Black Mountain Range are some of the most diverse and beautiful found in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The rugged trail and scenery was breathtaking, both due to its beauty and our high level of exhertion. As we crossed over Mt. Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi River, and only two days into the trip, our group was singing, groaning, dancing, moaning and laughing. We then spent Saturday and Sunday volunteering at a Veteran's Rehabilitation Quarters near Black Mountain, NC, where we painted, cooked, built sidewalks, and interacted with veterans of foreign wars who had become homeless. The combination of wilderness and service made for especially quick formation of friendships, and in one participant's words is "a knockout."

"I learned a lot about the students in the University Scholars program. Most forums or events that I have attended have been events that required a quiet, respectful audience. Therefore I really never get to talk to other Scholars. On this trip I learned more about some of the Scholars. They are awesome people!"

Sea Kayaking North Carolina's Core Banks (See photos here! Photos courtesy of Tim O'Brien)
September 18 - 20 and 25 - 27, 2009
Just south of Ocracoke Island and the Outer Banks of North Carolina are a remote chain of barrier islands called Core Banks. As part of Cape Lookout National Seashore, there are no bridges to or developed roads on these islands. Because boating is the only way to access these islands, they are a wilderness setting in terms of vegetation, animal life, exposure to the elements and land usage history. On both of these weekends, we left Friday and drove to Harker's Island, loaded our gear into boats and embarked that evening. We paddled most of the day on both Saturday and Sunday, and returned to NCSU Sunday night. One of the weekends had fairly calm weather, the other weekend was filled with great fluctuations, and sometimes very difficulty weather. One of the quotations below is from the first trip, and one is from the second.

“I learned a lot about myself on this trip. I was really able to push my body past limits of exhaustion…I learn tons about all my new friends from the trip, which is very exciting for me because I love meeting new people. I learned about the tides, currents and winds. Also I learned how to tell time with the shadows and how to find the Big Dipper and the North Star. I even learned names of some of the plants and animals in this environment.”

“I expected sunny, warm kayaking that would be very relaxing and fun, then easy camping at night. These expectations were not met. It was cold, rainy and difficult. I loved it. The tough situations brought out people for who they really were. We bonded well and made great memories. Though my initial expectations were not met, a deeper, more profound pride, sense of accomplishment and self-realization were achieved, which was more than I expected. “

Mountains to Sea Trail/Wilson Creek Wilderness Backpack (See photos here!)
April 3 - 5, 2009
North Carolina's Mountains to Sea Trail runs over 1000 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockey's Ridge on the Outer Banks. 10 of us backpacked through one particularly beautiful (and water filled) section of this trail from Ripshin Ridge near Linville Gorge to Beacon Heights at the base of Grandfather Mountain. An introduction to wilderness travel for adventurous students in the unique Wilson Creek watershed, this trip was filled with opportunities to get to know other University Scholars, personal reflection, sensible challenges, and laughter.

"I was challenged physically through many miles of hiking! I also developed myself further as a person and as a leader. I constantly found myself stepping in at times to help others. I was surprised by the friendships that were made on this trip. Everyone became very close, and I really liked that."
- Pasha Whitmire, first year Textile Engineering major

Mexican/U.S. Border Wilderness and Service Learning Experience (See photos here! Photos courtesy of Tim O'Brien)
February 27 - March 8, 2009
This trip integrated a 4-day wilderness experience in the 8000 ft. mountains of Saguaro National Park with a 5-day service learning experience in the border region of southern Arizona and Northern Mexico. 10 University Scholars backpacked in the Rincon Mountains: understanding the nature of the desert, how they responded to it and getting the know each other; then spent 5 days with governmental and non-profit organizations on both sides of the border learning about economic, historical, legal, and practical aspects of border and immigration issues, including service in a variety of contexts.

"Backpacking first (before service-learning) did a couple of things: 1) Everyone got to know each other and that made things easier/more open during the 2nd half of the trip. 2) We could relate to the desert (and migrants) and its affects on the body. 3) The terrain drastically changed, as did the opinions we heard, places we went, and languages that we spoke. 4) It didn’t matter what we looked like, what we ate, or where we slept, because we had just lived in the desert for 4 days. 5) We all couldn’t walk afterwards, and we joked about it."
- Kenzie Mcbride, third year Civil Engineering major

If you have questions about the OLS trips, please feel free to contact Bengt at 513-0704 or bengt_carlson@ncsu.edu.