18 ' THE SEAHAWK/AUGUST 24^2000 Discover the outdoors AMY LQWDER Staff writer The Discover Outdoor Center is the university’s one stop shop for outdoor adventure. Located in the new Student Recreation Center, Discover offers a variety of services to students, faculty and staff includ ing adventure trips, kayak pro grams, challenge courses, equip ment rentals, an ever-expanding resource center and the soon-to-be- open indoor climbing wall. Accord ing to Discover Outdoor Center in tern Jamey Shine, the center’s mission is to provide quality adven ture recreation experiences and to be used as a resource center in that process. Discover has taken advantage of Wilmington’s close proximity to the Appalacian Mountains by planning several adventure trips throughout the semester, including overnight backpacking, hiking and rock climbing excursions, as well as day trips to locales closer to home. “We’ve got a lot of really cool things going on: the opening of the new climbing wall in the student recreation center, all the new trips coming up, we’re working on the challenge course and working with the new students training to be on our staff,” said Debo Cox, Assis tant Director of Campus Recreation/ Outdoor Recreation. For those not afraid of getting wet. Discover offers a variety of kayak adventures. Programs in clude basic and roll clinics, kayak day tours, and kayak camping. Kayak basic clinics cover informa tion and skills needed to get started in the sport of kayaking and serve as a pre-requisite to kayak roll clin ics. These 2-hour clinics are held on campus at the Trask Natatorium several times throughout the semes ter. The clinics cost $7. Kayak days tours and camping trips utilize the area’s many rivers and tidal wet lands and give students the oppor tunity to explore the wildlife and ecology of these unique ecosystems. “This is such a great area for pad dling, we don't really have to go very far,” Cox said. Planned paddling trips include Bear Island, near Hammock’s Beach, sections of the Cape Fear river and Fort Fisher. All trips require registration and are on a first come, first served ba sis. Full payment is due upon signup. A complete schedule of trips and prices can be obtained by visit ing the Discover Outdoor Center or its website. Several Challenge 2000 High Ropes Course Play Days are sched uled for the fall semester. Partici pants can experience the 35 foot climbing tower, zip line and other exciting high ropes course ele ments. Challenge courses may be scheduled for individual groups such as university clubs,'^ororities and fraternities and are effective in developing leadership skills, team building, self awareness, communi cation skills and problem solving. The Discover Outdoor Center also serves as a resource center for adventurers planning their own ex peditions and provides information about outdoor activities and popu lar destinations. The center main tains current intership, volunteer and professional job opportunity listings in parks and recreation for a diversity of majors. A computer center furnishes visitors with internet access and a program pro viding up-to-date weather, current and tide information for any loca tion on the southeastern coast of the United States. In addition to informational re sources, the center provides quality outdoor gear including backpacks, tents, sleeping bags and cooking equipment for rent. A complete price list can be obtained at the cen ter. The long-awaited completion and opening of the indoor rock climb ing wall located in the new Student Recreation Center is anticipated for the first week of October. The 3- panel wall offers over 1,600 square feet of artificial climbing surface textured and colored to replicate North Carolina granite. Routes will range in difficulty from beginner to expert and will have the capacity to support several climbers at the same time. Use of the wall will be free to UNCW students, faculty and staff. Climbing equipment and shoes will be available for rent at a nominal cost through the Discover Outdoor Center. For more information, including schedules and costs, stop by the Discover Outdoor Center Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or give them a call at (910) 962-4052. mmowEmowm smBirm SI MIIIISTRIES tail 11:11 Jesus said, ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.' John 10:10 The decision of what to do with the rest of ow lives cai be overwhelmir^. We spend lives lookif^ far answers i sometimes never seem to find them. Come join other collegt students as we learn how to face these REAL LIFE issues and ultimately point to the One who offers REAL LIFE. Free feedf Ua IK tkk ftwtrftr *** hmduta. fiiMsaiiigHflBuedtitttltaiamM Sunday 9:45a.m. College Bibue Study 1 1:00a.m. Mormng Worship 6:30p.m. Evening Worship Wednesday 7:00p.m. CROSSSEEKERSrOR College Students FmkmBapistChuftit Jason Hears, Minister to Students 802 N.Coliege Road WikRiflgtofl.NC 28405 (JustUMUcs North of UNCW) 910-79M898 reallifegfreedonibaptistorg