Outdoor Connection Center Offering Variety of Spring Break Trips

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University Recreation’s Outdoor Connection Center is offering three trips for students, faculty, staff, and UREC members during spring break. Cost includes transportation, permits, equipment, food in the backcountry and trained trip leaders. The deadline to register for all spring break trips is Tuesday, March 5.

The Outdoor Connection Center will be traveling to the smoky mountain range in North Carolina from March 16-23. This trip is open to all experience levels. Days will be filled with backcountry hiking and camping with day hikes to beautiful overlooks and waterfalls. The cost for the trip is $399 for students and $449 for university (faculty, staff, UREC members).

The Outdoor Connection Center is also offering a trip to go mountain biking in Moab, UT from March 16-23. On the way to Moab, the group will stop in Fruita, Colo., to take a bonus ride. Once in Moab, the group will camp under the stars alongside the Colorado River and drive or ride to new trails each day. A mid-week rest day will consist of some day hikes through nearby Arches National Park. The trip is suitable for most skill levels. Participants should be prepared to ride between 10-20 miles of trail per day. Cost is $399 for students and $449 for university (faculty, staff, UREC members).

If you want to have fun as well as serve the great Natural State over spring break, join the Outdoor Connection Center's staff for trail building and canoeing at the Buffalo National Park from March 17-22. One of the trip leaders will be Ken Smith, who is the Buffalo National River’s conservationist and park planner. Smith has been a trail designer/builder for over 20 years. He is also the author of several books including the Buffalo River Handbook. Smith was an instrumental part of the movement to stop the corps of engineers from damming the river. The group will leave Sunday, March 17, and go to the Tyler Bend camping area. Participants will spend Sunday afternoon through Tuesday, March 19, building and constructing trail. With the help of the university group and other volunteers nationwide, the trail will hopefully be completed by summer 2013. The week will finish by enjoying the bluffs, wildlife and emerald blue water, canoeing Wednesday, March 20, through Friday, March 22. Cost for the trip is $199 for students and $249 for university (faculty, staff, UREC members).

For more information on any of these spring break trips, contact Jonathan at jwvogle@uark.edu or 575-6865. Trip spots are limited, so sign up today in HPER Room 102.