The opening of the Auburn Recreation and Wellness Center last fall brought about a renewed sense of health and well-being to Auburn students.
From the new basketball courts, to the suspended indoor running track and brand new workout equipment, and even the opportunity to play virtual golf, the facility seemed as if it had everything it could possibly have to offer.
False.
As part of the Recreation and Wellness Center, Auburn Outdoors is a new program associated with a rock climbing wall, bouldering cave and the new Auburn Outdoor Rental Shop.
Tucked away in the bottom floor of the recreation center, students strap themselves in and begin the ascent up the rock wall.
The rock wall, which also opened last fall, offers students a different way to go about working out.
The wall, full of foot and hand holds, tests one's strengths, awareness and agility, and also requires strategic thinking.
Ranging from a level of 5.6-5.13, climbers of all levels are welcome to climb the rock wall.
Students can climb the rock wall three times under staff supervision prior to having to register for a Rock Climbing Fundamentals class, which Auburn Outdoors offers every Tuesday and Wednesday.
"It's a two hour class from 5-7 p.m.," said Rusty Cooper, coordinator for Auburn Outdoors. "We review all of the necessary material that anyone needs to know to be able to climb safely at our wall, including knot tying, belaying, how to use the equipment properly, etc."
After completing the class, participants take a test and are then able to climb alone or with a friend without having to have a staff member to belay the climber.
"We really encourage people to take those classes," Cooper said. "They're free, and it's helping really to develop those skills so that you could go somewhere else and climb, rather than just have someone belaying you and not learning anything."
Harnesses and shoes can be rented at the station located next to the wall; however, students are permitted to bring their own gear.
Last semester, the rock climbing wall was host to more than 5,000 students.
While the rock climbing wall is a large part of Auburn Outdoors, the remaining part is what sets it apart from anything Auburn University has offered in the past.
Down a long hallway and behind closed doors lies what appears to be an outdoorsman's store, or dream come true, rather.
Lining the walls and covering the ground are approximately 1,500 items for rent for Auburn's 24,000 students and faculty.
From tents to canoes to kayaks to mountain bikes, Auburn Outdoors has almost anything outdoorsmen could think of.
"We have close to 1,500 items for students to rent," said Jennifer Hazelrigs, assistant director of Outdoor and Campus Recreation. "That includes sleeping bags, tents, mountain bikes, backpacks, stoves and everything you would need for the outdoors. The rental prices are very affordable."
Hazelrigs said Auburn Outdoors provides affordable rental prices to students.
"A lot of folks might have canoed their whole life, but they live in the dormitory and they're not going to let you store a canoe in there," Hazelrigs said. "So, you can check one out for the weekend for $27. That comes with life jackets and paddles and straps and everything."
While all of Auburn Outdoors rental items are affordable, some major items to note include (for a 1-2 day rental), a five person Front Country tent for $10, a WW Kayak set for $14 and a mountain bike with a helmet and lock for $18.
While Auburn outdoors offers 1,500 items to rent, as well as the rock wall, the program also offers classes and trips in order to bring students together and teach them how to utilize the items available for rent.
"For folks that want to meet other people who have the same interest as them, or who want to try a new mode of travel, they can sign up for one of our trips online or come in here to Auburn outdoors," Hazelrigs said. "We provide all of the transportation. If it's a back country experience away from parking lots, we provide all of the backcountry meals, instruction, and equipment to get folks exposed to some different ways of travel."
Major upcoming trips offered by Auburn Outdoors include:
Feb. 14: Mountain biking trip ($10)
March 1: Climbing trip ($30)
March 22: Whitewater kayaking trip ($15)
April 12-13: Backpacking trip ($45)
For more information on Auburn Outdoors and what it has to offer, visit CWS.Auburn.edu/CampusRec/cm/AuburnOutdoors/Home.
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