6 clubs December 1, 2010 + Over the Edge Spotlight: The Outdoors Club Bringing the Adventure to UNBC EMILY GAUVIN CLUBS EDITOR The winter wonderland has finally graced our backyard and now it is time to gear up and explore all its wonders. The Outdoors Club is currently in the process of planning the winter season trip schedule, but they aren’t leaving for the Christmas break before having a little fun. Just last week the Outdoors club led a snowshoeing expedition along the fresh powdered snow, and as soon as the ski hills open up their golden gates, they'll be all over that as well. Senan Griffin, president of the Outdoors Club is UNBC’S very own Indiana Jones. Adventure seems to follow him everywhere he goes. Whether he’s clicking his hiking boots along British Columbia’s Rockies or ice picking his way to the top of a mountain, Sennan Griffin can do it all. There is no better man to be the face of the Outdoors Club. The Club focuses on creating a community with people who are interested in outdoor activities. Whether it’s snowboarding, skiing, rock-climbing, hiking, or ice climbing, the club is open to meet any flavour flave. All you need is 5 dollars to join and a ‘can-do’ attitude. The club has provided a great gear locker so really you have no excuse not to come out. Already the club has had a very successful school kickoff trip to Jasper where over 30 people were in attendance. Who doesn’t love the great outdoors? Surrounded by mountains, with the fresh smell of pine, and in good company of friends to enjoy around the campfire. Is this not why so many of us chose to go to school in the north? It couldn’t have been UNBC’s great academic reputation. Not an outdoor lover, then perhaps try UBC and you can see the city wildlife of crows and pigeons picking at a homeless man, while waiting at a bus stop smelling the mixture of oriental foods. Living in the north we are fortunate to partake in so many outdoor activities all season. Our campus backyard is really an open range for our exploration, which is why the Outdoors Club is open to anyone and everyone interested. Ice climbing and rock climbing mountains may sound a little intimidating to first timers to of these outdoor activities, but Senan assures us that 80% of the club is beginner to complete beginner. In fact, Senan Griffin says some of the most extreme things the clubs does is some of the beginner rock climbing and at times things can get a little ‘spicy’ (sounds fun!). But don’t worry, everyone pulls through. So what sort of fun can we look forward to from the Outdoors Club? Senan shared one of his more extreme outdoor experiences: We went to Smithers 2 years ago, and | was getting really into snowboarding and getting into my snowboarding skills. Before, | would just sort of go and stay within my limits, but now it was blossoming more into a passion and this was the year it was really starting to take off. So we went to Smithers and | was trying to keep up with some of the better riders. | was off by myself in the trees on sort of a steep run and there was a little kicker, and when you landed you had to pull a sharp turn to avoid a tree. So, | went off the kicker, which was, and | landed. But when | went to cut right | cut to early assuming it was powder. | saw a hump which turned out to be a stump under the powder and my snowboard slammed into it. | catapulted and landed on my back on a log. At first | thought | broke my back and | quickly looked down praying | could still wiggle my toes. When they wiggled | was sooo happy. | was lying on the ground laughing and screaming into the woods. But the whole right side of my back swelled up into a blue and red plate thing, and | had to get it checked out with the doctor, and make sure that my kidneys weren’t damaged. In the end, all was OK. Just another story to add to the good times with the Outdoors Club. The Club doesn’t just stay local here in Prince George either. This club has no borders. Since most activities take place over weekend trips, many of the activities span from anywhere 4 hours in and out of the area. In fact, the next upcoming anticipated trip will be a trip to Smithers in the New Year. A ski weekend, where one can kick it ‘disaster relief style’, and sleep in a school or church for the weekend while enjoying the great outdoors of Smithers. Keep an eye out for some of the Outdoors Club upcoming events; they will be holding a pub night soon and raising money to expand their gear locker. They are conduit with other outdoors local connections, so are always finding new expeditions for the club. If you are looking to take a break from the books and take a breath of the fresh northern air, add a little adventure to your life, especially since Senan states “to really see what the club is A Fair Trade Christmas WUSC hosts its annual Fair Trade Christmas Sale =f UNBC OUTDOORS CLUB a ‘The outdoors club doing scary stuff about, it’s not really what happens during the day, it’s about what happens at the end of the day around the camp fire or in the cabin where you can witness what the club is really about’. SHELBY PETERSEN ‘The Local Chapter of the World University Service Canada Club (WUSC) hosted their annual Fair Trade Christmas Sale on November 26. UNBC students were treated to an array of products from Tenthou- sand Villages and Coco Camino.