University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

Page 20 text:

TOP Gathering around the basin, senior Chanel Pennington explained different aspects of the Lost Valley Trail at Buffalo National River. BOTTOM LEFT Throughout the hike, students could see wildlife all around and enjoy the peace that surrounded the outdoors. BOTTOM RIGHT UA student Eunsoo Cho posed inside of a hollowed-out tree for photos. Many students used these trips as opportunities to meet new people and make new friends.

Page 19 text:

Excitement about Razorback football inherently comes being a student of the University of Arkansas. Razor- 3ck home game Saturdays are a very important facet of e regional culture, and people from across the state and e V°nd inundate the UA campus to attend the games. For avid student fans, camping was an integral part of e a ur day experience. The Friday before the Razorbacks P a yed against Alabama, hundreds of campers set up tents a nd slept overnight. In the course of their stay, they had to endure rain and chilly wind. Basically, the group of friends that I’m with, we always camp out in the front before all of the games,” senior Justin a nsen said. “We just camp out to make sure we get the r °nt spots.” Camping also provided a unique social event, as many stu- ents set up tent together or next to each other. Hansen and is group of nearly 20 friends camped out before as many games as they could. “We did it all last year and this year too,” Hansen said. It’s a lot of fun just hanging out there and seeing all of what’s going on.” However, for some camping wasn’t seen as a welcome social ritual but instead as a chore that must be done to get the seats they want. “I didn’t want the nosebleed seats I would’ve gotten if I had tried to show up that morning,” senior Sam Tucker said. “I think allowing people to camp is unfair to students that work. Some of us don’t have time to sit in tents for days. My freshman year, you didn’t have to show up until about two hours before they opened the gates to get great seats.” The football season’s disappointing performance caused some campers to decide against a repeat. Tucker said he didn’t plan on camping out again, but for others, such as Hansen, dedication to the Razorbacks wasn’t swayed by winning or losing, as he’d continue to camp for as many games as possible.

Page 21 text:

STUDENT LIE! HPER DAY TRIPS 21 FUN FOR LESS The HPER Outdoor Connection Center has worked for years to provide students with cheap athletic activities such as clinics, day trips and even weekend excursions. For those who desired a week-long adventure, the Outdoor Connection Center hosted larger, more action- packed trips. During Thanksgiving Break, students set out for a $550 journey to the Grand Canyon, where they took part in a week-long backpacking trip. “The $550 covers things like food, transportation and equipment,” Jonathan Vogler, coordinator for the Outdoor Connection Center, said. For Vogler, the Grand Canyon trip continued to be his favorite because of the diversity of students involved. “It’s always great to see so many people from different places come together,” Vogler said. Regular day trips ranged anywhere from six to 50 people, and the cost of these activities (not including larger trips such as the Grand Canyon) were anywhere from $15 to $40. “Students can register at the start of the semester, when the activities are posted online,” Vogler explained. To register, one could simply visit the Outdoor Connection Center, located in room 102 of the HPER. All questions were encouraged, and the staff remained available Monday through Friday as well as Sundays. Traveling as a group through the university certainly had its benefits, as group rates were provided for students. “Positions are filled on a first-come-first-save basis, and no experience is necessary to participate,” Vogler said. The Outdoor Connection Center provided a wide range of activities and events for students over the years. If students preferred athletic adventures, they were encouraged to join their peers on kayaking, hiking, cycling and mountain biking trips. Non-athletic events included activities such as the Backcountry Cooking Clinic, the Banff Mountain Film Tour and the Kayak Demo and Film Festival. No matter what interests a student might have, joining the Outdoor Connection Center for its frequently-held events proved to be an inexpensive and fun way to get involved on campus. STORY Elise Warner PHOTOS GunnarRathbun DESIGN Olivia Jones