■ The Outdoor Program provides chances to get
outside and is working to protect the playground
Susan Monahan
for the Emerald
The weather is gorgeous.
The air has that springtime
smell, and everyone on cam
pus is just itching to get out
side and bathe in it all.
Naturally, the Outdoor Pro
gram knows its cue — what
better time to give students an
easy ticket to experiencing
some of the priceless environ
mental resources that sur
round them?
The Outdoor Program is us
* ing the upcoming Earth Week
festivities to get its message
out there: t® introduce novices
• to the great outdoors, to em
power students to group to
gether and to care for nature
that is taken for granted far too
much.
“Once students get out there
and hike in one of the few un
logged areas around Eugene, it
makes them wonder why
more areas were not saved,”
said Darcy Davis, a leader in
the Outdoor Program. “We
hope to get more UO students
involved in the protection of
the environment.”
Davis helped coordinate en
vironmental awareness activi
ties for Earth Week. She, to
gether with the Earth Week
Alliance composed of repre
sentatives from four other en
vironmentally active campus
organizations, worked hard to
get the student body’s atten
tion and inform them of the
Outdoor Program.
The group’s office sits in the
comer of the EMU, and inside
is the “trip wall,” a billboard
listing all the potential excur
sions for the week. It’s really as
simple as signing your name to
a clipboard, and you’re set to
travel.
A couple of trip leaders —
who could be any students —
volunteer their expertise and
take on the organizational du
ties of the trip. Got an urge to
go rafting on the McKenzie
River? Just contribute money
for gas and food, attend a brief
pre-trip meeting and sign your
name under a poster that may
read “Tuesday — Rafting:
Anyone interested in playing
hooky?”
Davis pointed out the ad
vantages for students who
travel with her organization.
“It’s so much easier and less
expensive,” she said. “With
us, a day of rafting on the
McKenzie may cost $15. Try to
do it with a tour group down
there and you could spend
$85.”
This non-profit organization
stresses that they are not a club
but merely an establishment
that brings together students
who have an interest in the
outdoors. Still, strong bonds
are made among the students,
which is why Davis and the
Outdoor Program have be
come so involved in ecological
awareness and Earth Week.
For those who want to get
their hands dirty and make a
difference in honor of Earth
Day, the group hosts trips to
the coast for projects like the
Oregon Beach Cleanup.
Scheduled for May 4-7 is the
popular Rogue River Cleanup,
sponsored through donations
from local businesses. Stu
dents ship trash up and out of
the river and its banks. Al
though the sign-up list for the
10th annual event filled up
quickly, don’t be discouraged
— the Outdoor Program spon
sors countless other projects
similar to this one.
The Outdoor Program had a
table set up at the EMU Am
phitheater along with other
environmental groups advo
cating Earth Week, and Davis
said the environment is her
passion. To her, success with
Earth Week would mean “get
ting more students to learn
about the issues, drawing in
outsiders and really causing
them to discuss things.”
So, enjoy the spring, enjoy
the weather, enjoy the out
doors — hey, it’s almost Earth
Day. The Outdoor Program just
doesn’t want you to take it for
granted.
{ { Once students get out
there and hike in one of
the few unlogged areas
around Eugene, it makes
them wonder why more
a teas were not saved.
Darcy Davis
leader, Outdoor Program
—
Catharine Kendall Emerald
Safety Library Coordinator for the Outdoor Program Katie Higgins un
packs digital cell phones, donated to the program by AT&T. These phones
have longer lasting batteries and longer talk time, beneficial to backpack
ers traveling in the wilderness.
IZ66800
SWING INTO
SPRING!
SPRING RATES
M-Hl $16 [9 holes] $29 [18 holes]
Students and Seniors
F-Sun $18 [9 holes] $34 [18 holes]
Students and Seniors
$20 anytime with Student I.D.
Check out Traditions
Restaurant now open for
Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
EMERALD
VALLEY
83301 Dale Kuni Rd.
Creswell, OR 97426
CALL 541.895.2174 FOR TEE TIMES
r
Every day is Earth Day at the EMU!
Bring in your own mug or cup and get 20( Off the
price ot any coffee, tea or fountain soda purchased at
the following locations:
Greatful Bread»EAU Main floor
Buzz Coffeehouse ► EAU Ground floor
Erb Essentials Store►EAU Ground floor
AAA Cafe»Lawrence Hall
Atrium Cafe ► Willamette Hall
Daily Grind ► Knight Library
EMU
ERB MEMORIAL UNION
009139
every
day!
C©me
celebrate
Barth
Day
with f©Ik
wh© d©
At the Holy Cow Cafe,
we try to live up to the
ideals of Earth Day with
every plate of food
we serve.
This Saturday, join us
on the EMU East lawn
for two of our best-loved
dishes - Pad Thai
noodles & Indian
Soulfood Plate.
Viva Earth Day!
Viva organic food!
CAPE
Real food, fast!