Posted 7:02 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, 2011
People dream of recreating in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, but the La Crosse area is home to many of its own breathtaking views. UW-La Crosse's Outdoor Connection provides the resources to get outdoors and explore.
[caption id="attachment_2501" align="alignleft" width="268" caption="UW-L graduate student Jarod Meyer tries out a bike at Outdoor Connection as staff, Anna DeMers, right, and Nathan Barnhart, left, help out."]
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People dream of recreating in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, but the La Crosse area is home to many of its own breathtaking views. Trailheads that lead to bluffs and Mississippi backwaters are just minutes from campus, said Nathan Barnhart, assistant director of UW-L Recreational Sports.
“We have so many cool outdoor recreation places that are so close. People should be taking advantage of them,” Barnhart explains. “You can be doing it instead of dreaming about it.”
Outdoor Connection, an outdoor equipment rental service located in the Recreational Eagle Center, provides the resources to get outdoors. Equipment rental is open to everyone.
Outdoor Connection offers:
Bikes and helmets
In-line skates
Kayaks and canoes
Camping equipment such as tents, sleeping bags and cook kits
Caving equipment
Backpacks
Frisbee golf sets and other backyard games
And much more
Staff at Outdoor Connection are also available to answer questions such as potential biking and canoeing routes to take based on skill level and the season as well as what to bring.
[caption id="attachment_2598" align="alignright" width="259" caption="Students taking English as a Second Language went on a bike ride using bikes rented from Outdoor Connection"]
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Carrie Melin, an associate lecturer, took eight English as a Second Language students out on bikes rented from Outdoor Connection in April. While learning some new English terms, Melin showed students the rules of the road, the city of La Crosse, area trails and basic bike riding skills such as how to lock a bike.
Outdoor Connection staff also organize expeditions to go caving, paddling, backpacking, horseback riding and more. They offer outdoors skills training and clinics.
“It’s a great resource for our students,” Melin said. “They make it so easy.”
Green Bike Program: Keeping bikes out of the dump
Have an old bike you have no use for? Even if it’s not in working order, you can donate it to Outdoor Connection, which will fix it to rent or recycle it.
“We’ll keep it out of the dump,” said Nathan Barnhart, assistant director of UW-L Recreational Sports.
A pile of about of about 50 bicycles is awaiting repair outside the Recreational Eagle Center. Some will get new chains; others will receive new tubes and other repairs. Outdoor Connection rents the repaired bikes for $15 for as long as people need to use them, plus a $25 to $50 deposit. Bikes that cannot be repaired are stripped of plastic parts and recycled. Currently several bikes are available for rent.
Outdoor Connection is open every day of the week. Check out the hours and more.
Call Outdoor Connection at 608.785.8860
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People dream of recreating in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, but the La Crosse area is home to many of its own breathtaking views. Trailheads that lead to bluffs and Mississippi backwaters are just minutes from campus, said Nathan Barnhart, assistant director of UW-L Recreational Sports.
“We have so many cool outdoor recreation places that are so close. People should be taking advantage of them,” Barnhart explains. “You can be doing it instead of dreaming about it.”
Outdoor Connection, an outdoor equipment rental service located in the Recreational Eagle Center, provides the resources to get outdoors. Equipment rental is open to everyone.
Outdoor Connection offers:
Bikes and helmets
In-line skates
Kayaks and canoes
Camping equipment such as tents, sleeping bags and cook kits
Caving equipment
Backpacks
Frisbee golf sets and other backyard games
And much more
Staff at Outdoor Connection are also available to answer questions such as potential biking and canoeing routes to take based on skill level and the season as well as what to bring.
[caption id="attachment_2598" align="alignright" width="259" caption="Students taking English as a Second Language went on a bike ride using bikes rented from Outdoor Connection"][/caption]
Carrie Melin, an associate lecturer, took eight English as a Second Language students out on bikes rented from Outdoor Connection in April. While learning some new English terms, Melin showed students the rules of the road, the city of La Crosse, area trails and basic bike riding skills such as how to lock a bike.
Outdoor Connection staff also organize expeditions to go caving, paddling, backpacking, horseback riding and more. They offer outdoors skills training and clinics.
“It’s a great resource for our students,” Melin said. “They make it so easy.”
Green Bike Program: Keeping bikes out of the dump
Have an old bike you have no use for? Even if it’s not in working order, you can donate it to Outdoor Connection, which will fix it to rent or recycle it.
“We’ll keep it out of the dump,” said Nathan Barnhart, assistant director of UW-L Recreational Sports.
A pile of about of about 50 bicycles is awaiting repair outside the Recreational Eagle Center. Some will get new chains; others will receive new tubes and other repairs. Outdoor Connection rents the repaired bikes for $15 for as long as people need to use them, plus a $25 to $50 deposit. Bikes that cannot be repaired are stripped of plastic parts and recycled. Currently several bikes are available for rent.
Outdoor Connection is open every day of the week. Check out the hours and more.
Call Outdoor Connection at 608.785.8860