NOVA Outdoors Begins Year Two!

NOVA Outdoors just returned from the first student backpacking trip of the summer. This is the second year of NOVA Outdoors, a project created by Professor Indigo Eriksen in 2023 to increase wilderness access for community college students and foster conversations about creating inclusive outdoor experiences for women, trans, nonbinary, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC students. 

There was a lot of extra special magic on the first trip of Year Two! Professors Karen Murph (AN) and Laura Garcia-Moreyra (AL) joined Indigo, five NOVA students and one NOVA alumna on an incredible weekend in Dolly Sods. They covered 18 miles in three days, cooking and sleeping under the stars. The students learned so much about themselves, communication, self-reliance and self-advocacy, working together and core backpacking skills. One of the favorite lines during the trip was “It was hard, and we did it!” The trip was one of laughter, learning, challenge and story-sharing. 

Earlier in June, NOVA Outdoors hosted its inaugural employee backpacking trip. Amy Zuaso (MEC), Crystal Boyce (AN), Jeff Prater (AN), Eva Kallo (LO), Will Schmidt (Pender), Natasha Schuh-Nuhfer (LO) and Lisa Kara of Laurel Ridge Community College joined Eriksen on the trails of the Monongahela National Forest for a beautiful overnight of belonging and backpacking. 

These experiences are made possible by a DEI InNOVAtion Grant, support from Woodbridge Campus Student Life, financial support from private donors, collaboration with REI, volunteer labor from NOVA employees and more. One of the profound aspects of this project is that so many people pitch in to make them possible (at no cost!) for our students. Thank you!

Three more student groups will get to experience the unforgettable Dolly Sods this month. Applications for September trips will open in August.

Submitted by:
Indigo Eriksen, WO-English and NOVA Outdoors, IEriksen@nvcc.edu