Apps Open for Summer Backpacking Trips!

Encourage your students to join us for a free student backpacking trip! Direct them to a Zoom info session on Sunday, March 2 at 6 p.m.

Backpacking is the combination of hiking and camping. Backpackers carry on their backs everything they need to survive in nature—food, water filters, tent, sleeping bag, clothes, first aid kit, toilet paper and more. Backpacking teaches us how to be self-reliant in unpredictable situations, increases self-confidence, strengthens critical thinking skills and supports collaboration and communication.

Professor Indigo Eriksen started the Outdoors Project last year with the goal of increasing students’ sense of belonging and educating our community on ways to increase the access of all community college students to nature and wild spaces. This summer, Indigo Eriksen (WO), Karen Murph (AN) and Jeff Prater (AN) will lead two backpacking trips. Apply here by Friday, March 14.

The Outdoors Project will lead a small group of students on a 2-night backpacking trip in Dolly Sods, a wilderness area and part of the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. There is no cost to participate; both trips are open to ALL NOVA students and most gear is provided. Transportation will be provided from the Woodbridge Campus.

We have two student trips and even an employee trip going out this June. The trips will include facilitated discussion on improving a sense of belonging for women, nonbinary and transgender communities. No experience is required! These trips are designed for those with zero to limited experience backpacking. Check out our NOVA LibGuide for details. 

Upcoming Trips:

• Employee Trip: May 31-June 1. Interested employees should email Indigo.
• Student Trips: Apply here.

• • Student Trip 1: Women, Nonbinary and Transgender Students—Friday thru Sunday, June 6-8 
  • Student Trip 2: All Genders—Friday thru Sunday, June 13-16 

Click here for information on our monthly Walks in the Woods.

—Indigo Eriksen, WO-English