By Denton Josey, Features Editor
The Outdoor Club stayed indoors last weekend when the group went climbing at Abilene High School.
Alex Wann, sophomore environmental science major from Torrington, Wyo., coordinated the event. The vice president of events for the group, Wann also facilitated the instruction.
The climbing wall was only about 10 feet tall but extended across the gym more than 75 feet. Wann said the group practiced lateral movement because it was a “bouldering/
traverse wall.”
About 20 ACU students showed up, as well as half the Outdoor Club members, and everyone raised their hand when asked if they had at least some prior climbing experience, Wann said.
Wann spent the past summer as an instructor for an outdoor wilderness ministry and on Saturday, he used the same sequence he taught over the summer. They started with what the basic gear was, how it worked and how to use it.
“We went there and half of it was a clinic and the other half was just hang out and climb,” Wann said.
Andrea Shivers, senior biology major from Keller, is a member of the Outdoor Club who went because she wanted to know more about rock climbing.
“I’d like to rock climb, but I want to learn more about it,” Shivers said.
Shivers said the day helped.
“They teach stuff you can do on your own and it’s really thorough,” she said. “And you get to do handson stuff.”
The main reason for putting it on, Wann said, was to do “something fun and to provide an opportunity for people of all skill levels to get involved with the outdoors and the club because we’re about community.”
Wann also said the skills they learned will be useful on the next event the Outdoor Club is hosting.
Over Fall Break, Oct. 26- 28, the Outdoor Club will be camping at Camp Eagle on the Nueces River. Campers can go kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, rock climbing, rappelling and swimming.
All students are welcome and it costs $25 per person. Those interested should contact the Outdoor Club by Oct. 23. For more information, go to www.acuoutdoorclub.org.
