ODC Gear Room and Other Bits and Pieces 10-19-25

Knock knock

Oh, who’s there? A visitor perchance?

No. The weekly email. Lock in.

Social things!

1) This Thursday we’ll have a Trees and Sprouts bonfire! It’s pretty much in the name, but, essentially it’s just more avenue to meet your trees/sprouts and be watered/do the watering. Also, if you haven’t yet, make sure to get in touch with each other!

2) A little in the distance, but we’ll have a Halloween party on Friday 10/31!! It’ll be a mixer with climbing :). More news to come later but mark your calendars!

Officer Applications!

WE ARE ACCEPTING OFFICER APPLICATIONS (and remind you that we are constantly on a rolling basis) and we will be reviewing applications for new officers in mid-November.

If you want to be considered for officership before MARCH (!!! i.e. spring semester, far away), then you should apply.

THE DEADLINE (OOOOOHH SCARYYY): November 9

Requirements: you must be a student, you must have lead three trips.

Here is the link to the application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfobZ-LiHGgFmLxqiYHPlW4xZvSCRfckJHXycAqfG_zJu1FnA/viewform

THE CENSUS AAAAHHH STATISTICS NUMBERS BAR GRAPHS EEEEK

Every year the DEI committee makes a census to figure out what we can do to make the club a more enjoyable, accessible, and inclusive place for everyone! The survey shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to complete. AND PLEASE FILL THIS OUT!! This is a brand-new form, so even if you’ve filled it out before, do it again!! It’s all anonymous, and the more responses we get, the more comprehensive our understanding of the club!

Link: https://forms.gle/DrULRYANVsCV1W4FA  The form will close November 9th!

Thank ya! – the DEI committee

*also Pietro’s note: seeing survey data is always interesting so if all of the above didn’t convince you, consider how interesting it will be to read comprehensive analysis!

Officer Meeting Notes: notes 10-19-25

Story of the Week

Whoa. I was at Slaughter earlier today and all of a sudden a team of setters came rushing out wielding all sorts of offensive weapons. My sensibilities were proper offended, to say the least. Imagine a scene of drills, hammers, and strategically placed green turf (camouflage for their nefarious activities, I imagine). Us, the people, had no time to respond as those maniacs carefully demolished months of laboriously built climbs. Imagine all the love put into each set. All gone. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Goose eggs. Zeros. Etc etc. I valiantly tried to intervene, but in a fit of deliberate destruction, a caution tape was very carefully set up as they dismantled the climbs. I could do naught but watch in tears and cover my ears as they removed every last hold. Now, what could have motivated them to do such a horrendously wicked thing? They claim it’s a “climbing competition” but I think there’s more to the story. Something evil is afoot. Poor climbs. Stay tuned, this investigative reporting is not over.

Pietro “Staying On My Toes Because These Setters Are Crazy” Ciliberto

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OLD (BUT STILL IMPORTANT) ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Are YOU on the Trip Leader Listserv?

G-G-Gear Requests *Airhorn*

  • We love buying new equipment for you, but we need you to tell us what you want! Do that here.

#Anonymous Feedback Form

  • This form is anonymous and can only be viewed by the DEI Chair.

GEAR RESOURCES AND POLICY

This Week’s Gear Room Schedule:

Monday – Parker 11:40 am (540) 840-8024

Tuesday – Chris 12:30 pm (203) 805-1195

Wednesday – Allie 5:30 pm (970) 294-8781

Thursday – Max Ellis 4:30 pm (571) 215-0938

Friday – Afton 8:15 am (804) 338-3673

If none of these times work for you, please email the officers outdoors-officers@virginia.edu at least 24 hours in advance to schedule a separate time to be let into the gear room. Please only do this if you really can’t make the gear room times, not just because you don’t feel like it or didn’t plan ahead.

You can stop by the gear room to check out or return gear and be reimbursed at any of the times listed above! Officers remain at the gear room only for as long as people are checking in/out gear (usually about 20-25 minutes). You may also purchase ODC t-shirts, hoo rags, patches, stickers, and more at the gear room!

Climbing:

  • Afton Hessian (xfu6vq@virginia.edu)
  • Via Miller (pwa5xq@virginia.edu)

Caving

  • Allie Shelhammer (kvb8gz@virginia.edu)

Biking

  • Susannah Allen (bay6nh@virginia.edu)

Hiking/Backpacking

  • Evelyn Lepsch (mph4ca@virginia.edu)
  • Chris Blonkvist (cej5pq@virginia.edu)

Water Sports

  • John Woodward (uce3pa@virginia.edu)

If you have questions about how to lead trips, refer to the Leading Trips pages under Resources on the club website.

Want to lead a trip for an under-represented group in the outdoors? Lead an Affinity Trip! See the link for details and guidelines.

ET CETERA.

Social Media:

FB: (https://www.facebook.com/groups/OutdoorsAtUVA/)

Insta: (https://www.instagram.com/uvaoutdoors/)

GroupMe: (https://groupme.com/join_group/68250538/0HmzE2tL)

Peace, Love, & Dirt,

Pietro and the Officers