GEAR ROOMS AND OTHER BITS | ODC NEWSLETTER 9/22/24

Happy Sunday,

It’s felt like an eternity since our last email, or maybe it’s just been a helluva week… who’s to say. I know that I ended my helluva week by watching one of my favorites bands last night, and it was much needed (shoutout Mt. Joy<3) and now I’m ending my weekend studying for my Geology test tomorrow (but the rock puns are too distracting).

I hope everyone has a restful night (especially those who rallied at Gauley fest🙏)

-Charlotte “I like rocks” Maxwell

(help me)

 

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Wilderness First Responder Course Interest

  • If you have a wee inkling of interest in taking a Wilderness First Responder course over J-term FILL OUT THIS FORM (not binding) develop wilderness medicine skills! respond to injuries, illnesses, and accidents in the wild! improvise solutions in crisis! YEEHAW

Tree and Sprouts Interest 

  • Have you been living in the dark void with no internet and missed the smashing announcement about the TREE & SPROUT mentorship program? Well fear not, because YOU can still sign up today! You can be a tree (mentor) or a sprout (mentee) to create closer connections within ODC. If you’re interested, FILL OUT THIS FORM – the form closes on Wednesday, October 2nd.

ODC FALL PHOTO CONTEST 

  • Correct. The photo contest has begun. So all of you dirt-loving, photo taking gremlins send your beautiful photos HERE for a chance at GLORY and a feature in THE SCRAWL!!!

Gear Requests

  • If you’d like to see any new items in the gear room, FILL OUT THIS FORM!!

A message from your very own ODC president:

  • You heard it here, Anusha LOVE’s seeing when new trips are posted each week, so let’s make her proud!!
  • If you want to lead something but are unsure of what to do, you can always look at past trips on the website😎 (adventures => menu on right => status => completed)

 

Especially those of you going to FREEKATHON this Friday!!

  • Freekathon is a great place to lead ODC trips, perhaps even your first one! Feel free to look at past creekathon trips for inspiration!!

 

 

Officer Meeting Notes

 

OLDER (BUT STILL FAIRLY NEW AND IMPORTANT) ANNOUNCEMENTS

Do you have any general comments, concerns, or recommendations about Outdoors Club?

  • If so, feel free to leave feedback here. This form is anonymous and only viewable by the DEI Chair.

BRING BACK YOUR GEAR!

  • Did you borrow something for the Spring or Summer and forget to bring it back? Well, here’s your opportunity to return your club gear to a gear room this week or email the officers (outdoors-officers@virginia.edu) to schedule a return time. Before we hunt you down


Are YOU in the GroupMe?

Checkout these ODC member Discounts!

  • We now have a 40% off code to use on as many purchases as you want from Nature Buff! Use code UVA40 on your next purchase.
  • We have an epic one-use per person promo code with Bedrock Sandals for 20% off online purchases. Use the code “UVAOUTDOOR” and twin with so many ODC members!
  • We have a 40% off code for all of HIMALI, a super cool mountain-wear brand! Check them out and use the code UVASendIt40.
  • Also, anyone who is a member of this lovely club can get 10% off at High Tor Gear Exchange & Endeavor Cycles here in Charlottesville!

 

GEAR RESOURCES AND POLICY

Finalized Gear Room Schedule for the Semester:

Monday @ 12:30 pm — John Woodward (804-944-1929)

Tuesday @ 7:00 pm — Parker Sims (540-840-8024)

Wednesday @ 3:30 pm — Max Titov (703-862-7391)

Thursday @ 9:30 am — Max St. Clair (617-780-1129)

Friday @ 10:30 am — Anusha (571- 455-0721)

If none of these times work for you, please email the officers at 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, sweatshirts, hats, patches, stickers, and more at the gear room!

MISC. GEAR INFO:

  • Before returning gear, refer to the GEAR CLEANING DOC!
    • If you return damaged, dirty, or incomplete gear, you will jeopardize your ability to check out gear in the future. It is your responsibility to return your gear in the condition you received it.
  • Please refer to our reimbursement policy here.
  • You can check our gear inventory here.
  • Want to check out water sports gear or a mountain bike?
    • Please email the officers at outdoors-officers@virginia.edu. They are stored at separate locations. We ask that you give at least 24 hours notice.
  • Gear is due one week from when it is checked out unless renewed by an officer at a gear room. Keeping gear past its due date is a UVA Honor Offense. Club trips have priority access to gear.

Directions to the Gear Room:

  • Start at Echols Dorm → go right on McCormick → turn right on Alderman Rd → take a left on Leake Drive → walk to the end of the road (there are several buildings and parking on either side) → pass a picnic table on the right → keep going! → walk straight to the first big maintenance building directly ahead → walk behind the building on the left side (if it feels like you maybe shouldn’t be there, you’re in the right place) → walk up the stairs → End: knock on the door!
  • Map to Gear Room

  

TRIP RESOURCES AND REMINDERS

Leading Trips:

To become a trip leader, thoroughly read the  Trip Leader Manual (resources page of the website) and send the officers an email (outdoors-officers@virginia.edu) letting them know you have done so. They will then activate you on the website! Alternatively, come to a Trip Leader Workshop, led by the officers several times each semester and posted on the website. Keep a lookout for these in outlook- there will be many to come!

As a reminder, climbing, caving, mountain biking, and whitewater trips have special rules to lead! To learn more about types of trips and to become an approved trip leader for the sports listed above, feel free to contact the club’s Sport Advisors.

  • Climbing:
    • Cam Burke – twz5mz@virginia.edu
    • Ella Mortimer – rzq9wc@virginia.edu
  • Caving
    • Allie Shelhammer – kvb8gz@virginia.edu
    • Lillie Ehrmentraut – ubc2ga@virginia.edu
  • Biking
    • Max Titov – uhg2nv@virginia.edu
    • Susannah Allen – bay6nh@virginia.edu
  • Hiking/Backpacking
    • Carson Hopwood – mxz2fc@virginia.edu
    • Ed Aten- eba4ksx@virginia.edu
  • Water Sports 
    • John Woodward – uce3pa@virginia.edu
    • Will Lankford – xsc9gq@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.

Absences:

  • Please be aware that if you are joined on a trip, and you do not show up, or you drop out at the last minute, you are depriving another member of a spot on that trip.
  • No-shows and last-minute absences not only hurt trip attendance, but they also make logistics more complicated.
  • If a member is reported for two absences, trip leaders are permitted to take this into account when moving people off wait lists.

Sexual Harassment and Equity Reporting:

  • Outdoors at UVA is committed to providing a safe and welcoming space for everyone to enjoy the outdoors. If you feel you or another have experienced misconduct at the hands of another club member, please report it here. This is including but not limited to misconduct regarding sexuality (including sexual harassment), gender, race, ethnicity, ability, etc.
  • Outdoors at UVA’s Harassment, Discrimination, and Sexual Misconduct policy can be found here. Our club Code of Conduct can be found here.

 

 ADVENTURE(s) OF THE WEEK!!!

Shout out to all the shreddlings that made their way to GAULEY FEST this weekend!!

From Parker Sims: “GAULEY FEST IS A HUGE WHITEWATER FESTIVAL IN BEAUTIFUL SUMMERSVILLE WVA WHERE ODC MEMBERS RAFTED, CLIMBED, HIKED, AND FESTED. I LOVE GAULEY FEST.”

How to be featured:

  • Each week we’ll feature a different adventure that happened within the previous 7 days. To be featured, send a couple of pictures of you and your pals adventurin’ and a little blurb about what you did to us (outdoors-officers@virginia.edu) or to my (Charlotte’s) number (540-816-6429)!
  • We’re stoked to see what y’all get up to, but please do not take pictures of people without their consent (and don’t submit them to us without their consent).
  • Try and submit pictures as .jpeg files if possible! (not .heic live photos!) 

 

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,

Charlotte and the officers