Among the highlights of the Outdoor Program Center’s annual activities is a spring break trip to Moab, Utah, for a week of world-class mountain biking, hiking and rock climbing.

This year’s trip departs March 11 and returns March 20. Space remains for students interested in the trip. The trip costs $450, with a $100 down payment required to reserve a spot, which includes transportation, food, equipment and instruction. No previous experience is required.

Will Shippen, a senior biology major from Cedarburg, Wis., will be making the trip for the second year in a row.

“There’s no other way to get an outdoor experience like this for the price,” he said. “The experience gave me a bunch of new friends and an adventure to remember forever.”

Trevor Smith, a senior environmental studies major from Bemidji who will be one of the trip’s primary leaders, has helped assemble an itinerary that will see the group visit some of the area’s signature climbing spots.

“Some of the rock climbing highlights of this trip are a 180-foot free-hanging rappel from the ‘Looking Glass’, and rock climbing at a few of Moab’s best climbing areas such as ‘Wallstreet’ and ‘Ice-Cream Parlor’,” Smith said. “This year we are introducing a new canyoneering excursion, which is a combination of hiking, climbing and rappelling.”

Smith says the Moab trip, and other OPC activities, have been among the signature events of his time at Bemidji State, and he encourages other students to take advantages of the opportunities the center provides.

“Take advantage of the amazing trips that the BSU OPC hosts – they could change your life,” he said. “We go to beautiful places and do amazing things with great people. Most of my best friends I met at the OPC, and some of the best times in my life have been on these trips.”

 For more information, text Smith at (218)-766-3930 or call Mark Morrissey, OPC director, at (218) 209-1707.