By Lorraine Upton | Guest Writer
The University of Lynchburg’s Outdoor Leadership Program took eight students on a week-long spring break expedition to the Grand Canyon. The students spent four days in the backcountry backpacking below the rim.
The Outdoor Leadership Program (OLP) provides Lynchburg students with the opportunity to engage in outdoor recreational activities while enhancing their leadership skills.
Tim Slusser, the university’s assistant director of outdoor leadership and education, explained, “I like to push students into situations where they can discover more about themselves while sharing the outdoors and showing these wild spaces.”
During these trips, students learn about situational leadership, decision-making, and debriefing at the end of each day.
“I see myself more as an educator and facilitator on the trip. My job is to push students and guide them. The students create the program and drive the trips,” said Slusser.
Students hiked approximately thirty miles throughout the four days they were backpacking along the infrequently visited areas of the Grand Canyon.
“This is one of the toughest things I have ever done,” said Olivia Upton ‘25. “I had a lot of favorite moments on the trip, but I really enjoyed all the conversations we had.”
The majority of the trip participants had minimal backpacking experience.
Meredith Bowers ‘25 stated, “I really liked the views. Backpacking was something I had never done before, so just doing that amount of mileage with having everything on my back definitely got me out of my comfort zone, along with the elevation gain.”
Despite their limited experience, students completed the hike and obtained valuable takeaways.
“I have learned that I am capable of a lot and if I put my mind to something, I can do it,” mentions Sammie Rogstad ‘28.
Haleigh Casey ‘25 stated, “I got a lot of fun stories to tell coming out of the trip because we were being thrown into situations we have never been before. I get to tell people that life is challenging, but sometimes those challenges make it fun.”
For more information about OLP visit: Outdoor Leadership Program.
