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Grinnell Outdoor Recreation Program

Grinnell Outdoor Recreation Program

Adventure Trips
GORP offers a variety of off-campus outdoor adventure trips for Grinnell College students. GORP trips are free and include transportation, equipment rental, any camping or park entrance fees, trained trip leaders, and meals. GORP trips are a great opportunity to travel, learn outdoor skills, and meet new people. No previous experience is required to participate on a GORP trip. GORP trip leaders will teach you all you need to know. All participants must sign a trip terms, assumption of risk, liability release and indemnification agreement.

Spring Adventure Trip Schedule:
  • 1/30-1/31 XC Ski/Snowshoe/Hike Pine Lake State Park
  • 1/31-2/1 XC Ski/Snowshoe/Hike Pine Lake State Park
  • 2/14 XC Ski/Snowshoe/Hike Jester Park
  • 2/28 Hike Sugar Creek Nature Preserve
  • 3/7-3/12 Spring Break: Kentucky Multi-sport
  • 3/28 Hike Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve
  • 4/4-4/5 Cave & Camp Maquoketa Caves State Park
  • 4/11 Bike & Canoe Rock Creek State Park
  • 4/18 Canoe Lake Red Rock
  • 4/18-4/19 Backpack Yellow River State Forest
  • 4/25-4/26 Hike & Camp Mines of Spain
  • 5/2 Sunset Hike & S'mores at Rock Creek State Park
  • 5/2-5/3 Canoe & Camp Turkey River

Pre-Trip Meetings: Each trip has a designated pre-trip meeting the week before the trip to help you prepare for the trip and to allow you to meet your fellow adventurers. Pre-trip meetings are mandatory and are held in the GORP Equipment Room in the Harris Center.

Registration: In order to increase accessibility for more students and create a more equitable registration process, trip registration is managed through a weighted lottery. The lottery for adventure trips through Spring Break has been completed. You can be added to the waitlist for these trips by completing this form: https://bit.ly/sp26tripswaitlist-1. Lottery applications for trips after spring are open and will remain open through March 22. You can submit a lottery application for these trips here: https://bit.ly/sp26trips-2. 

Cancellation Policy: Individuals who cancel within 5 days of the trip or do not attend the trip without prior communication will lose one entry per trip in the next trip lottery. If this occurs a second time, individuals will not be able to enter the lottery and will forfeit their spot on any future trips for the remainder of the academic year.
Outdoor Equipment Rental
GORP rents out a variety of outdoor recreation equipment for your personal adventures! GORP staff can help you determine what type of equipment you need and can show you how to use the equipment. Equipment is free to rent for Grinnell College students, faculty, and staff and community members with a Bear membership. The GORP Equipment Room is located in the Harris Center.
 
How to Rent:
Make a reservation to rent equipment by completing the GORP Equipment Rental Request form: bit.ly/gorpequipmentrental.

GORP Equipment Room Hours (January 22-February 28):
  • Monday: 5:00-6:00 PM
  • Thursday: 5:00-6:00 PM
  • Friday: 4:00-6:00 PM
GORP Equipment Room Hours (March 1-May 8):
  • Sunday: 5:00-6:30 PM
  • Monday: 5:00-7:00 PM
  • Thursday: 5:00-6:30 PM
  • Friday: 4:00-6:00 PM
Climbing Wall
The climbing wall, located in Bear Recreation & Athletic Center, offers bouldering, top rope climbing, and auto belays. A Pcard is required to use the climbing wall. All climbing wall users must sign an assumption of risk, liability release and indemnification agreement. 
 
Climbing Wall Hours (January 20-May 8):
  • Monday, Wednesday, & Friday: 4:15-6:15 PM
  • Tuesday & Thursday: 6:30-8:30 PM
  • Saturday & Sunday: 2:00-4:00 PM
The climbing wall will be closed for Spring Break March 7-21.
 
Belay Certification:
Belay certifications are required to belay at the Grinnell College climbing wall. Belay certifications must be renewed each academic year. There are two options for becoming belay certified:
  • If you've never belayed before or are unfamiliar with our belaying procedures at the Grinnell College climbing wall, you can participate in a belay clinic. The two-hour clinic is free and will equip you with the knowledge and skills to top rope belay. After completing the clinic, you must pass our belay assessment three times to become belay certified. Belay clinics are being offered at the following times:
    • Tuesday, January 27 from 4:30-6:30 PM
    • Wednesday, February 11 from 6:30-8:30 PM
    • Sunday, February 22 from 4:00-6:00 PM
    • Thursday, March 26 from 4:30-6:30 PM
    • Monday, April 6 from 6:30-8:30 PM
    • Sunday, April 19 from 4:00-6:00 PM
  • Sign up for a belay clinic at https://bit.ly/sp26belayclinics. Pre-registration is required. Registration will close at noon on the day of the clinic.
  • If you have belaying experience or have previously been certified at the Grinnell College climbing wall, you can take a belay assessment with a climbing wall staff during open hours. If you pass, you will be belay certified. If you fail, you will be required to take a belay clinic.
Want to stay up-to-date on GORP events? Submit this form to be added to our email listserv.

Questions?
Contact Amanda Preperato, Director of the Grinnell Outdoor Recreation Program, at preperato@grinnell.edu or 641-269-3816.

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