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.

Fall Adventure Trip Schedule:

9/6 Sunset Paddle & S'mores at Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve
9/7 Streamwalking & Hiking at Ledges State Park
9/12-9/13 Cave & Camp Maquoketa Caves State Park
9/19 Bike & Picnic Rock Creek State Park
9/19-9/20 Canoe & Camp on the Upper Iowa River
9/26 Canoe & Hike Lake Red Rock
9/26-9/27 Backpack Yellow River State Forest
10/3-10/4 Hike & Camp Pikes Peak State Park & Effigy Mounds National Monument
10/11 Bike the High Trestle Trail
10/17-10/22 Fall Break: Hiking & Caving in South Dakota
11/7 Hike & Campfire Cooking at Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve

Pre-Trip Meetings: Each trip has a designated pre-trip meeting the Wednesday 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 first round lottery for trips through September 20 and the Fall Break trips has closed; you can enter the waitlist lottery here: https://bit.ly/f26tripwaitlist1. The second round lottery for trips after September 20 is open through September 20. Apply at https://bit.ly/f26triplottery2.

Cancellation and Participation Policy:
Because trip spaces are limited and demand is high, participants are expected to honor their commitment to attend and to communicate promptly if their plans change.

If a participant:

Cancels within five days of a day or weekend trip,
Cancels within fourteen days of break trip,
Misses the required pre-trip meeting without prior communication, or
Does not attend a trip without prior communication,

they will receive a one-entry reduction for each trip they select in the next trip lottery.

A second occurrence during the same academic year will result in the participant becoming ineligible to participate in future trip lotteries and forfeiting any trip spots they have already been awarded for the remainder of the academic year.

These expectations help ensure that trip opportunities remain accessible to as many students as possible and that waitlisted participants have adequate notice when spaces become available.

Guest Reservations:
Guest reservations are tied to the participant who was selected through the lottery. If the selected participant cancels their registration, the associated guest reservation will also be canceled. The resulting opening(s) will then be offered to participants on the waitlist.

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.

Fall GORP Equipment Room Hours (August 27-October 16):

Sundays 5:00-6:30 PM
Mondays 5:00-7:00 PM
Thursdays 5:00-6:30 PM
Fridays 4:00-6:00 PM

The GORP Equipment Room will be closed October 17-24 for Fall Break. Reduced hours will begin on October 25.

For questions regarding equipment rental, email gorp@grinnell.edu.

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.

Fall Climbing Wall Hours (August 27-December 11):

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 4:15-6:15 PM
Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:30-8:30 PM
Saturdays & Sundays 2:00-4:00 PM

The climbing wall will be closed October 17-24 for Fall Break and November 26-28 for Thanksgiving Recess.

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:

Belay Clinics: 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 will be held on the following dates:

Sunday, September 13 from 4:00-6:00 PM
Monday, September 28 from 6:30-8:30 PM
Monday, October 12 from 6:30-8:30 PM
Wednesday, November 11 from 6:30-8:30 PM
Sunday, November 22 from 4:00-6:00 PM

Pre-registration is required. Register at https://bit.ly/f26belayclinics. Registration will close at noon on the day of the clinic.

Belay Assessments: 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.