Students can explore nature and new experiences with the recently founded Brock Outdoors Club.
The Brock Outdoors Club may be new, being ratified in November 2023, but club president Bryn Smiley, vice-president Hudson Trask and treasurer Matt Hogan have monumental visions for its future. The club has already hosted its first event, a Bruce Trail Hike and Social at 10 a.m on Jan. 20.
Despite the snow, which was untouched on some of the trails, the club trekked over four kilometres of the forest paths behind the school. The club planned two separate exit points for those who wanted to end early, but everybody completed the entire hike. The event was an absolute success. Smiley and a few others at the front of the pack even spotted a deer.
Smiley, a second-year Recreation and Leisure Studies student specializing in Outdoor Recreation, was astounded that Brock didn’t have any outdoor clubs. He wanted to be able to do outdoor activities separate from those in his studies, with a group of people who wanted the same, leading to the creation of the club.
The team noted how some people don’t have access to outdoor activities such as camping or canoeing, which they hope to do in the future. Sometimes these activities are too expensive for students to do independently, or they’ve simply never been introduced to them. The Brock Outdoors Club executives hope to share their passion for being outside with as many others as possible.
Camping or backpacking can be challenging for a student to get into on their own. Buying all the necessary equipment – backpacks, tents, cooking supplies and more – is not always possible. The Brock Outdoors Club hopes to make activities like this more accessible. Partnering with the Outdoor Recreation faculty, for example, could provide club members with a more affordable way to achieve their dreams.
For students with disabilities, some of the activities the Brock Outdoors Club has planned may not be easily realized. However, the executives want to accommodate as many people as they can. The club executives said that if anybody reaches out expressing an interest in participating, but who required specific accommodations, the club would plan certain events such as traversing a flatter trail or hosting an outdoor-themed movie night.
Of course, not every event they run will be possible for every student. Exertion-heavy or difficult activities, like 20-kilometre hikes or rock climbing, are not suited for beginners. But the club isn’t going to surprise anyone: they’ll advertise if events require certain experience levels. For the most part, they’ll focus on events that aren’t too easy for those who want a challenge, and that aren’t too difficult for those simply looking to get outside with like-minded people.
Having started later, the club is actively fundraising so they can host events beyond what’s local. Distance is a challenge, though. Closer locations, like Mono Cliffs Provincial Park, could provide the club with opportunities for day trips, but anything much further and the scope changes to overnight or even a few days long.
While such a trip doesn’t currently seem feasible, Smiley hopes that within a year or two, the club could host a multi-day camping trip over the reading week. In the meantime, they’ll stick to local trails and events, which the Jan. 20 event proved can be just as fun and rewarding.
Time spent outside is directly linked to positive mental health, something that the executives want to promote. Especially for students, stressors can pile up and make regular tasks seem monumental. The Brock Outdoors Club wants to create opportunities for students to relieve their stress by breathing fresh air and being active.
With such a vast collection of trails to be explored in Brock’s backyard, and even more in St. Catharines and across the Niagara region, it makes perfect sense that a group of like-minded individuals should be the ones to explore them.
The Brock Outdoors Club will be a welcome addition to the school community, acting as a guide to local, regional, and even provincial natural sites. For more information on the Brock Outdoors Club or to give recommendations on upcoming events, students can visit their ExperienceBU and Instagram pages or email them at brocku.outdoorsclub@gmail.com.