NEW Outdoor Recreation Living Learning Community 

The Office of Residence Life and the Outdoor Connection are partnering to provide an outdoor recreation oriented living learning community in Eagle Hall for the 2012-13 school year.

The Outdoor Recreation Living and Learning community is designed for students who have a passion and an interest for outdoor activities and the environment. They must be willing to be challenged, have a desire to gain skills outside of the classroom, participate in extra-curricular activities and events relating to the outdoors. No previous experience is required for participation- just a willingness to participate, learn, and to have fun! Residents of this community will pay $250/semester to cover the cost of the extensive programming done by the UW-L Outdoor Connection.

WHAT TO EXPECT

COMMON LEARNING
For our first year, students in the ORLLC will take all take Environmental Studies 201 course together.

TRIPS
We will take some great trips throughout the year taking advantage of the wonderful outdoor resources we have right in our own backyard. They will include: caving, rock climbing, camping, biking, hiking, backpacking, canoeing and kayaking.

SKILL PRESENTATIONS AND CLINICS
Once a month we will host a special skill clinic or presentation related to the outdoors or highlighting a cool place to go. Initial plans include; bike maintenance, ski waxing, trip planning and backcountry cooking. The ORLLC members will select other topics.

HANGING OUT
Ultimately this is going to be an active and fun place to live. We'll go to the REC Wall, do some slack lining, and hit up the Frisbee disc course to name a few.   Many of these activities will also be determined by the ORLLC members.

WHY?

• The UW-L campus location is a perfect locale for experiencing a variety of unique natural resources and destinations
• Outdoor experiences can and do accelerate student’s learning about themselves and others
• The Outdoor Connection has the equipment, trained staff & knowledge of the area to be able to facilitate such an LLC
• The outdoors provide a rich learning environment

CORE COMPONENTS

The core components of the Outdoor Recreation LLC will be hall and campus based events, wilderness trip experiences, skills workshops and classroom instruction. All students would enroll in a common course: Introduction to Environmental Studies (ENV 201).

GOALS OF THE LLC

• To provide a living environment and community for students who share an interest in the outdoors and in leadership
• Provide programs and opportunities that allow students to refine their leadership skills, explore career opportunities in outdoor recreation, be part of an active & supportive community
• Develop a community that is passionate about the outdoors and the environment
• To implement a service project in which students will participate each semester

ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES

• Formation of a cohesive residence community oriented around active and healthy activities (Community)
• Expose students to a variety of outdoor activities and increase the likelihood that those students will continue those activities throughout their lives (Personal Growth/Responsibility)
• Development of a community of peers who will support each other throughout their college careers (Community/Respect)
• Increased leadership opportunities (Leadership)
• Successful integration of students into campus & La Crosse Community (Community/ Citizenship)
• Increased environmental awareness and understanding of human impact on the natural environment (Responsibility/Citizenship)
  

PRICING

There is an additional fee associated with living in Eagle Hall. 

The non-refundable program fee of $250/semester covers the programmed clinics and presentations, trips, entrance fees,  equipment, transportation, meals (minus snacks on the road) and staffing/ instruction for each of the trips and activities.

This program fee will be included in your room charge on your student account.

 SIGN UP TODAY
Registration for the new Outdoor Recreation Living Learning community is being coordinated through the Residence Life housing application process.   To sign up you'll need to select a  "check box"  

Housing applications and deposit are due by Noon – Friday, February 10, 2012 

If you have Residence Life housing questions please contact:  Patrick Heise, Assistant Director of Residence Life pheise@uwlax.edu.

If you have questions about the program's activities or format please contact Nathan Barnhart at nbarnhart@uwlax.edu