At Calvin, the wilderness becomes a powerful classroom. For over 20 years, Calvin students have had epic adventures together in iconic locations including Costa Rica, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Joshua Tree National Park, Red River Gorge, and the Ontario wilderness. Calvin's Outdoor Recreation programming also explores and learns in its own backyard, enjoying abundant local mountain biking and paddling, the dunes and beach environments of Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Lakeshore, and rivers and trails of the Manistee National Forest.
Whether you are brand new to adventure or looking to become a skilled wilderness leader, Calvin's Outdoor Recreation program offers abundant opportunities, classes, and programs for you:
- Wilderness Trips for incoming and transfer students
- Sustainability and Outdoor Recreation Living and Learning Community
- State-of-the-art climbing center
- Weekend, fall break, and spring break trips
- Outfitting rental center and bike shop
- Expeditionary field courses
- Outdoor/climbing per skills courses
- Recreation Leadership minor
OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT RENTAL
Monday and Thursday 4–5 p.m. north side of Track and Tennis Building. Our NEW Outdoor Rental Center and Outfitting Center opens on February 19 and will be open through April 25. Contact Brandon Price (bpp5@calvin.edu) for more information.
BIKE MAINTENANCE
Tuesdays and Wednesdays 4–5 p.m. Come and get mentoring with bike maintenance. Our bike shop is open beginning March 12–April 24. Contact Jack Klop (jdk57@calvin.edu) for more information.
WEEKEND TRIPS
Calvin Outdoor Recreation runs a variety of weekend trips during the winter. Look for promotion and sign up at the Climbing Center. Look for Skiing/Boarding, Winter Backpacking, Mountain Biking, Paddling, Backpacking.
MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES
Join us for local Tuesday rides beginning April 2. Meet at the Outfitting Center/Bike Shop at 4:45 p.m. Trips depart at 5 p.m. Contact Jack Klop (jdk57@calvin.edu) for more information.
POOL KAYAKING
Mondays 7:30–9 p.m. Sign up at the Climbing Center Desk for a 4-week class. Contact Joel VanHekken (jev65@calvin.edu) for more information.
OUTDOOR REC BIBLE STUDY
Thursdays 7:30 p.m. in the Recreation Classroom (HC 121). Contact Ben Richards (bar26@calvin.edu) for more information. Bible Study begins January 25 and concludes April 25. All are welcome!
Courses and expeditions
RED RIVER GORGE CLIMBING COURSE
May 5-11, 2024
CANADA WILDERNESS LEADERSHIP COURSE
August 16-28, 2024
WILDERNESS TRIPS for new students
August 21-28, 2024
PICTURED ROCKS FALL BREAK BACKPACKING EXPEDITION
October 18-21, 2024
GRAND CANYON BACKPACKING AND NOLS WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER COURSE
January 1–18, 2025
Contact Ryan Rooks (ryan.rooks@calvin.edu) for more information.
Recreation leadership minor
Degree overview
All students interested in developing their abilities to lead, facilitate, program, instruct, and manage risk are encouraged to complete a minor in recreation leadership studies during their time at Calvin University. Students selecting the recreation leadership minor will experience the Calvin campus as a learning lab.
Along with on-campus courses, students travel well beyond the traditional classroom setting, exploring the rich and powerful experiential context of national and global field courses, community-based internships, adventure programming, and/or wilderness-based learning contexts.
Recreation leadership minors will develop proficiency in a highly transferable leader skill sets;
- group facilitation,
- instruction,
- programming,
- risk management,
- development of teams,
- management of group dynamics,
- conflict management and resolution,
- and development of individual self-efficacy.
Take a look: What to expect
Opportunities for adventure
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Wilderness Trips »
- Begin your Calvin career with an extended backcountry trip to the Rockies, North Channel, Red River Gorge, or Algonquin.
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Adventure grants
- Adventure grants let you create the outdoor experience you've been dreaming about. Organize a group, plan a trip, apply for funding, and start packing.
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For-credit courses »
- Integrate adventure into your academic pursuits. Climbing, backpacking, road cycling, canoeing, sea kayaking, fly-fishing, downhill skiing, snowboarding—all are offered as for-credit courses.
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Indoor rock climbing »
- Instruction, programming, and open climbing in the Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex.
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Off-Campus Programs »
- Rainforest expeditions in Costa Rica and Panama, outdoor education in the Grand Canyon, road biking in Australia—these are just some of the places we’ve gone in recent years. See where you can headed go and sign up for the adventure of a lifetime.
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Professional internships »
- Learn about for credit and professional development opportunities. We've placed students with places like National Outdoor Leadership School, Wilderness Medical Institute, Rescue 3 International, the American Mountain Guide Association, and the American Canoe Association.
