By Jennifer Eder
Rebecca Slotkin didn’t spend much time in the outdoors before coming to GW.
A synchronized ice skater for 12 years, Ms. Slotkin was more accustomed to the rink.
But after going on a whitewater rafting trip as a freshman, Ms. Slotkin knew she had found her passion. She joined GW TRAiLS, a student organization that’s been providing outdoor adventure programming for GW since 2002.
“GW isn’t a very outdoorsy school, but by joining GW TRAiLS, I felt like I found a place where I could explore and try new things while still living in the city,” says Ms. Slotkin, now a senior in the School of Business.
This fall, GW TRAiLS (Teaching, Recreation and Adventure, Incorporating Leadership and Service) has more than 30 trips planned, offering students, faculty and staff a wide variety of outdoor adventure programming.
In addition to more traditional camping and hiking trips, TRAiLS offers other activities such as rock climbing, white water rafting and caving adventures.
“TRAiLS is a great outlet for the GW community. We really focus on being a leadership and education program,” says Matt Sacco, TRAiLS assistant program coordinator and a student in GW’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development. “We use the outdoors to do a lot of team building and personal growth.”
More than 500 students, faculty and staff members participated in a TRAiLS activity last year. And as more student organizations and academic departments request specialized TRAiLS trips, Mr. Sacco expects that number to continue to grow.
The 15 TRAiLS guides undergo months of safety and wilderness training before leading a trip. They also go on an annual retreat to prepare for the following year and participate in a training trip with a guide from the Shenandoah National Park to learn extra skills, including planning nutritious meals, orienteering and group scenarios. The TRAiLS guides teach the participants basic camping and hiking skills. They also practice Leave No Trace (LNT), which allows participants to experience the outdoors with minimal impact on the environment.
“Sometimes it’s great to get away from the city for a weekend,” says TRAiLS guide Charlie Brennan, a senior in the Elliott School of International Affairs.
TRAiLS also plans trips to popular nearby attractions such as the National Aquarium in Baltimore, the National Zoo and National Geographic. This fall, students can go apple picking, explore a haunted forest or visit a pumpkin patch with TRAiLS. Students can also choose to spend their winter or spring breaks with TRAiLS.
TRAiLS will be offering Alternative Winter Break trips to the Florida Keys and Guatemala. And in March, students will have the opportunity to go on Alternative Spring Break trips to Denver or Jacksonville, Fla.