Backpacking Adventure Offers:

• Spectacular scenery during four days in the backcountry
• Explore wilderness, animals, and history
• Bonding around the campfire with your peers
• Survival skills for the outdoors and for college

When:

September 19th – September 22th, 2012

Cost:

$425

Cost includes:

• 3 nights of camping
• Guided hiking and backpacking

Thinking about what to do with your little monkeys after a day at summer camp? Instead of them bouncing of your walls, bring them to ours at the UCSB Adventure Climbing Center! Our 30 foot imprint wall is the largest on the west coast and is notorious for squeezing every last bit of energy out of aspiring young climbers. With nearly 30 vertical feet of bright, colorful holds and natural rock-like features to explore, boredom is not an option.

Each day of the program will incorporate many different aspects of climbing. Campers will learn climbing safety, movement skills, resting techniques, how to use different holds, basic knots and intermediate climbing skills. They will learn team belaying as they experience the high wall and learn bouldering techniques.

But the fun doesn’t stop there! Different games will played throughout the camp, such as twister on the wall, hula hoop traverse, and speed climbing.

There are three one week camps from 4pm-5:30pm on weekdays. Children can be signed up for only one week if they prefer, however it is recommended that they sign up for multiple weeks. Each week different skills will be taught and this way they can expand their climbing knowledge and continue to practice their technique.

Our program is instructed by certified Lead Climbing Wall Instructors from the Professional Climbing Instructors’ Association. The instructors teach many different levels of climbing, therefore the camp is tailored to each child’s climbing ability.

This activity is recommended for children at least 6 years of age and older.

 

Climbing Adventure for Kids 2012 Dates: 

Week 1: Monday-Friday, August 6-10

Week 2: Monday-Friday, August 13-17

Week 3: Monday-Friday, August 20-24

 

For more information, call the Adventure Programs at 805-893-3737, or Click here to register now!

 

By Jay Gadbois
Staff Writer

Sick of coming up for air? Adventure Programs is offering a chance to breathe underwater, but the chance to enroll in SCUBA may not last long.

“They typically fill the most quickly of all our program offerings,” Adventure Programs Director Rod Tucknott said.

Offshore kelp beds, great visibility, and a seasoned dive team are just a few reasons for the program’s popularity.

“Both instructors that teach for us have been with Adventure Programs for over 30 years each,” Tucknott said.

The local instructors take students on their first two training dives off the coast, though the premier dive is off the Channel Islands.

“You get all kinds of species,” Tucknott said. “People describe it as the Galapagos of California.”

The currents from the North and South Pacific push species from both climates to the Channel Islands, making it a perfect vacation spot for the divers to learn their trade.

“You don’t get the sandy churn you’d get on the beach coast,” Tucknott said.

However, the entire course isn’t clear water and kelp forrest. Class work and in-pool descents prepare the divers for the open ocean.

“There is a pretty gnarly swim test and some people don’t pass,” Tucknott said. “Plus 100% attendance is required.”

For those who find comfort in the water, don’t miss this opportunity to get certified for summer.

“Go to the cashiers office, sign up and show up,” he said.

 

Check out the website @ http://www.recreation.ucsb.edu/adventureprograms/scuba.aspx

 

This spring break heroes were born. Not ones that stop bullets, but the kind that canoe, repel, and hike to stop the bleeding. Adventure Programs hosted four events over the week: Wilderness First Responder, Grand Canyon Backpacking, Climbing Wall Instructor Certification, and a Colorado Canoe trip. Over the nine days of break, select Gauchos learned to survive.

“It’s actually not a trip - we deal with medical emergencies,” leader of the Wilderness First Responder Course Michael Love said.

During their training, Love and his team dealt with wilderness injuries from fake blood and broken bones to unconsciousness.

“You are put into a situation where something bad happened, in theory, and you’re in charge of dealing with the consequences,” Love said. “It’s a first aid class on steroids.”

For those who chose to see a natural wonder instead of blood, the Grand Canyon trip offered a limited number of students a hike to the bottom.

“The backpacking in the Grand Canyon was about a week long,” Student Marketing Coordinator of Adventure Programs Megan Gibson said. “You have to have a special permit to do it. We were lucky, applied early, and kept our fingers crossed for awhile.”

The program only ended up being able to take ten people on the week-long trip.

“And I bet the first shower [back home] was amazing,” Gibson said.

Back in the MAC at UCSB, future rock climbing instructors and a few enthusiasts took on ten-hour days of climbing and classes.

“Our Climbing Wall Manager is certified through [Professional Climbing Instructors Association] to teach this course,” Gibson said. “You need it to teach at our rock wall belay clinic.”

The last trip ventured all the way to Colorado for four days of canoing.

“Usually it’s a real early start. I get people moving before the sun comes up,” Mike Wathen, a graduate student leading the trip, said. “You always have to give yourself a buffer to make sure you make it to camp.”

While on the water, Wathen offered some paddlers a chance to try his small kayak.

“Some people found out the hard way that kayaks are a little tippier than the canoes,” Wathen said. “The wildlife was performing for us too. We saw a lot of big horn sheep.”

However, once people got to know each other the entertainment wasn’t confined to the water.

“I like to have an embarrassing story competition.” Wathen said. “People say things that are just ridiculous. They would not be saying that the first day in the van.”

By David Russo

Many UCSB students enjoy tossing around a Frisbee at the beach, and some have turned that hobby into a competitive sport for an hour each week. Jon Cass, a third-year graduate student in UCSB’s Mathematics PhD program, is also in his third year of playing Intramural Sports. This quarter, Cass leads an Ultimate team, “Little Jon and His Merry Men & Women,” that is currently undefeated in the Coed Advanced league.

“I started playing Intramurals Sports when I first got to UCSB [in 2008],” Cass said. “One of my friends had come to UCSB the previous year and invited me to play on a team. I played with that team for a little while, but then some of the players left town and the team dissolved.”

After that, Cass didn’t have much continuity with one team for a while.

“I spent the next year or so bouncing around between teams and just playing whenever I got the chance,” Cass explained. “Then in the spring of last year, [former graduate student] Ariana Arcenas organized a team out of people who play pickup together when there are no Intramural Sport games going on.”

Arcenas’ team made a run for the championship last year.

“We did well last spring, and only lost in the finals,” Cass said. “[Arcenas] graduated at the end of last year, so I decided to keep the team going into this year.”

Cass talked about how he fits Ultimate into a schedule that includes research in algebra and number theory, with an emphasis on elliptic curves and Stark's conjectures. 

“As a graduate student, my schedule is very loose,” Cass said. “I teach for a few hours a week, and have class for a couple hours a week, but most of my time is spent reading, thinking about, and researching mathematics on my own schedule.

Cass explained that despite certain challenges, participating in Intramural Sports is definitely worth his time.

“It is not difficult to fit intramurals into my schedule, however it is sometimes disruptive if I am in the middle of a marathon grading schedule, or am finally making some headway in my reading,” Cass said. “That [being] said, I find that it is very important to make the time - the intramural games are an opportunity to work hard in a different way and interact with people that I would not see otherwise.  My head is always much clearer after a good game of Ultimate.”

Cass talked about the dynamic players on his team and how they have come to play well together.

“Our team has a vast range of experience levels,” Cass said. “Some people have been playing for over ten years and have competed at high levels, while others have just started this year. We only meet as a team for the games, but I know that many of the players look for opportunities between games to meet up and practice throwing.”

Overall, Little Jon and His Merry Men & Women has proven to be a fun and rewarding team for Cass lead.

“One of the aspects of my team that I am happiest about is our ability to welcome new players, while still maintaining a high level of play,” Cass said.  “I know that when I show up for games, I will get the chance to learn from players who are far better than I am, and also teach some players who are just getting started.”

The team is currently 6-0, with one game left before playoffs.

“I believe that we will remain undefeated through the rest of the games, but that remains to be seen,” Cass said.

The past game on February 25 against “The Plastics,” also undefeated at the time, proved to be a good test for both teams, with Little Jon and His Merry Men & Women prevailing.

“[That] game was very memorable,” Cass explained. “We played in the pouring rain, with no subs [as not everyone showed up because of] the rain.  We had a great game, and I hope we get the opportunity to play against them again in the playoffs.”

WHEN: March 7 – April 1
WHERE: Rec Sports Office

You Continued the Legacy during winter, now Capture the Legacy this spring by signing up for spring Intramural Sports! Take advantage of the quarter with the best weather by joining one of the most popular programs offered by UCSB Recreational Sports!

We offer 18 different sports this spring including softball, basketball, water polo, and indoor/outdoor soccer. There is a sport for everyone and no experience necessary.

Greek? Make sure to sign-up for the Greek Gauntlet on March 7 & 8th!

Sign-up between March 7^th and April 1^st in the Rec Sports Office. Be one of the first 100 students to sign up and receive a free wristband, putting you in the running to get Caught on Campus. If you’re caught, you’ll win a FREE Rec Sports tank. Spots go fast, so sign-up early!

By Lisa Gray

Do you still need to plan your 2011 Spring Break? Do Cabo and Puerto Vallarta sound too overdone and unoriginal? Do you want to learn new skills in a unique outdoor experience? Every year, UCSB Adventure Programs offers spring break opportunities perfect for gauchos who said yes to all the above. Whether you’re partial to snowy wilderness, desert-like hikes, or refreshing rivers, there is something for everyone. This year, for all outdoor enthusiasts who want a more intense experience, Adventure Programs proudly presents the Wilderness First Responder course. Trips are open to everyone, and thanks to Rec Sports and students’ initiatives, students may enjoy reduced rates. Spots are limited, so head to the Rec Cen cashier’s office to sign-up now!

Colorado River Canoe Trip
Saturday, March 19th - Tuesday, March 22nd

What better way to learn canoeing than by paddling up the Colorado River for the weekend? Even if you already feel comfortable in a canoe, experiencing the serenity of traveling through the Black Canyon, lined by breathtakingly high cliffs, is incomparable to your average river canoe trip. In fact, all skill levels are encouraged to join the experienced trip leaders, who are more than willing to teach or perfect canoeing skills. The three day trip begins at Willow Beach and ends at the Arizona Hot Springs campground for some rewarding relaxation. Round trip transportation, canoeing instruction, canoes and canoeing gear, breakfast and dinners while camping, as well as group cooking gear are all included in the registration fee. You must supply your own personal equipment, lunch and road meals. Sign up now to ensure you will experience one of the best and most beautiful ways to spend spring break on the water.

Backpacking in the Grand Canyon
Friday, March 18th - Thursday, March 24th

The beauty of the Grand Canyon has intrigued mankind for hundreds of years. Despite the constant inflow of travelers, the canyon remains a natural wonder worth exploring. One can’t help but be awed from being “three quarters of a mile in the depths of the earth [surrounded by] walls and cliffs that rise to the world above” (as described by John Wesley Powell). Due to permit scarcity and competition, UCSB Adventure Programs is extremely fortunate to have received permission for five consecutive days of hiking and camping through the main corridor of the canyon.

The group will leave Friday morning for the South Rim of the Canyon. The next five days will consist of eight to ten mile hikes, which require participants to be in good physical condition, preferably with previous backpacking experience. Night temperatures are expected to be cold, with the possible chance of snow, so pack warm! The trip home will include a planned camping stop and arrival to campus early Friday evening. Paying for registration includes round-trip transportation, breakfasts and dinners while camping, camping fees, permit fees and group equipment. Due to permit restrictions there are only nine spaces available for participants, so hurry to secure your spot!

Wilderness First Responder Course
Saturday, March 19th - Saturday, March 27th

For those of you who spend all your time outdoors and aren’t already certified Wilderness First Responders, what are you waiting for? You owe it to your friends and yourself to take this definitive medical training course. Being up to date and comfortable with proper wilderness medical aid is a must for all outdoor leaders and frequenters. A successful completion of the 72-hour course will earn you a Wilderness First Responder and CPR certification card from Wilderness Medical Associates valid for 3 years. All CPR course curriculum taught is consistent with current American Heart Association standards at the healthcare provider level. Register soon to insure your safety on all future outdoor excursions!

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To register or find more information, please visit http://gauchosplay.com/adventure-programs/spring-break-2011. Several of these trips are offered multiple times in a year. Explore the UCSB Adventure Programs website to see what and when the other trips and courses are offered—there is guaranteed to be a course to meet any Gaucho’s outdoor interests.

By Lisa Gray

Spending time getting to know the natural world around you is more than worthwhile—anyone who has enjoyed rock climbing, kayaking, or hiking will attest to that—but it isn’t always easy to arrange or commit to wilderness excursions. The excuses are endless: You don’t know which trails are best, you aren’t sure what equipment canyoneering requires, you can’t find friends willing to climb with you on the weekends… The list goes on and on.

The Leadership Training Course (LTC) leaves you with no excuses. Proudly provided by UCSB Adventure Program staff (all of which are former LTC members), the course offers guided trips, equipment rentals, hands-on training, and enthusiastic friends to join you on your outdoor adventures. Physics major Jacob Staines tells us how the LTC shaped his freshman year of college and helped him make the most of all the outdoor opportunities around him.

Q: Why did you register for the LTC?
Jacob Staines: I was drawn to UCSB Adventure Programs Leadership Training Course [by the] opportunity to learn. There is so much to do out in the mountains or on the sea, you would be hard pressed to go out there and not learn. I wanted to compliment what experience I had with some professional training, as well as develop new experiences.

Q: Now that you’ve spent nearly six months with your fellow LTC-ers, you must have a lot of great memories. Do you have a favorite?
JS: One of the best parts about LTC is the inevitable development of the LTC family. One of my most profound memories from LTC was on the car ride back from our three-day canoe trip on the Colorado River. This trip took place in November, before any classroom sessions had begun. We had set out, for the most part, as complete strangers. We spent three days on the river, and came back more comfortable with each other than some of us were with our roommates.

Q: The LTC consists of an unbelievable amount of valuable hands-on and classroom instruction. Can you tell us a little about the learning experience?
JS: The learning in LTC comes in three forms.

1.    First, we go out with instructors to experience the wilderness first hand. Here we learned to repel, roll kayaks, cook on a camp stove, and countless other hands-on skills and techniques.

2.    Next we would take these experiences with us into the classroom, where we could break down conflicts and scenarios, discuss options, and learn how to problem solve.

3.    Last, through LTC we are given the freedom to go out and use the AP gear on our own time, to further develop our experience, and to put our classroom discussions to use.

Q: Now that you’ve nearly completely the course, how would you say the LTC has changed your daily life?
JS: What I feel I have developed most drastically is my outlook that the world is out there waiting for me. If I want to spend my Thursday morning rock climbing, all it takes is a desire, some friends who share that desire, and a little planning to make it happen. LTC has helped me to develop all three of these aspects.

Q: It seems you have definitely made a lot of friends and memories. Would you say the LTC has affected your social life as well?
JS: LTC has had a greater role in my social life than any other aspect of college thus far. I have gotten to know everyone in the class on some level, and most have become very close friends. There are people from the UC, the CC, and from the surrounding residence, all of whom I can seek and interact with on my own time. Indeed, some of my closest friends were those who I first met in LTC. I feel that describing LTC as anything less than a family does not do it justice.

Q: The LTC is considered training for future UCSB Adventure Program staff. Are you considering taking that next step?
JS: I am eager to become part of AP Staff, where I will be able to develop my skills even more, develop my friendships even more, and help others to meet the same goals. Oh yeah, and have a hell-of-a-time doing it!

Q: How would you promote adventure for those who are considering adding some excitement to their life?

JS: The occasional adventure every few weeks fits very nicely into college life. If gives me something to look forward to and to seek passion in, and it gives me the chance to balance my studies with mentally and physically healthy activities. It’s a win-win.

 

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Check out the details at www.recreation.ucsb.edu/adventureprograms/staff.aspx or just visit the MAC to talk to current Adventure Programs staff! Take a course that will change the way you take advantage of the outdoors.

By David Russo

The UCSB women’s club volleyball teams played in the Far Westerns tournament in Davis over the weekend, with the Blue team placing 3^rd and the Gold team finishing tied for 9^th out of 45 teams. Blue team lost in the semi-finals to San Jose State.

“We were hoping to finish in the top three,” junior setter Megan Funk said. “It’s one of the biggest tournaments in terms of how rankings are determined.”

Gold team is also happy with their performance.

“It was the first tournament this season we made it to the Gold bracket [instead of Silver or Bronze],” junior outside hitter Lizzie Spencer said.

Last week the teams had an eventful Presidents’ Day weekend, as they traveled to play USC on Saturday before returning home on Sunday for a double header against Long Beach State and Loyola Marymount. The Blue team won all three matches, while the Gold team went 1-2.

Blue team beat USC 3-2 and then swept both Long Beach State and Loyola Marymount 2-0 each.

“We expected to win,” Funk said. “[But] we still have a lot to work on. We have a lot of skill but our meshing needs to be worked on.”

At 5-2 and ranked #21 in the country, Blue team looks to repeat the success they had in 2009 when they won the Division I National Championship and last year when they finished ranked #9.

“We expect our ranking to go up,” Funk said. “We should be a little better than last year [by the end of the season].”

One of the team’s losses came to #4 Arizona at the UCLA Invitational on February 5. The Gauchos finished fifth in the tournament, while Arizona finished in first.

“Arizona has been our rival for the past two years, since we beat them in the National Championship game,” Funk said.

The team has two players who were previously on UCSB’s intercollegiate team: junior libero and captain Jane Hinkle and senior setter Jessica Welch.

“Jessica’s great because we can run a 6-2 [rotation] and always have three hitters,” Funk said.

For Gold team last weekend, it lost to the Trojans 3-0, then lost a close match to the 49ers 2-1 before getting on track for a 2-1 win over the Lions, bringing its record to 2-5.

“We have a lot of individual talent but we need to pull it together,” sophomore middle blocker Tiffanie Schang explained.

Junior outside hitter Christan Schaefer agreed with this assessment.

“We need to build team chemistry,” she said.

One of the team’s losses was a positive display of the team’s potential. At the UCLA invitational, #4 Arizona beat the Gauchos 2-1, but they were the only team to win a game against them, as Arizona swept their other opponents.

Schaefer previously played for Colorado’s intercollegiate team before transferring to UCSB this year. Senior outside hitter Christina Nowak also played for the Gauchos intercollegiate team before switching over to the club team.

“[Sport Clubs] allow for more balance between school and sports,” Schaefer said. “We have games every week and tournaments almost every week, but they’re always on weekends,” Spencer explained.

This weekend, both teams return home for a rematch against USC on March 6. Then the Gauchos have a tournament in Las Vegas March 18-19.

“We’re excited to prove ourselves at the Las Vegas Open and are anticipating to qualify for State Finals,” Schaefer said.

Both teams play in the Southern California Collegiate Volleyball League, and League Championships will take place March 26 in San Diego for the top four teams.

Blue team is hoping to win another league title.

“We’ll definitely finish in the top four,” Funk said.

State Finals will be hosted by UCSB on April 2. Afterwards, Nationals will be held April 7 – 9 in Houston.

By Brent MacDonald

This weekend’s regional races in Lake Tahoe welcome a change in scenery for the UCSB Ski and Snowboard team, which will once again attempt to compete at a high level against schools that are built adjacent to snowy mountains, rather than sandy beaches.

Though UCSB hails from the sunny backdrop of southern California, it is often a surprise to other schools that the team is able to compete at such a high level.

“We do well in our league then go to regionals, and we’re competitive against teams in the mountains,” sophomore Michael Scinto said. “It’s a shocker to most teams that we’re next to the beach then go up to the mountains and still do well in competition.”

UCSB competes against other Southern California teams throughout winter quarter at Mammoth Mountain, and only travels to a different snow resort for regionial and national races. This year’s regional races will be held at Sugarbowl resort in Lake Tahoe. Scinto, a freestyle and slalom skier, participated through both regional races and national races last season, and believes that national competition is the highlight of the ski and snowboard season.

“Last year was one of the best trips of my life,” Scinto said. “I had a really great time and it’s definitely a lot harder of competition but I think we’re up for it.”

This year’s squad has multiple members that have placed in the top two for various races. UCSB’s Kevin Scardigli is ranked second in men’s alpine skiing, while senior Haley Yolken is currently ranked first in the southern California league in the women’s Alpine skiing event. Scinto is ranked second in men’s freestyle skiing.

In comparison to timed-race Alpine events, freestyle races demand more focus on the freedom of tricks and jumps, which attracts much more popularity of competitors. Yolken’s success in the Alpine events is a rarity for UCSB, yet may soon attract attention of its own through her accomplishments.

“Northern California teams are usually better in Alpine events,” Scinto said. “A lot of kids don’t want to race…It’s good to have [Yolken] with a lot of success in racing because they see that if someone can do it, they can too.”

Yolken will anchor a women’s squad that was successful in winning the freestyle skiing event at last year’s national races. The journey to reach nationals this year begins at regional races this weekend, where teams from the northern California league will compete against UCSB for the first time this season, and may have an advantage due to proximity to the mountains.

“There’s a few schools near Tahoe that [can] train everyday,” Yolken said. “Some have campuses five minutes away from the mountain. They’re good competition.”

Teams that hail from colder climates and compete at higher levels will challenge UCSB’s high standings in the southern California league.

“This weekend…is a good preview of what else is out there,” Yolken said. “It puts things into perspective. I might be first in the southern California league, but when you look at all of California I might not be top five.”

Yoken, Scinto and the rest of the UCSB Ski and Snowboard team will try to place in the top two finishers in each event in order to increase their chances of being chosen for nationals. National races take place March 7-12.

“California is one of the strongest states that shows up to nationals,” Yolken said. “We just have to be confident in our abilities and stick to what we know [how to do].”