CU Outing Club (CUOC)

The First Aid Cage provides a plethora of knowledge and resources for you to enjoy the woods safely. From taking out our First Aid Kits to providing medical skills training to coordinating the certifications, the First Aid cage has something for everyone! CUOC funds and gives students access to a wide range of safety training including Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Basic Life Support (BLS), Stop the Bleed and American Institution of Avalanche Research and Education One (AAIRE 1). These trainings allow students to do what they love safely, and help others when in backcountry situations. If you want to learn how to enjoy the outdoors safely, care for your trip mates, and check out some super cool supplies you can't get anywhere else, stop by!

Hiking in CUOC is built on a love of the outdoors. From short strolls in the back 40 to Great Range Traverses, we do it all! We have a ton of gear for club members to use and lead intro trips for anyone looking to hike but is unsure where to start. 

Hiking on campus  

• Munter  
• Back 40 

Hiking near campus  

• Stone valley  
• Azure  
• Red sandstone trail  

Wanna ascend to new heights? Really like rocks and beautiful views? Give rock climbing a try… With Cuoc climbing you can get exposure to all forms of climbing from bouldering to top roping, to leading, and even ice climbing. We will show you our ways to have some safe fun and go explore some of the best climbing around. A great starting place is the rock climbing gym in Cheel!

Backcountry skiing is one of the best ways to enjoy the outdoors in the winter. When ski resorts get busy and crowded and you hate waiting in lift lines, backcountry is the way to go! We have a fleet of skis with touring-capable bindings and skins, both alpine and telemark, that you can take out to ski cooler lines than you ever have before! CUOC’s  funds students to receive safety training like AIARE 1, an avalanche education course, to stay safe when enjoying backcountry skiing. After completing the course take out our avalanche rescue gear and ski slides in the Adirondacks or anywhere else in the East!

Canoeing is one of the best activities anyone can do. At Clarkson the canoe chairs utilize the boat house to lend out canoes most days during the week so people can paddle after classes. Canoeing is a great way to relax and explore the wonderful Raquette River that runs through Potsdam. We also run trips off campus to the lakes in the Adirondack Park. Canoeing opens up a whole new side of the Adirondacks and nature as a whole.
A great place to start is the Boathouse right on campus!

Caving is exploring the cool and awesome caves that we have near and around campus. Whether it’s going to the Adirondacks and exploring the various caves around the Hudson River gorge or bushwhacking to find new and exciting caves, there is always a good time. Caving is accessible to everyone, all you need is a headlamp and a helmet and you can start exploring. CUOC has all the gear you may need, and the knowledge to teach you how. So if you like getting muddy and exploring new places few people in the world have seen, caving is for you!
We have helmets, headlamps, gloves, and knee pads that can be checked out by club members. We also have some gear for vertical caving, including ascenders, descenders and harnesses.

Slacklining is one of the easiest ways to get outside, because all you need is the line (which we have) and two trees! Slacklining is a sport that involves setting up a tensioned line between two hard points, typically trees, you have to stand on the line and balance as you try to walk across, it's relaxing and great fun and a great way to get some activity in while improving your skills. On any day with nice weather, we’ll have slacklines set up down by the Raquette River, right on campus, and you can almost always find friends  sitting in hammocks, slacklining, and enjoying the day! We have a couple different difficulties of line so there is something for everyone. You can either try walking on a line for the first time with us or take one of our lines with you to enjoy the outdoors on campus or anywhere else!

Cross-country skiing is a fun, full-body winter workout that lets you glide through and explore the woods. There’s multiple styles: classic skiing, skate-like motion of skate skiing, or backcountry which can go anywhere in the woods (no trail needed!). It is a great way to explore the outdoors, build endurance, and enjoy winter to the fullest! 

XC on campus 

• Munter
• Back 40

XC near campus 

• Higley Flow
• VIC
  
   

Fishing is a relaxing and rewarding way to escape into the great outdoors. Whether you’re casting your line into a tranquil river in the fall, or jigging through the ice in winter, you can experience the adventure and calm of fishing in all seasons of the North Country. Regardless of your skill level, fishing is fun for newbies and master anglers alike. It’s a great way to unwind from the stresses of the day, enjoy beautiful landscapes, and connect with nature. Just get out there and start casting! A great place to start is the campus boathouse!

The forest management chair of CUOC serves as the student liaison, responsible for overseeing the Clarkson Woods, also known as the Back 40. This position involves coordinating with the Institute for a Sustainable Environment (ISE) to organize freshman service projects at the beginning of the year focused on improving commonly used trails and fire pits in the Back 40. Maintaining the Back 40 on campus is an important part of giving back to our community. 
 

46 Climbs is an organization that focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. The organization was started in memoriam of a student who was attempting to become an Adirondack 46er, but sadly died of suicide before they could reach their goal. Using the outdoors to promote better mental health, the organization encourages people to spread the word about mental health in the Adirondack High Peaks and the outdoors in general. 46 Climbs has now transformed into an annual event that encourages everyone to get outside, and continue to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) with their proceeds. While promoting mental health, the organization also promotes backcountry safety and Leave No Trace initiatives with their packages they sell annually. 

https://46climbs.com/ 

CUOC strives to give back to the outdoor spaces, combining our involvement with the outdoors with a goal to give back to the community. Through outdoor service projects, we work on local trails and trails in the Adirondacks.