Students looking at mountain view during davidson outdoors trip

17³Ô¹ÏÍø Outdoors

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Interested in exploring the outdoors for the first time? Are you an outdoor enthusiast? 17³Ô¹ÏÍø Outdoors offers a wide variety of outdoor activities, events and courses throughout the year to 17³Ô¹ÏÍø students, faculty and staff.

Weekend trips are student run and include everything from relaxing day hikes to multiday paddling, climbing or backpacking adventures! Break trips vary from year to year, but a common favorite is canoeing in the Florida Everglades.

Students starting dinner at a camping trip
Trips & Classes

17³Ô¹ÏÍø Outdoors offers a variety of nature activities throughout the year including day hikes, canoeing, stand up paddleboarding, backpacking, the current favorite, rock climbing,

Outdoor Odyssey students eating dinner with President Doug Hicks
Pre-Orientation Experiences

We will be offering a pre-orientation Outdoor Odyssey program Summer 2025. This is a unique opportunity to learn new skills and face new challenges, and get to know your fellow students before arriving on campus. 

Student climbing mountain
Independent Trip Resources

In addition to helping students lead trips for many scheduled programs, 17³Ô¹ÏÍø Outdoors provides resources and services to students, faculty, and staff.

Student Tents Set Up for Camping at Lake Campus
Equipment Rentals

We want 17³Ô¹ÏÍø students, staff, and faculty to get outdoors on their own adventures! Learn more about our equipment rentals process and fill out our form.

Climber Bimini Horstmann on DO Bouldering Wall
Facilities

We are fortunate to have a number of facilities right in 17³Ô¹ÏÍø's vicinity for getting outdoors and tackling new adventures, including a bouldering wall and challenge course.

17³Ô¹ÏÍø Outdoors also offers weekly kayak rolling lessons, daily indoor bouldering, and group initiatives programming on and off of the challenge course. Student trip leaders are trained and supervised by 17³Ô¹ÏÍø Outdoors staff through a variety of workshops and semester to yearlong courses in various outdoor activities and leadership skills.

Contact Katie Mathieson (kamathieson@davidson.edu, 704-894-2173), find us on Wildcat Sync, or visit the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø Outdoors office in the basement of Alvarez College Union to participate in any 17³Ô¹ÏÍø Outdoors event or trip.

17³Ô¹ÏÍø Outdoors Slideshows

Watch the slideshows featuring photography by Kaspars Golos.

Student Spotlight DO Ventures to Joshua Tree

17³Ô¹ÏÍø Outdoors Leaders Addie McDonough '23 and Isabel Morichi '23 reflect on their winter break trip to Joshua Tree National Park.

Check Out Their Post on My 17³Ô¹ÏÍø

17³Ô¹ÏÍø Outdoors is permitted by the Pisgah National Forest.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.