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The Legend of TRAiLS
Originally founded in 2002, TRAiLS is rooted in student interest in outdoor adventure programming and experiential education. Before TRAiLS, GW's largest outdoor initiative had been the Project Exploration (PE) pre-orientation program for incoming freshmen. During the 1990s, PE grew to be so successful at bringing new students together and challenging them in the West Virginia wilderness that it was only a matter of time before its participants demanded a year-long outlet for outdoor-oriented academic programming.The first attempts at year-round outdoor adventure education took place on two fronts. The student organization known as C.O.R.E. (Campus Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts) was responsible for most of the University's outdoor adventure and event planning during the late-1990s. C.O.R.E. specifically offered hiking trips, ski outings, and climbing excursions, but eventually dissolved in the Spring of 2001.
The second attempt at year-round outdoor adventure education was made with the founding of the Outdoor Adventure Living and Learning Community for freshmen in the Fall of 2001. Through the Community Living and Learning Center's residence hall life initiatives, a group of 15 to 20 freshmen was given the opportunity (and funding) to create, plan, and attend a range of outdoor trips from backpacking and climbing, to mountain biking and rafting. While this effort successfully offered incoming freshmen a continuation of the awesome PE experience, it failed to include the entire campus community, as C.O.R.E. had done.This limitation was eventually resolved, thanks to the perserverence, insight, and plain-old hard work of a GW senior named Aviva Flowerman. During her final year at GW, Aviva lobbied to enact an ongoing and "permanent" PE experience for all members of the GW community; thus began GW TRAiLS in the Fall of 2002. The burgenoning program picked up momentum as the year progressed, planning and offering a Alternative Spring Break trip in the Spring semester - an excursion to Big South Fork for some intensive backpacking and park maintenance. This trip's dual focus on recreation and service laid the current foundation for GW TRAiLS, which is committed to combining outdoor fun with environmental responsibility and activism. The program's success continued, enabling a whitewater rafting trip to Ohiopyle, PA, investments in the beginning of a TRAiLS gear inventory, and, finally, a Plan-n'-Play weekend in the Shenandoah mountains, which was essentially a retreat at which student and faculty leaders came together to brainstorm creative programming ideas for the upcoming academic year.In August 2003, TRAiLS' first graduate Director came on-board, along with a staff of six Guides. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of these early "Hall-of-Famers," TRAiLS not only put on some great events, it also established firm traditions such as PE-Wild (PE-Backcountry), an annual Ohiopyle River whitewater trip, a leadership Plan-n'-Play weekend, and some very popular Alternative Break Trips. All of these efforts served to keep the original spirit and energy of the organization alive.
Currently, GW TRAiLS reaches over 1,000 people by our weekly listserve, the TRAiLBlaze. TRAiLS now caters to hundreds of community participants throughout the year, incorporating both GW faculty and staff involvement. In fact, TRAiLS has become a recognized force for leadership-building throughout the entire GW campus. But we're not stopping there! TRAiLS staff has now grown to sixteen Guides, and they will be offering at least one outing, event, trip, or service activity every week throughout the 2009 - 2010 academic year!
At TRAiLS, we are constantly striving to preserve the traditions we're honored to have at our "core" - while at the same time developing innovative educational programs that stimulate our campus community. 2009 - 2010 is an extremely exciting time for TRAiLS! The Legend continues... come find out what it's all about!
