ORGT promotes outdoor recreation

Numerous organizations on campus strive to relax students. Not only does Tech offer a counseling program, an Olympic sized pool and a giant water slide, the Campus Recreation Center's (CRC) Outdoor Recreation at Georgia Tech (ORGT) is becoming increasingly popular.

Despite Tech's location at the heart of Midtown, ORGT aims to take its participants out of the urban jungle and enjoy the outdoor opportunities that Georgia has to offer. Located on the first floor of the CRC, ORGT also runs the indoor climbing wall in the CRC.

"ORGT is a great way to get away from the stresses of school and work. Being outdoors lets you forget about the weekdays, your daily schedules, and society's expectations," said Dean Liao, the General Committee and Mountain Biking Committee Chair of ORGT.

"People at Tech are stuck in the fast-paced nature of city life. Sometimes students should take some time to slow down and enjoy nature," said Andrew McDowell, the Climbing Committee Chair.

To alleviate the stress Tech's course work brings, ORGT offers a number of fun and exciting programs, including whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, whitewater rafting, backpacking, rock climbing and mountain biking. The whitewater rafting program, for example, teaches students proper equipments, strokes, maneuvers and techniques used in rafting. The program consists of a classroom session every week and a trip the following week, where students try out the techniques and learn the real stuff.

"The backpackers offer 3 to 5 classes each semester with corresponding trips. We usually go to the north Georgia mountains for beginner level trips and then to the mountains in western North Carolina for more advanced trips," said Rob Piatkowski, the Backpacking Committee Chair.

"Rock Climbing is a very popular Adventure Sport. The climbing world is growing by the minute because it is fun, challenging, and looks cool. It is a great workout and you get an awesome view at the end," Liao said.

"We have classes at the climbing wall that will get you started or Free Climbing if you just want to try it out," Liao said.

Being a part of ORGT is not only rewarding in a sense that students get to forget about school for one day and go back to nature, it gives its members a sense of leadership and more importantly, friendship and happiness.

"ORGT offers great leadership opportunities and obviously the chance to get out into nature. Each of the different sports has their own committee with its own leadership as well, so there are many ways to become involved at all levels whether leading the trips or a sport's committee," Piatkowski said.

"I am having a great time at college and part of it because I'm involved in ORGT. I've met a lot of friends through ORGT and gained skills in leadership and in the outdoors," Liao said.

However, Tech students are typically kept busy by piles of class work, research duties and organization responsibilities. While ORGT activities seem very time and effort demanding, the committee chairs claim otherwise.

"On average, each sport has a one hour weekly meeting and there is also a one hour general meeting each week. The trips are one to two days during school," Piatkowski said.

"After you take a class and trip or two, you can generally check-out most of the Adventure Sport gear whenever you want. Some students choose to get more involved and take up leadership roles to help instruct. That doesn't require much more time and comes with some good incentives," Liao said.

Moreover, most, if not all, of ORGT's activities do not require previous experience. All of the adventure classes start with the beginner's level, progressing to more advanced skill levels.

"ORGT offers many challenges at various levels, so someone with no experience and someone with years are both welcomed. ORGT is a great place at Tech to meet people with those interests and to plan trips together," Piatkowski said.

To check out the list of classes ORGT is offering for the '07-'08 year and its schedule, visit its website at http://www.crc.gatech.edu/orgt/.