An unbe-leaf-able weekend
Outdoor Rec Fest, March 3 – 4, offers workshops, nature painting and more
THE GREAT OUTDOORS— The 2016 Outdoor Rec Fest gave students the chance to participate in the Arctic 5k (pictured) and meet with outdoor outfitters to learn about types of gear.
Photo Credit : Jessie Rogers
Liberty students can start marking their calendars — Outdoor Rec Fest is making a comeback March 3-4.
According to Outdoor Recreation Assistant Director Mariah Herring, the Outdoor Rec and Student Activities (SA) offices are pairing up again to provide the student body with a weekend of festive fun and a few added features.
Among them are painting and outdoor adventure workshops and a concert featuring local indie-rock band Vacation Manor.
“It’s going to be a super fun weekend with all sorts of activities and interests that students will definitely want to be a part of,” Herring said.
The festivities will kick off Friday, March 3 at noon in the LaHaye Student Union lobby.
The afternoon will include a photography expo spearheaded by SA, in which students have the opportunity to showcase their best outdoor photography.
Submissions will be on display both days, and students can vote for their personal favorites.
The first and second place winners will be announced March 4, just before the screening of the weekend’s feature film ‘Tell It On the Mountain,’ a film
documenting the adventures of life on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Any student photographer interested in entering an outdoor-themed photo can turn his or her submissions in to the SA office, located in Green Hall 2900, as late as March 1.
A detailed list of submission guidelines can be found on the SA webpage under “Events.”
Day one of Outdoor Rec Fest will close out with Vacation Manor’s free performance in the LaHaye Event Space at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are available for pickup at SA’s north campus (Green Hall 2900) and Montview Student Center (2760) offices.
Day two of Outdoor Rec Fest will begin with the Liberty Mountain 5k at 9 a.m. at Hydaway Outdoor Rec Center.
The race is open to students and the general public.
Participants can register as late as race day (March 4), although there is a slight fee increase after the Feb. 18 early-bird deadline.
After the race, Saturday’s lineup is filled with both new and returning activities.
Part two of the photography expo will commence in the LaHaye Event Space alongside the Outdoor Rec vendor expo and gear raffle.
Outdoor apparel businesses from the Lynchburg area, including Blackwater Bike Shop, Riverside Runners and Angler’s Lane will set up with merchandise booths.
By entering their name into the gear raffle, students have a chance to win free backpacks, water bottles, T-shirts and other gear.
Photographers Joel Coleman from the Liberty University Marketing Department and Mitchell Bryant will be returning to instruct the Outdoor Rec Fest’s photography workshop from 3-4 p.m. — also in the LaHaye Event Space March 4.
The duo will teach basic techniques for capturing outdoor photos.
No prior experience is required — simply sign up for one of the 30 openings on the Outdoor Rec webpage and arrive 15 minutes early.
Following the photography workshop, Sip and Spatter — a local painting venue — will host a two-hour painting workshop.
Materials and helpful techniques will be provided by the instructors, as workshop participants learn to paint their own nature scenes.
Thirty registration slots are available online for both beginner and intermediate level painters.
For adventurers who gravitate more toward physical activities, buses will be shuttling to Camp Hydaway from 3-5 p.m. for Outdoor Adventure Workshops.
According to Herring, the 30-minute workshop segments include hiking, birdwatching and a backcountry cooking expo designed to teach students how to cook with ingredients from nature.
Lastly, the finale of Outdoor Rec Fest will take place March 4 at 7:30 p.m. with “Tell It On the Mountain.”
“(Outdoor Rec Fest) is a really cool weekend because it brings together a lot of different interests that people may have,” Student Activities event coordinator Erin Diaz said.
A list of Outdoor Rec Fest’s features and details is available on the Campus
Recreation website.