Article by Kora Martin, Class of 2029
Stand Up Paddle Boarding at Big Meadows
The Adams State University Adventure Program (ASAP) offers activities, trips, and skill building for every level of interested, or active, outdoor student.
Wil Rickards, director of the program since 2023, said the program was established in 1925 and is the third oldest collegiate adventure program in the nation. This spring he expanded offerings to attract interest from more students.
Bennett Peak Hike/Camp
The Adventure Program provides students with the opportunity to do everything from tie knots to ice climb Zapata Falls. This semester includes Mondays at the Wall, rock climbing activities in the Rex Activity Center; Adventure Wednesdays, movies, learning new techniques, or visiting the Sand Dunes Swimming Pool; and Fridays at the Pool, an opportunity for students to gain watercraft skills.
Rickards says these activities provide students with valuable life skills. “I define adventure as the feeling you get from an uncertain outcome. Dealing with that uncertainty grows leadership faster than almost anything else.”
Wil Rickards assists with tuning skis.
The Adventure Program is open to all Adams State students; no prior experience or equipment is needed.
“Don’t leave ASU without experiencing the incredible wilderness in your own backyard,” Rickards added. “Come find out how amazing the Valley—and the people you go to school with—truly are.”
For more details, email adventureprograms@adams.edu or follow their Instagram @adventure_programs.
Blanca Vista Park Stand Up Paddle Boarding
