Lyndee Pinkerton

Trinity’s Outdoor Recreation (OREC) program offers students an opportunity to explore nature, meet new people and step outside their comfort zones. OREC trips include activities like hiking, biking, canoeing, swimming and more.
Phoebe Diamond, junior urban studies major, explained that being in nature helps her come to peace with her life and the struggles she faces. Diamond first encountered OREC in the spring semester of her first year when she went to the Student Involvement Fair. She later saw they were hiring and applied due to her love for the outdoors.
“I meet the kindest people, and I love to adventure and explore. I grew up doing that. Every time that something gets hard, and I have a trip coming up — it’s what I’ll be looking forward to. The trip resets you. It balances me. It really helps me in every way,” Diamond said. “We get along very well because we have the same interests regarding wanting to be outside and wanting to make being outside inclusive for everyone at Trinity. I met my very best friend immediately in OREC, and we are still best friends.”
Diamond explained that the trips are typically on Saturdays and Sundays. She said that the OREC schedule can be found on Instagram, at the Student Involvement Fair and in the student newsletters. She said that outside of San Antonio, there is the beautiful Hill Country for hikes and swimming, referencing Canyon Lake, Boerne Lake and Lost Maples State Natural Area.
“If you are driving outside of San Antonio and you are passing industry and fast food places, you’re like, ‘Does this get pretty?’ It really does,” Diamond said. “We have such a variety that if you are reluctant to come, it’s more about picking something that will put you outside of your comfort zone a little bit. But we have something for everybody — that’s the special thing about OREC.”
Caroline Hofmann, first-year psychology major, wants to go on more trips to get off campus and reconnect with nature. For her, it is nice to get away and do something active — particularly an activity that involves water.
“There’s too much technology around so it’s nice to step away, especially with this new Fizz app — that’s bad news. It’s good to get away. I enjoy not having to be around my phone or be worried about what’s going on there, and just be in the moment and do whatever activity with whoever is there,” Hofmann said. “I want to see more water trips from OREC for sure.”
Hofmann explained that she participated in a wakeboarding trip with OREC. She likes taking big group trips, so for her this experience was especially fun. Furthermore, she has wakesurfed in the past, which yielded confidence and excitement for the wakeboarding activity.
“I am watching the people go off. You hang on to this little rope thing. Then it literally yanks you at like 20 MPH and it’s like, ‘Yah!’ It took me six times of not completely faceplanting into the water when the rope dragged me, so I kept messing it up. So did everyone else, so it was fine. Eventually, I got it and I was like, ‘I’m so good.’ I was so sore the next day, but it was really fun,” Hofmann said.
Deven Kirpalani, first-year Earth systems science major and former OREC staff member, explained that OREC has a variety of opportunities for students to rent out equipment and partake in their own trips. He believes that OREC’s job is to decrease students’ stress.
“You feel refreshed and ready to go back to class,” Kirpalani said. “The best thing about camping is doing it with people that you love and sharing the experience with them, no matter the weather or how cold it is. It’s just something about the wilderness that makes you feel better about life.”
Kirpalani went on the first-year campout trip to Garner State Park. He explained that this was a great opportunity to meet new people, especially other first-years. He recounted that the trip entailed cliff-jumping, swimming, stargazing and a nice campfire.
“Fresh air — you gotta chase for it,” Kirpalani said. “The silence and the time to reflect about everything. The world is so crazy and filled with distraction and noise. The chance to be in silence with birds chirping, hearing the wind and staring up at the stars at night with others. More people need to see the Milky Way, more people need to see sunrises and sunsets. They happen every day — we take it for granted. Out there it’s great.”