Adventure Trips
Get Out of College Park and Explore the Outdoors
Trips hosted by the Adventure Program are a great opportunity to learn new outdoor skills, travel, and meet new people. Unless otherwise stated, all trips are designed as introductory experiences and no previous experience is required. Trained trip leaders will teach you the basics of what you need to know in order to recreate outdoors.
Find Your Adventure!
Open-Enrollment Trips
The Adventure Program offers a variety of adventure trips for the UMD community. Current UMD students are eligible to participate on adventure trips. Trip registration includes transportation, equipment rental, camping fees, park entrance fees, and trained trip leaders. On trips of three days length or longer, backcountry meals are also included.
Preview the Fall 2023 Adventure Trip Schedule! Registration looks a little different this year, so please review the Fall 2023 Trip Registration Guide prior to registration opening on Monday, August 28 at 6 AM.
Custom Adventure Trips
The Adventure Program can create and lead a custom trip just for you and your group! We offer custom trips ranging in length from one to two days for UMD affiliated groups of 6-20 people. Trip activities include: hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, rock climbing, caving, paddling, and camping.
Review the custom trip options and cost document below for trip activity and location options. To schedule a custom trip, complete the custom trip request form at least three weeks before your desired trip.
Custom Trip Options & Costs
Custom Trip Request Form
If you are in need of financial assistance in order to participate on an adventure trip, you can apply for funding from the Adventure Program Access and Enrichment Fund. The fund was created to cover full or partial adventure trip registrations for students who need financial assistance. Our hope is to provide more Terps with the opportunity to get outside and experience the wellness benefits of physical activity and spending time in nature.
Applications to the Access and Enrichment Fund are now closed for the Fall Semester. Be sure to check back in January if you'd like to apply for funding for our Spring 2024 Adventure Trips!
Pre-trip meetings are mandatory in order to participate on adventure trips. Unless otherwise stated, pre-trip meetings occur on the Tuesday before the trip at 8 PM in the Adventure Program.
During the pre-trip meeting, you will meet other people going on the trip, review important trip logistics and safety information, practice important outdoor skills, and check out any necessary equipment for your adventure.
Complete the trip registration form prior to your pre-trip meeting.
If an adventure trip is full and you are interested in being placed on the waitlist for the trip, add yourself through the trip registration page. We will contact you if a space becomes available, after which you will be asked to pay and complete registration. We will hold a space for 24 hours after notifying you.
If University Recreation & Wellness (RecWell) cancels the trip due to weather, lack of participants, or other circumstances, the participant will receive a full refund.
For a one or two day trip: if the participant cancels their registration eight business days (defined as Monday - Friday when classes are in session) or more prior to the first day of the trip, a refund will be given, less a $10.00 processing fee. Cancellations made within 7 business days prior to the first day of the trip will result in no refund. If you or the Adventure Program are able to find another individual to take your place on the trip two business days or more in advance of the trip, a refund will be given less a $10.00 processing fee.
For extended trips of 3 days length or longer: if the participant cancels their registration 13 business days or more prior to the first day of the trip a refund will be given, less a $10.00 processing fee. Cancellations made within 12 business days prior to the first day of the trip will result in no refund. If you or the Adventure Program are able to find another individual to take your place on the trip five business days or more in advance of the trip, a refund will be given less a $10.00 processing fee.
All cancellations and refunds must be submitted through the RecWell Adventure Program Trip Cancellation & Refund Request Form. The timestamp generated from the completion of this form will act as the official time of your cancellation / refund request.
Cancellation & Refund Request Form
The RecWell Adventure Program values inclusion and is committed to making programs accessible to as many individuals as possible. Adventure Program professional staff have designed these essential eligibility criteria based on industry best practices, benchmarking with other organizations, available equipment, and level of staff training within the RecWell Adventure Program.
Individual adventure trips can vary based on the specific activity and location. Trip descriptions may contain additional or more specific requirements. If you have questions or concerns about meeting certain criteria, please contact Meghan Loughry at mloughry@umd.edu or at 301-226-3078 to determine if it is possible to make programmatic or equipment accommodations to meet your needs.
The Adventure Program has adaptive kayaking, climbing, and biking equipment that may be used to assist individuals. Adventure Program staff are committed to assisting participants with accommodations unless it alters the fundamental nature or safety of the experience.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
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