root

Mission Statement
The mission of Reconnecting on Outer Terrain (ROOT) is one of leadership, connection, community and outreach. We strive to fulfill the inspiration of those who wish to get into the wilderness, lead trips and reconnect with themselves, others and nature. We aspire to provide the Naropa community with low cost outdoor gear, opportunity for outdoor experiences, expertise on local terrain and a community in which to share. We fulfill this mission through dedicated volunteers and support staff, weekly meetings and shared enthusiasm for outdoor experiences. We chose the name "Reconnecting on Outer Terrain" for the purpose of reducing exclusivity. There are no membership dues or joining processes. ROOT honors all levels of expertise and strives to create an environment that meets the needs of its participants. ROOT trips and meetings are open to all Naropa community members. Through this mission, we extend an invitation for you to get out into the wilderness and reconnect.

Policy
Rentals

About ROOT

History
In the fall of 2002, Scott Epstein and Timothy Crespi noticed that many Naropa students had limited access to outdoor activities such as backpacking, hiking and rock climbing. They were inspired to gain guiding experience and help students explore the Colorado wilderness. When they asked Naropa students and staff about the potential of a student-run outdoor organization, they were amazed to discover that someone had already obtained a small room on campus to serve as an office and gear storage room. That semester they started collecting donations of gear and organizing wilderness trips for students. They began working with SUN to obtain a budget and were allotted work-study hours. In 2003, ROOT members organized and led their first overnight backpacking trip in nearby terrain.

ROOT continues to expand and develop into one of Naropa’s most exciting and active student-run groups. In 2007, ROOT became housed under the Office of Student Affairs, increasing its ability to mature and sustain itself as a student organization.

Contact ROOT
Come visit us: ROOT is located in the basement of the Lincoln Building.
Call us: 303-245-4788
Email us: studentroot@naropa.edu

Trips
ROOT trips are led by ROOT staff and core volunteers, and are attended by members of the Naropa community interested in getting out into the wilderness. Trips have included weeklong backpacking excursions in the remote canyons of Utah, beginner climbing trips on neighboring rocks, weekend overnights to nearby lakes, day hikes in the foothills, snowshoe treks, Telemark skiing and solo back packing/meditation trips. In the 2007–08 school year, ROOT led a total of twenty trips, including full moon hikes, backpacking, rock climbing and two spring break trips to Canyonlands in Utah.

Detailed information about upcoming trips can be found at the ROOT office as well as on event boards located on the three Naropa campuses. Trip sign-up sheets are posted outside the ROOT office a week or two before the event. Trips are on a first-come, first-served basis and often fill up quickly. If you are interested in ROOT offering additional trips, contact us with your ideas and we can help you make your trip a reality.

Upcoming Trips
ROOT has some exciting, fun, and relaxing trips & projects coming up including a climbing trip, a camping overnight, community service project and Saturday hikes to local lakes. Stop by the ROOT office in the basement of the Lincoln Building for more information. Sign up for our E-mailing list outside the office to get information on other trips. We typically plan one or two “big” backpacking trips per semester at very low cost to students.

Weekly Meetings
ROOT staff and core volunteers meet weekly on Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. in the ROOT office in the basement of the Lincoln Building. These meetings are open to anyone in the Naropa community and typically last 1–2 hours.

Employment

ROOT is looking for more core volunteers to join us. The role of the core volunteer includes attending meetings, leading 2 trips per semester and more. In appreciation for their involvement in ROOT, we offer volunteers an incentive program. If this sounds like a good fit for you, please send a letter of interest to:tcrespi@naropa.edu

With the exception of a few items, all ROOT gear is available to Naropa students. If you wish to check out gear, please visit us during our office hours which are posted on our door in the Lincoln Building basement.

At this point, ROOT is unable to rent back packing stoves, fuel or fuel bottles, climbing hardware or climbing ropes. If there is other gear that you would like to have access to, please contact us, and we will do our best to help you obtain the items you need for your trip.

Returning Gear
All gear must be returned to the ROOT office during
office hours so that it can be checked in by a ROOT staff member or volunteer. Call us, email us or check the office door to find out our office hours.