Year 1: The Beginning | Our first-year team consisted of Stefan, Chad, and Rachel, alongside our two Intramural Student Leaders. At the time, the only program we offered is what we now proudly call Adventure Trips. In one of our very first meetings, we sat in the hallway of a classroom, brainstorming how we wanted to build the program from scratch. It was a humble start, but our biggest goal was clear: to HAVE FUN and LOVE JESUS. This laid the foundation for everything that came after.

The 2nd year team (Chad, Rachel, Kaeleb, Mariah, Matt, Jack) probably headed to tacos in the Scout. Our team expanded from 2 student leaders to 5.

Year 3 | A Year of Growth and Loss | The third-year team, consisting of Taylor White, Chad, Taylor Elder, Cole, Matt, Rachel, Kaeleb, Mariah, and Camille, came together for the last trip of the year: the Unplugged Prescott Camping Trip. Our team grew from 5 to 8 student leaders, and we also saw the soft launch of what is now known as the Creative Team, spearheaded by Matt Davis, adding a fresh wave of innovation to our program. However, the year was marked by a tragic loss. Taylor White (far left) was killed by a drunk driver, leaving a deep impact on our team. In his honor, we created the T-White Mountain Mover Award, a tribute to Taylor’s dedication and spirit. This award now represents the resilience, leadership, and passion that Taylor brought to our team.

Year 4 |A Year of Renewal and Growth | In the fourth year of Outdoor Recreation, our team expanded to a total of 13 members. The lineup included Chad, Scott, Annie, Matt, Anna, and Jack in the back row, with McKenna, Matt, Cole, Katie, Rachel, Hayley, and CJ in the front row. This year was particularly special, as Jack returned to fill the significant void left by Taylor White, bringing his energy and leadership back to the team. During our training sessions, the atmosphere was one of renewal and commitment. We focused on building a stronger foundation for our programs while honoring Taylor’s legacy in everything we did. The team’s growth not only in numbers but in spirit made this year memorable.

Year 5 | Growth Amid | Uncertainty Year 5 of Outdoor Recreation saw significant expansion, with our Adventures Program growing from 13 to 22 students. This was an exciting time for our team as we embraced new challenges and opportunities. One of the major highlights of the year was the opening of our climbing wall, marking our first venture into offering climbing experiences. This addition not only enhanced our programming but also fostered a sense of adventure and community among our participants. However, this year was also tinged with the impending uncertainty of the world, as we were just on the brink of the COVID-19 pandemic, which would soon change everything.

YEAR 6: The year of SUP yoga and the start of the Campus Garden. COVID SUCKED! BUT WE STILL DID THE BEST WE COULD AND DID EVERYTHING WE COULD TO ALWAYS FUN!

Year 7: Finding our groove again!

The team is bigger and better than ever! How it has grown over the years. Loving God and loving people always!