Sea Kayaking Trip Gives Students New Opportunities

During spring break, Outdoor Adventures sent a group of students to the Florida Keys on a kayaking excursion. Tent camping each night, the students toured through different keys every day. Additionally, one of the main objectives of the trip was to teach various kayaking strokes and techniques. One of the students responsible for ensuring everything went smoothly was Josiah Gibbs, who served as a student leader for the trip.

Josiah Gibbs started working for Outdoor Adventures in the fall of 2015 as a rentals assistant, and after moving through multiple jobs within OA, Josiah trained as a trip leader and chose to lead the Florida Keys trip. Josiah is glad that he made the decision to get more involved in Outdoor Adventures. “Being a trip leader for Outdoor Adventures has been a fantastic experience. It allows me to get a behind the scenes look of what is required in planning for a trip, acting as a leader, and learning how to encourage others.”

The longer distance, more involved trips that Outdoor Adventure has to offer provide students the chance to have the most impactful experience possible. Josiah sees trips like the one students took to the Keys as special. “I think the ability to impact people who go on trips increases drastically when the trip lasts for more than a day. When you are around eight to 10 people you don’t know very well for several days, bonds start to form.” This opportunity to connect with other students is something the Josiah sees as critically important, and something that students found on this trip to the Keys. “People start becoming comfortable with each other, and they start showing who they really are.”

The Florida Keys Kayaking trip provided students with an escape and gave them unique opportunities. Josiah was able to see these benefits firsthand while serving as a student leader, he saw what the trip provided his fellow students. “They get a chance to escape the technology that is in everyday life, form some cool relationships, and learn a really cool activity in the process. The trips at OA can offer the close-knit community that is often not found in larger universities.” Josiah was able to provide the students he led with this close-knit community. “My goal is that people have the best possible experience while going away having grown to be a better person.” Taking the opportunity to become involved as a student leader is to take the opportunity to help others and to gain valuable experience. “I would absolutely recommend becoming a trip leader to others. It puts you in the position to grow as a person and to help others do the same. After all, isn’t that what life’s all about?”