The Kentucky Outdoor Institute (KOI) will be taking a backpacking trip on the Sheltowee Trace from Nov. 15 to 17. The cost of the trip is $25, which includes permits, transportation and food. Both Vemmo and cash are available options. The purpose of the trip is to give students the opportunity to experience the outdoors while also developing skills of leadership and resilience.
The group will spend two nights camping, hiking and learning how to backpack properly. The trip will include fellowship, making s’mores and worship on Sunday. The departure time is Friday at 6:30 p.m. from 101 Bellevue Ave., and the arrival time coming back is 1 p.m. on Sunday.
KOI is a non-profit organization connected with the Adventure Leadership major here at Asbury. The concept of the program is to get students to have hands-on experience in the outdoors. The Kentucky Outdoor Insitutet website states, “Too often, those of us that appreciate and love the outdoors do avoidable damage or take unnecessary risks. This is a problem of education that can be solved. We strive to operate above industry standards as risk managers and pass these concepts on to our participants.” The purpose of the group puts a great deal of emphasis on growing while engaging with nature.
There are a wide variety of events offered by the institute, including rock climbing, canoeing and much more. These events happen every two weeks and are open to all of Asbury’s campus. The trip is another way for students to take a moment to relax before the stress of the end of the semester. If a person is interested, there is more information located at their Instagram account, @kyoutdoorinstitute or by contacting Morgan Cameron at morgan.cameron@asbury.edu.
