From winter camping in Yosemite’s snow to hiking the sunny coastal trails at Point Reyes, UCSF’s Outdoor Programs had its busiest January in program history.
“Our goal is to make it easy for students by planning and providing everything they need to explore the many stunning areas within a few hours drive of UCSF,” said Outdoor Programs Manager, Kirk McLaughlin. “The logistics of camping and backpacking can be daunting with competition for campsites in California at its highest in years. Even packing the right gear and finding the time to buy and pack goods can be difficult for our busy students. We take care of everything so they can simply enjoy the great outdoors.”
Outdoor Programs offered nine camping trips over three weekends in January. Destinations included Yosemite, Mt. Diablo, Point Reyes, and Wildcat Canyon. A total of 68 UCSF students participated over three weekends.
“The camping trip to Kirk Creek in Big Sur was my first ever camping trip, and it has gotten me hooked on camping,” said Katie DiLeo, a fourth-year dental student. “The location of the campsite and surrounding areas offers unparalleled stunning views and opportunities to see wildlife, as well as stargazing.”
DiLeo and her camping partners even caught a glimpse of baby elephant seals. “Our UCSF camp host, Steven, did a wonderful job of making us feel welcome and providing us with advice on activities and cooking us delicious food,” she said. “My only regret is waiting until my last year of school to go on a trip!”
The mission of Outdoor Programs is to provide access to the outdoors as part of a balanced life, integrate students from different programs, and learn basic camping skills. Outdoor Programs creates affordable trips for students through funding from the Student Service Fee and the Rec Pass.
“We had students try backpacking for the first time and some even tried camping in the snow,” McLaughlin said.
A student on the Yosemite winter camping trip said the hike was fun but the best part of the trip was huddling around the campfire at night, swapping stories about grad school.
“Highlights for me were the guided tour at the Salmon Creek trail to Spruce Spring with the secret camp spot at Sand Dollar Beach. I also enjoyed the conversations and understanding the world from different perspectives.”
Students also appreciated just being able to show up and not having to worry about booking a campsite, organizing food and finding the right gear.
“If we can make camping and hiking accessible and easy for our students and they can simply meet other students and enjoy their time in nature, we’ve met our goals,” McLaughlin said.
For information about camping and hiking trips, visit UCSF Outdoor Programs or contact McLaughlin at Kirk.McLaughlin@ucsf.edu.
