From ice fishing trips in the winter to weeklong spring break excursions, the Michigan State Outdoors Club gives students a chance to step away from campus life, enjoy nature and build lasting friendships.
Outdoors Club President Meredith Jones’ involvement began when she rediscovered her love of the outdoors after the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I kind of rediscovered my love of the outdoors after COVID,” Jones said. “I went on a camping trip with a few friends, and I really enjoyed it. Camping was something I did a lot as a kid, but lost touch with as I got older."
When she arrived at MSU and attended Sparticipation, Jones met members of the executive board and saw an opportunity to build community on campus.
"I met a lot of the e-board at Sparticipation, and they seemed like a really cool group of people, something I wanted to get involved in and be a part of," Jones said.
The club now hosts a range of trips throughout the academic year, from beginner-friendly camping outings to more challenging backpacking excursions. Accessibility is a key consideration when planning events, said Sydney Mueller, the club’s vice president.
"A lot of our trips are really cheap, and they’re entry-level," Mueller said. "We’ll do some backpacking trips where you need experience, and we warn people ahead of time about the mileage and elevation. Or it’s just a camping trip where there are no physical limitations."
In addition to longer trips, the club organizes day outings to destinations such as Belle Isle in Detroit, the Detroit Institute of Arts, Isle Royale and Grand Rapids. By offering a range of options, leaders aim to ensure that students of all experience levels feel welcome.
Beyond outdoor activities, members say the club plays a significant role in building community on campus. Many of his closest friendships were formed through the organization, said Gavin Nippa, the Outdoors Club’s social chair.
"I made almost all of my friends that I spend the most time with through the Outdoors Club," Nippa said. "When you go on these trips with people, you get really close to them. You have to unplug for the trip. It’s a lot of face-to-face connection."
That chance to unplug — stepping away from phones, schoolwork and daily stress — helps members build deeper relationships that extend beyond the trips themselves.
The process of organizing trips also encourages new connections. Participants are often selected at random when trips fill up to help members meet new people, said Patrick Coveyou, the club’s secretary.
"We get a lot of sign-ups, and then we select a group pretty randomly to encourage people to meet new friends they wouldn’t have met otherwise," Coveyou said. "We assign people to cars to travel together and encourage them to reach out beforehand. A lot of those friendships start in the car rides."
Trips can range from weeklong spring break adventures to short day outings, but the goal remains the same: to give students the chance to leave campus and enjoy the outdoors together.
While promoting exploration, the club also stresses environmental responsibility. Jones said the organization adheres closely to Leave No Trace principles.
"We want to make sure that people get outside in a responsible way," Jones said. "We follow Leave No Trace principles, leaving it as we found it and being kind to the environment. Even if you see a really cool Petoskey stone, you leave it."
By combining accessibility, community building and environmental care, the MSU Outdoors Club offers students more than recreation. It provides connection, balance and a sense of belonging within the broader campus community.
