Life is full of adventure & from playing in the woods to, quite possibly, falling from the sky.

Although Spring semester has started, there are still plenty of trips to attend through NIU’s Outing Center.

“We’re all about beginners,” said Tiffany Campbell, outdoor coordinator. “You don’t need experience to go on the trips.”

If a person is interested in getting involved, they only need to pick out a trip, sign up at the Outing Center in the Office of Campus Recreation and go, Campbell said.

Some of this semester’s adventures will include camping, indoor climbing, star-gazing, caving, canoeing, sky diving, mountain biking, kayaking and rock climbing.

Most of the adventures take place over three-day weekends, the first being a camping trip Friday, March 2.

Those attending each trip are required to go to a meeting to get an up-to-date itinerary and figure out what they’ll need to bring.

In addition to the actual camping trip, there’s an orienteering workshop from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., March 31 that teaches attendees how to avoid getting lost in the woods. In April, there will be a course on wilderness skills covering fire-making skills, tracking, rope-making and more.

“This is a great thing,” Campbell said. “Food and gear are provided for the price you pay.”

The leaders are well-trained and very friendly students, Campbell added.

The Outing Center also will have extended trips, lasting at least two weeks and requiring attendance at an info meeting held at the end of the semester.

The extended adventures include backpacking and rock climbing in Utah, three weeks of kayaking and more in Oregon, a visit to the Boundary Waters for some peace and quiet in Minnesota, a visit into the parks and rivers of Wyoming and hiking in Vermont.

“I did indoor rock climbing with some friends last semester and it was fun,” said Erin O’Leary, a freshman biology major. “I had a good time.”

The Outing Center welcomes ideas for new adventures.