Come paddle the Big South Fork of the Cumberland! Govs Outdoors will lead you through the towering sandstone gorge of Big South Fork in your choice of canoe or inflatable kayak. On this trip, the water will be cool and refreshing in the summer heat. We’ll drive down on Saturday, and take to the river late morning. We’ll camp on the shore of the river before finishing our trip the next morning. The very last part of the trip will feature an optional rapid run for paddlers demonstrating paddling proficiency.
Govs Outdoors
Govs Outdoors is Austin Peay’s outdoor recreation program. We offer indoor rock climbing at the Foy, guided outdoor trips, outdoor equipment rentals, and a low-ropes course for teambuilding and leadership programs. We have climbing for all ability levels, outdoor trips from Clarksville to the Grand Canyon, low ropes games for teambuilding, and any of the gear you need to go on your own adventures! Govs Outdoors aims to provide all students with an opportunity to expand their horizons, develop new skills, and improve their self-reliance, all while enjoying the experience of the great outdoors.
Trip Schedule Trip Info Climbing Wall Gear Rental FAQs
Trip Information:
Govs Outdoors offers a variety of outdoor experiences. Some outings will be short, in and around Clarksville, some will be overnight trips, and some will make use of the Fall and Spring Breaks to allow for 3+ days of adventure. Govs Outdoors trips are cooperative adventures; participants will learn relevant skills throughout the trip and be empowered to contribute to the adventure experience.
Trip Difficulty
There is a Govs Outdoors trip for everyone. All trips are open to newcomers, and none
require prior experience, regardless of activity type. Most trips demand a certain
level of physical readiness. Most individuals can meet these demands without additional
preparation, but it is an important consideration for any trip. Some trips require
little more than a paddle stroke every couple of minutes, some will require a 4000
foot climb out of a desert where rescue options are limited. Please inquire BEFORE
registering if you are unsure of your readiness for ANY trip.
Equipment
Specialized equipment will be provided and included in trip pricing. Some trips require
or recommend specific types of clothing articles that the average participant will
already own, such as a dri-fit t-shirt. We may not be able to provide items of this
nature, but we will work with you to find a solution.
Trip Fees
Trip fees include all transportation, lodging, in-camp food, equipment rental and
activity fees. The trip fee advertised is the fee each individual pays.
Refunds/Cancellations
- Full refunds will be granted under the following conditions:
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- A trip that is cancelled by Govs Outdoors for weather, low participation, or other extenuating circumstances.
- A trip is full, has an active waitlist, and another participant is willing to take your spot.
- Family/medical/personal emergencies will be reviewed on case-by-case basis by the Govs Outdoors Coordinator and Associate Director.
- Cancellations 3 weeks in advance of the registration deadline.
- Cancellations 2 weeks in advance of a trip's registration deadline will be eligible for a 75% refund
- Cancellations 1 week in advance of a trip's registration deadline will be eligible for a 50% refund.
- Cancellations within a week of a trip's registration deadline will not be eligible for a refund.
University Recreation reserves the right to cancel a program due to inclement weather, lack of participation, natural disasters, or extenuating circumstances. Sometimes trip pricing includes outside reservation or activity fees; these fees are non-refundable.
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Come on a relaxing float down the scenic Red River. You can explore one of Clarksville's natural hidden gems in your choice of kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard. Transportation and equipment is provided.
Dates: 9/13: (10:00 AM - 4:00 PM)
Price: $30
Registration Deadline: 5 PM, the Friday before the trip
Witness the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Way in a whole new way! In this backpacking adventure, Govs Outdoors will lead you on a 3-day trek through the Smoky Mountains. Vistas, meadows and mountains await. This is a suitable trip for anyone, even those new to backpacking.
We’ll drive down on Friday night, set up camp near our trailhead, and hit trail Saturday morning. We will travel through the mountains for three days on a mostly mellow trail until we loop around back to where we started. We will return to Clarksville on Monday afternoon.
Dates: 10/10 - 10/13
Price: $200
Registration Deadline: 9/29
You bring the thrills in Govs Outdoors' Dyno Competition! This Halloween at the APSU Rock Wall, you will find a selection of climbing challenges designed to see how high you can fly. A Dyno is simply a jumping move in rock climbing. Come and go, or compete to win. We will have a set of preliminary dynos, and a few extra spooky dynos for the top performers to test their powers. Join the APSU climbing community in a simple test of vertical dynamics. And the best part? It's FREE! (costume required)
Dates: 10/30
Price: FREE
Registration Deadline: None! Drop by anytime!
*Requires Foy Center Climbing Membership
Curious what rock climbing is really like? Meet us on Saturdays at King’s Bluff, right here in Clarksville! We bring the gear and expertise, all you have to do is climb! King’s Bluff is one of Clarksville’s hidden gems and has climbs for every ability level.
Dates: 9AM - 1PM, 10/25, 11/08 & 11/15
Price: FREE
Registration Deadline: 5 PM, the Friday before the trip.
*Requires Foy Center Climbing Membership
The Rock at APSU
Climbing at the ROCK at APSU requires a climbing membership. All you need to do is visit the Rock on a Monday or Tuesday, between 3 and 6 PM for an orientation. If you will need other arrangements, please email murchisonm@apsu.
The ROCK features a 12-foot free-standing boulder and a 26-foot roped climbing wall with two autobelay devices. Both the boulder and the wall have climbs suitable for beginners and advanced climbers alike.
Open bouldering is available for climbing members anytime the Foy is open.
Roped climbing is available on Monday and Tuesday, and a Belay Certification is required.
Belay Training
Belaying is managing the rope while a climber is on the wall. Climbers wishing to rope climb will be taught to belay by ROCK Staff (free). After passing a certification test, climbers can rope climb without supervision. All belay certifications are subject to termination if repeated mistakes are observed or reported.
No experience, no problem. Our staff is available during open hours to assist those new to climbing. New climbers will go through a short orientation to become familiar with the ROCK’s policies. All necessary equipment is provided for free.
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Frequently Asked Questions
No! All Govs Outdoors programs are designed to be accessible to people unfamiliar with the activity type. That being said, you may find you are better suited to some activities as opposed to others. We encourage you to ask as many questions as you can think of before the trip so that you can better assess your readiness to take on a new activity.
You should choose a trip based on the activities you are interested in exploring and what that activity’s challenges will be for you. All trips will have their own elements of challenge, and they may not be what you initially think of. Many backpackers find they are not deterred by the physical challenges of walking several miles, but by camping in colder weather and eating less glamorous meals than they were expecting. If you are unsure about the nature of any trip, ask Govs Outdoors Staff. We encourage you to welcome challenges, but ultimately, we want you to enjoy the adventure you choose.
It always depends. Most overnight trips will involve camping, but every now and then we will spend a night in a cabin or hotel. The best source of information is always going to be the Govs Outdoors Staff. Ask about the specific trip(s) you're interested in, and they will let you know what to expect.
Govs Outdoors trips are planned with students in mind, but anyone with a Foy membership may register. Your membership must be active the day you register, and the entire duration of the trip.
- Full refunds will be granted under the following conditions:
- A trip that is cancelled by Govs Outdoors for weather, low participation, or other extenuating circumstances.
- A trip is full, has an active waitlist, and another participant is willing to take your spot.
- Cancellations 3 weeks in advance of the registration deadline.
- Family/medical/personal emergencies will be reviewed on case-by-case basis by the Govs Outdoors Coordinator and Assistant Director.
- Cancellations 2 weeks in advance of a trip's registration deadline will be eligible for a 75% refund
- Cancellations 1 week in advance of a trip's registration deadline will be eligible for a 50% refund.
- Cancellations within a week of a trip's registration deadline will not be eligible for a refund.
We will make every reasonable effort to accommodate dietary restrictions and food allergies. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. Food options are always discussed at Pre-Trip Meetings. If you have a food allergy, you must let us know so we can take preventive measures.
It always depends. Almost all trips will have access to facilities at some point, but not constantly. A climbing site may have restrooms at the trailhead, but not in the climbing area. A backcountry trip may stop at a hotel during travel, but will have no facilities on-trail. However, even on backcountry trips, we prioritize sanitation, and when necessary we will teach participants how to use the backcountry bathroom.
Please do not wait for the Pre-Trip Meeting to begin preparing for your trip. The best people to contact are Govs Outdoors Staff. They have usually done the trip before, and can give you detailed information about how it went, what you’ll need, where people had trouble, etc. Our adventures are accessible to beginners, so the best preparation is mental. Depending on the trip, you may encounter new sources of discomfort, and being open to new challenges is part of the process.
All specialized equipment is provided. To us, this means gear that the average person cannot be expected to provide (i.e. climbing harness, backpacking packs, trekking poles). You will be responsible for personal items, such as clothing and toiletries, but not including specialized clothing such as a rain jacket. You will be expected to provide a bag to pack these items in, unless it is something like a backpacking trip.