Govs Outdoors
University Recreation's Govs Outdoors trips/outings are cooperative adventures aimed to empower and connect people through unique and exciting experiences. These experiences are meant to provide participants space to grow and develop skills while having fun in the great outdoors! Each person will be an equal member of the group on these trips, regardless of skill level. Therefore, it is important that each participant accurately and honestly assesses his or her own skill level before taking part in trips that are perhaps beyond his or her abilities. That being said, we offer trips for every level of experience so that all students have the opportunity to take part. University Recreation wants all people to expand their skillset and improve self-reliance to communicate and work as a group while enjoying the outdoor world.
Trip Schedule Trip Info Climbing Wall Gear Rental FAQs
Trip Information:
All trips have a minimum and maximum participant requirement.
Pre-Trip Meetings
A pre-trip meeting will be held at 5:00 pm the Wednesday before each trip at the Govs
Outdoors Center located in the main lobby of the Foy Center. Attendance is required.
Trip Forms
Participant Medical Information & Agreement
Trip Fees
All prices are per person and include transportation for APSU affiliated participants,
in-camp food, group equipment, camping sites, and other miscellaneous fees.
Scholarships
For students that may have trouble covering some or all of the costs for trips, the
Adult Non-traditional and Transfer Student (ANTS) Center is now offering scholarships.
To apply for the scholarship, click here!
For more information on the ANTS Center, click here!
Equipment
All group equipment and most trip-specific personal gear is included in trip pricing.
Refunds/Cancellations
University Recreation reserves the right to cancel a program due to inclement weather,
lack of participation, natural disasters, or extenuating circumstances. In the event
Govs Outdoors must cancel a program, a full trip refund will be provided. Some trips
may require outside reservation or equipment fees; these fees are non-refundable.
Should a participant choose to cancel before the trip registration deadline they will
receive a full refund. Any cancellations after the registration deadline of the trip
will not receive a refund.
Trip Difficulty Ratings
Trips are given a rating of Easy, Moderate, or Difficult based on the level of physical fitness/skill the Govs Outdoors staff believes the
trip will require. This is an estimation only, but should be considered before signing
up for a trip.
Spring 2023 Trips:
Learn what outdoor climbing is really like! Meet Govs Outdoors staff at the bluffs, and they'll set up the ropes, belay and give instruction. Kings Bluff is located right here in Clarksville, and is a great introduction to the world of outdoor climbing. On the fence about one of our other climbing trips? Why not try out? The best part is it's free (you must still register so we know how many people to expect).
Dates: March 18, April 8, and April 22
Price: FREE!
Registration Deadline: Friday at 5pm, the day before we meet
Pre-Trip Meeting: N/a
Difficulty: Easy
Join us as we head to Indian Gravepoint Cave, south of Nashville, to do some caving. Indian Gravepoint is a natural wonder just south of Nashville, and is a great introductory experience into the world of spelunking. Govs Outdoors will provide gear, transportation, support and snacks on this day trip!
Dates: April 1, 2023
Price: $20 (includes transportation, equipment)
Registration Deadline: Thursday March 23 at 11:59 pm
Pre-Trip Meeting: Wednesday March 29 at 5:00 pm
Difficulty: Easy
If you're on the fence about climbing outside, this is the trip for you. We will be bouldering near the Obed scenic river, which has an extensive variety of introductory grades. Bouldering stays low to the ground and doesn't require any complex or bulky gear; all you need is a little stoke! Govs Outdoors will provide crashpads, climbing shoes, and chalk. Join us for a day of world-renowned climbing in a beautiful place!
Dates: April 1, 2023
Price: $45 (includes transportation, equipment, snacks)
Registration Deadline: Thursday March 23 at 11:59 pm
Pre-Trip Meeting: Wednesday March 29 at 5:00 pm
Difficulty: Easy
Join Govs Outdoors for a weekend of climbing in a world class climbing location! Red River Gorge is not only one of the eastern US's most scenic sites, it's also known worldwide for its massive selection of high-quality climbs, with some climbers regularly making 12-hour drives just to spend a day at "The Red". The Govs Outdoors team will get you outfitted with all the gear you need, set up the climbs, and provide climbing instruction for the trip. No experience is necessary, and climbers of all skill levels will have plenty of routes to choose from.
Dates: April 15-16, 2023
Price: $90 (includes campgrounds, transportation, all climbing equipment)
Registration Deadline: Thursday April 6 at 11:59 pm
Pre-Trip Meeting: Wednesday April 12 at 5:00 pm
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Join the Govs Outdoor Adventure Team for a float on the beautiful Red River, just down the road in Adams, TN. The GOATs will provide boats and equipment, and some paddling instruction. This is a casual, relaxing float in a beautiful location. We intend to canoe, but if you have experience with paddleboards, or kayaks, we can provide these as well.
Dates: April 22nd, 2023
Price: $22, (includes transportation, boats, gear)
Registration Deadline: Thursday, April 13, at 11:59pm
Pre-Trip Meeting: Wednesday, April 19 at 5:00pm
Difficulty: Easy
Climbing Wall
Staff will be available to assist you Monday-Friday 2-7 pm, Bouldering available at any time during Foy facility hours.
The Foy Fitness and Recreation Center features a 26-foot wall with 8 top rope anchors and 2 auto-belays. At any given time there are 14-20 routes geared toward the first time climber or the seasoned veteran. We also have a 12-foot free-standing boulder to give that extra challenge without roping up.
No experience, no problem. Our staff is available during open hours to assist those new to climbing. New climbers are briefed on rules, safety measures, and equipment during an orientation from one of our well-trained staff. All participants must complete the required forms at the Climbing Wall desk.
Instructional Opportunities: Once you've developed a love for climbing and want to take your knowledge to the next level, our climbing instructors offer top rope belay trainings as requested and lead climbing clinics on a regular basis. You can even take an academic class to get a solid foundation in climbing knowledge.
Belay Training
If you already know how to belay using the PBUS (Pull, Brake, Under, Slide) technique, you can get belay trained by testing out with one of our Climbing Wall Staff during open climbing hours. Walk-ins are welcome, however, Climbing Wall staff may need to schedule trainings in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- No! Many of our programs are designed for beginners. We do not expect you to have experience or be proficient unless specified in the trip information. Your trip leaders will teach you what you need to know for your trip. You should anticipate the experience will be a genuine challenge, and a fun, valuable experience.
- It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what trip is right for you. However, asking yourself the following questions may help you in selecting a trip: Where do I want to travel? What activities would I like to try? How much time do I have? How physically demanding is the trip?
- Although the majority of trips are open to all skill levels, be sure to read the trip description to determine if there are any required skills and review the physical exertion rating in the trip information. In general, an active person in good physical health, should expect to be fine, but carrying textbooks is a little different from carrying backpacking essentials over uneven trails for multiple days. We want everyone to enjoy our expeditions, and being adequately prepared will lead to a great overall experience.
- Generally, there are between 4-14 participants and 2 trip leaders. The number of registrants can vary by trip type, accommodations, cost, and distance.
- It depends on the trip. For certain trips we reserve large cabins, while others we camp in tents. Check the trip information for details. If a trip is an overnight trip, it takes place over more than one day. We do not plan day trips that require driving overnight or have extremely late returns. If participants need to share rooms or tents, we determine placement during the pre-trip meeting and do our best to ensure everyone is paired appropriately.
- All Govs Outdoors trips are open to university students, faculty, staff, and those with memberships to the Foy Fitness & Recreation Center. Students who are under 18 years of age must have forms signed by their parent/legal guardian before being eligible to participant on a trip. If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact us.
- After the trip registration deadline, there are absolutely NO refunds unless:
- University Recreation cancels the trip due to low participation or weather.
- The trip is full and has a waiting list, and there is another person willing to take your spot.
- Family/Medical/Academic issues that will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Govs Outdoors Coordinator and Assistant Director.
- Refunds are credited to student, faculty, or staff through the APSU Business Office and may take several days. Affiliates, guests, and those with community memberships will be refunded by check which can be mailed or picked up in person at the APSU Cashiers window.
- We will make every effort to accommodate food allergies. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. We discuss food options and come to a group consensus for meals at the Pre-Trip meetings.
- It depends on the trip. Be sure to read the trip information, especially for overnight trips. On some backpacking and camping trips, bathroom facilities may not be available, but this does not mean we will totally abandon sanitation! Our trip leaders will teach each participant how to use the bathroom outside, keep clean hands, keep clean teeth, and other essentials in order to stay (relatively) clean.
- There may be some recommendations in the trip information, but doing some type of regular exercise may help to feel more comfortable with the activities on the trip. Any specific pertinent information, packing lists, or equipment offered will be covered in the Pre-Trip meeting.
- Govs Outdoors has much of the equipment necessary for our outdoor activities, covered in the trip cost. If any additional equipment is needed, we coordinate rentals and include the rental fees in the overall trip cost. Participants will be responsible for any clothing items needed for the trip, but normal athletic wear is appropriate for almost every trip we run. If there are any specialized clothing items required, they will be listed in the trip description.