Trips and Workshops - Archive

Spring 2009

Date	Trip	Location	Cost	Other Information	Register
Sat., Jan 17	Day Hike	Houston, TX	$20	Explore Texas. Head out to Stephen F. Austin State Park for the day.	Full
Feb 7-8	Rock Climb	Austin, TX	$35	Beginning climbing overnight, Reimer’s Ranch near Austin	Full
Feb 20-22	Caving	Austin, TX	$75	Exploring 2 caves, under and around Austin, Texas	Full
March 1-6	Backpacking	Big Bend, TX	$200	Backpacking Spring Break, Big Bend National Park	Full
Sun., March 15	Sailing	Kemah, TX	$40	Coastal Sailing, in Kemah	Full
March 28-29	Rock Climbing	Austin, TX	$35	Rock Climbing, Reimer’s Ranch near Austin	Full
April 2-3	White Water Kayaking	San Marcos , TX	$40	Spring Recess River Kayaking, San Marcos River	Full
Sat., April 11	Canoeing	Armand Bayou, TX	$30	Texas canoe trail day trip	Full

Trip Descriptions

Explore Texas Day Hike , Jan 17
Rice is awesome, but being stuck inside Houston city limits for months and months is definitely not. Escape for a day by joining ROPE for some pleasant hiking in at Stephen F. Austin State Park, an hour west of Houston, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturday, January 17 th. Come see the native Texas wildlife, breathe some fresh air, and get some accidental exercise in the process. Transportation, food, and park entry fees included.

Rock Climbing , Feb 7-8 +Pre-trip Meeting
You love climbing, and ROPE loves taking you to Reimer’s Ranch in Austin to go climbing. This semester, the introductory-level climbing trip will depart the morning of Saturday, February 7 th. We will spend the evening camping at Pedernales State Park, then head over to Reimer’s ranch Sunday morning and climb until we can climb no more. Depending on group interest, we’ll be back at Rice at or before 8:00 PM on Sunday, February 8th. Climbing gear, park fees, camping gear, transportation and food included. MANDATORY pre-trip meeting Wednesday, February 4 th from 5:30-7:00 PM.

Caving Weekend , Feb 20-22 +Pre-trip Meeting
What’s better than a single day of caving? A WHOLE WEEKEND OF CAVING. Join ROPE on a two-cave adventure under central Texas, Friday, February 20th - Sunday, February 22nd. We will leave Houston Friday evening and spend the night camping at Inks Lake State Park. Saturday, we will spelunk our way through the two-hour wild cave tour at Longhorn Caverns then spend the evening cleaning up and relaxing back at the lake. On Sunday, we will venture through Austin’s whirlpool cave, and make it back to campus by Sunday evening. Caving gear, transportation, and food included. MANDATORY pre-trip meeting Wednesday, February 18 from 5:30-7:00 PM.

Spring Break Backpacking , March 1-6 +Pre-trip Meeting
Come join ROPE and backpack your way through spring break at Big Bend National Park in scenic, mountainous west Texas from March 1st through March 6 th. No backpacking experience is required, but participants should be proud owners of sturdy and well broken-in hiking boots, as well as confidence in their ability to hike 3-5 miles per day carrying 35-50 pounds. Transportation, park fees, camping gear, and food included. MANDATORY pre-trip meeting Tuesday, February 24 th from 5:30-7:30 PM.

Sailing, March 15
Step up to the challenge of sailing a beautiful 38-foot sailboat off Kemah, on Galveston Bay while savoring the effects of this unique "hydro-therapy". Whether you look forward to just kicking back and enjoying an afternoon or trying your hand at the helm and with the sails, this trip is guaranteed to satisfy. The experience will be hosted by trans-Atlantic sailor Capt. Dave McCabe of Blue Marlin Sailing. We will depart Rice University at noon on Sunday, March 15 th, spend all afternoon on the water, and return to campus by around 8:00 PM. Transportation, food, and sailing costs included.

Rock Climbing , March 28-29 +Pre-trip Meeting
This trip is designed for climbers of all experience levels. We will set a variety of climbs ranging from 5.7 to 5.10's based on the experience level of trip participants. Reimer's ranch is located about an hour west of Austin along the Pedernales River in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, and climbs will range from 30 to 75 feet high. We will drive out to Austin the morning of Saturday, March 21st, climb all afternoon, camp overnight at Pedernales State Park, then get back up on the rocks Sunday morning. Plan to be back on campus by around 9:00 PM on Sunday night. Transportation, food, park fees, climbing gear, and camping gear included. MANDATORY pre-trip meeting on Wednesday, March 25th from 5:30-7:00 PM.

White Water Kayaking , April 2-3 +Pre-trip Meeting
Plan to spend your spring recess (well, half of it) kayaking the San Marcos River with ROPE! We will leave the morning of Thursday, April 2nd, drive for a few hours, kayak like crazy all afternoon and evening, camp overnight, wake up the next day and kayak even more, then make the wet and tired drive back to Rice the afternoon or evening of Friday, April 3rd. No prior kayaking experience necessary, though participants need to be confident of their swimming abilities in moving water. Come take advantage of this opportunity to learn an awesome new skill! Transportation, kayaking equipment, camping equipment, food, and access fees included. MANDATORY pre-trip meeting Monday, March 30th from 5:30-7:00 PM.

Canoeing, April 11 +Pre-trip Meeting
Houston is surrounded by beautiful parks and waterways boasting numerous outstanding paddling trails, and on Saturday, April 11th, ROPE will be hosting a canoeing day trip to Armand Bayou. No experience is necessary, so take some time away from homework and come spend the day paddling, picking up new skills, relaxing, checking out the aquatic wildlife, and generally enjoying yourself. Plan to depart Rice by 9:00 AM and return by around 7:00 PM. Transportation, canoeing equipment, and access fees included. MANDATORY pre-trip meeting Wednesday, April 8th from 5:30-7:00 PM.

Fall 2008

Date	Trip	Location	Cost	Other Information
Sat., Sept. 1	Beach Trip	Galveston, TX	$20	Get your feet sandy on Labor Day. Beach activities in Galveston.
Sat., Sept 20	Disc Golf	Houston, TX	$20	Join your Rice friends for a day in the park.
Sat., Sept 27	Day Sail	Kemah, TX	$30	Sail off the coast of Kemah.
Oct 4-5	Climbing I	Austin, TX	$30	Camp and climb. Open to beginner and intermediate climbers. Pre-trip meeting.
Oct 11-13	Enchanted Rock Camping	Fredericksburg, TX	$30	Camp over fall break at E-Rock. Hike up the granite dome. Pre-trip meeting.
Oct. 18-19	Leave No Trace Trainer Course	Texas State Parks	$30	Learn about LNT Outdoor Ethics. Open to all. Pre-trip meeting.
Sat., Nov. 8	Caving	Austin, TX	$20	Crawl under Austin in Whirlpool cave.
Nov. 15-16	Climbing II	Austin, TX	$30	Camp and climb. Intermediate climbers. Pre-trip meeting.

Spring 2008

Date	Trip	Location	Cost	Other Information
Sat., Feb 2 11 a.m.-6 p.m.	Day Hike	Jones State Forest and Mercer Arboretum	$20	Enjoy the outdoors near Houston. Home of endangered species red-cockaded woodpecker!
Feb. 22-23	Rock Climbing	Reimer's Ranch Austin, TX	$35	Camp and Climb for the weekend. Pre-trip meeting required: Feb 20, 6 p.m.
March 22 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.	Day Sail	Kemah, TX	$35	Sail a 38-foot boat off the coast of Kemah
April 3-5 Spring Recess	Big Thicket Canoe Trip	Big Thicket National Preserve	$35	Camp on a sandbar in the Pineywoods. Pre-trip meeting required: April 1, 6:00 p.m.
April 19 5:30-7:30 p.m.	Outdoor Cooking on Campus	Rice University campus	$5	Learn the basics of outdoor cooking

Fall 2007

Date	Trip	Location	Cost	Other Information
Sat., Sept. 8	Coastal Sailing Trip	Kemah, TX	$20	Sail a 38-foot boat off the coast of Kemah
Sat., Sept. 29	Canoeing	Colorado River	$20	Canoe a scenic 6.1 mile stretch of the Colorado River
Mon., Oct. 15	Horseback Riding	Galveston, TX	$20	Ride along a stretch of Galveston Beach during Midterm Recess
Fri., Oct. 19	Night Hike	Brazos Bend State Park	$10	Hike through the woods at night to catch a glimpse of the night wildlife
Nov. 2-4	Backpacking	Los Maples State Park	$30	Pre-trip meeting required: Mon., Oct. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Travel through Los Maples to view the Fall colors.
Sat., Nov. 17	Caving	Whirlpool Cave, Austin, TX	$20	Crawl under Austin in the famous Whirlpool Cave

Trip Descriptions

All trips and workshops require advanced registration.

For registration deadlines, see chart above.

Day Trip: Coastal Sailing, Saturday, September 8
Learn to Sail on a 38-foot sailing boat with Blue Marlin Sailing School in Kemah. Instruction provided.

Canoeing, Saturday, September 29
Canoe a scenic 6.1 mile stretch of the Colorado River.

Horseback Riding Along the Beach, Monday, October 15
Travel south to Galveston for horseback rides on the beach. The ride is 30 minutes and will be walking only. This ride is designed for beginners, no experience necessary. After the ride, we will spend time on the beach, weather permitting. Transportation, horse rental, and lunch provided in the cost of registration.

Night Hike, Friday, October 19
Leave your computer behind for the evening. Spend the sunset outdoors and enjoy a moonlit walk with friends. We will hike at Brazos Bend State Park. Transportation included.

Backpacking, November 2-4
Extended information coming soon. Pre-trip meeting required for trip participants.

Caving Day Trip: Whirlpool Cave, Saturday, November 17
Join ROPE in a day trip to Austin's Whirlpool Cave. Head underground to experience caving under Austin. Crawl and climb around the cave during the two-hour cave trip. Take a close look at the Karst features while you illuminate your own way through the cave. All experience levels welcome. Participants should wear old clothing and sturdy boots/shoes. Transportation, caving equipment provided.

Spring 2007

Date	Trip	Location	Cost	Deadline
Sat., Jan. 27	Day Hike and Outdoor Workshops	Brazos Bend State Park	$18	Jan. 26 2 p.m.
Mon., Feb. 5	Workshop: Climbing Basics	Rice Recreation Center	Free Registration Required	Feb. 5 5 p.m.
Feb. 9-10	Climbing Overnight Trip	West of Austin at Reimer Ranch	$70	Feb. 5 5 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 24	Caving Day Trip	Austin's Whirlpool Cave Joint trip with Univ. of St. Thomas	$12	Feb. 22
Sun., March 18	Canoe Houston	Houston Bayou	$5	March 15 5 p.m.
Sat., March 24	Horseback Riding on the Beach	Galveston, TX	$20	March 23 5 p.m.
April 5-7 Spring Recess	Enchanted Rock Weekend	Enchanted Rock near Austin, TX	$65	April 3 6 p.m.
Sat., April 14	Coastal Sailing Day Trip	Kemah, TX	$50	April 12 5 p.m.

Trip Descriptions

All trips and workshops require advanced registration. Trip prices are for Rice students, undergraduate and graduate. Faculty and Staff prices increase by $10.00.

For registration deadlines, see chart above.

Day Hike and Outdoor Workshops, Saturday, January 13
Travel to Brazos Bend State Park, southwest of Houston, for the day. Outdoor workshops will include GPS, outdoor cooking, and fire building. Time will also be allotted for hikes around the park. Lunch, transportation, and equipment included.

Workshop: Climbing Basics, Monday, February 5 at 7 p.m.
Join the ROPE staff to learn the basics of climbing, such as belaying, knots, and equipment use. Have time to practice with instructors nearby. This workshop will help you get ready for your next climbing gym or outdoor trip. Workshop required for upcoming Climbing trip participants.

Climbing Trip: Reimer's Ranch, Friday-Saturday, February 9-10
Travel west of Austin to Reimer's Ranch for a beginner to intermediate climbing trip. We will leave campus Friday afternoon, camp out Friday night, climb all day Saturday, and return to campus Saturday night. Travel, equipment, and instruction provided in the registration fee.

Caving Day Trip: Whirlpool Cave, Saturday, February 24
Join ROPE and the University of St. Thomas in a day trip to Austin's Whirlpool Cave. Head underground to experience caving under Austin. Crawl and climb around the cave during the two-hour cave trip. Take a close look at the Karst features while you illuminate your own way through the cave. All experience levels welcome. Participants should wear old clothing and sturdy boots/shoes. Transportation, caving equipment and lunch provided.

Spring Break Funding Available, for trips March 5-11
Are you planning an outdoor-based spring based trip? Do you want to apply for funding to help out with your outdoor trip? The application is now available for the 2007 spring break. View the ROPE index page for more information.

Horseback Riding Along the Beach, Sunday, March 24
Travel south to Galveston for horseback rides on the beach. The ride is 30 minutes and will be walking only. This ride is designed for beginners, no experience necessary. After the ride, we will spend time on the beach, weather permitting. Transportation, horse rental, and lunch provided in the cost of registration.

Enchanted Rock Weekend, Thursday-Saturday, April 5-7, Spring Recess
Spend Spring Recess at Enchanted Rock. Leave campus Thursday afternoon and camp at the park. Backpack on Saturday morning to site. Spend the weekend hiking up the granite dome and on trails, going through a short cave, bouldering, and relaxing at camp. Returning to campus Saturday night.

Day Trip: Coastal Sailing, Saturday, April 14
Learn to Sail on a 38-foot sailing boat with Blue Marlin Sailing School in Kema. Instruction provided. More information coming soon!

Fall 2006

Date	Activity	Location	Cost	Deadline
Friday, Sept. 1	Night Hike: Spider Walk	Brazos Bend State Park	$12	5:30-11 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 10	Canoeing	Sam Houston National Forest	$34	All day
Saturday, Sept. 30	Horseback Riding	Lake Livingston	$37	Sept. 28, 4:30 p.m.
October 14-15 Midterm Recess	Backpacking	Sam Houston National Forest	$43	Oct. 9, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 4	Caving	Whirlpool Cave	$35	Oct. 30, 4:30 p.m.
Weekday Evening, TBD	Workshop: "Cooking in the Back-country"	Rice Rec Center	$10	Nov. 9, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 1	Night Hike 2	Armond Bayou	$12	Nov. 30, 4:30 p.m.

Trip Descriptions

All trips and workshops require advanced registration. Trip prices are for Rice students, undergraduate and graduate. Faculty and Staff prices increase by $10.00.
For registration deadlines, see chart above.

Horseback Riding, Saturday, September 30
Trail ride at Lake Livingston State Park's stables. All experience levels welcome. Guides will lead the group through the woods at Lake Livingston State Park. Transportation, lunch and trail ride included. Long pants required. Minimum 5 people. Maximum 13 people.

Backpacking, Saturday and Sunday, October 14-15
Escape from campus during midterm recess. Head north out of town to the Sam Houston National Forest. This overnight backpacking trip will be on relatively flat terrain on a portion of the Lone Star Hiking Trail. Good general health and fitness levels required. Sturdy boots/shoes required. Transportation, camping gear, and dinner provided. Minimum 5 people. Maximum 9 people.

Caving, Saturday, November 4
Head underground to experience caving under Austin. Crawl and climb around the cave during the two-hour cave trip. Take a close look at the Karst features while you illuminate your own way through the cave. All experience levels welcome. Participants should wear old clothing and sturdy boots/shoes. Transportation, caving equipment and lunch provided. Minimum 5 people. Maximum 13 people.

Workshop: Cooking in the Backcountry, Thursday, November 9
Looking for new recipes to bring on your outdoor trips? Interested in practicing for your next trip? Meet over at the Recreation Center to cook outside. Minimum 3 people. Maximum 10 people.

Night Hike, Friday, December 1
Leave your computer behind for the evening. Spend the sunset outdoors and enjoy a moonlit walk with friends. We will hike at Armond Bayou along the gulf coast. Transportation and park admission included. Minimum 5 people. Maximum 13 people.