WOC-ly OUTING CLUB CALENDAR

November 16 - November 22

Hello WOC family!  Come check out some of the awesome outdoor events we have going on this week. All events are open to the Williams College community. 

Announcements

THE NATE LOWE CLIMBING WALL IS OPEN A 2ND WEEK!!

Beginning Monday 11/16 the climbing wall will be open again from 6 - 8 pm M - W.  Monday night will include roped climbing while Tuesday and Wednesday will be limited to bouldering only.  Sessions will start at 6 pm and you should show up at that time.  Following the MA Governor's guidelines the sessions will be limited to 8 climbers. To sign up for an evening session use this form.  Limit one session only.  There will be a waiting list and we hope to accommodate everyone who would like to climb while filling all 8 slots every night.  Huge thanks to the members of the Athletic Dept, Operations Committee and Senior Staff who made this possible.

WARM CLOTHING DRIVE

The Williams Outing Club will be collecting gently used coats and warm clothing for any Williams students in need of warm winter clothing. Any donations will be available to students and community members through a free, long-term borrowing program. Students will be able to borrow items for as long as they need, with the hopes they either return the clothing in the spring or pass it along to others when they’re through. 

We will be collecting from students, faculty, and staff and accepting donations throughout the winter- we highly encourage any students heading home for break to bring any unneeded warm clothing back to school in February. The donation drop-off will be in the locked boxes of Paresky 1st floor near the Park Street entrance- any and all donations are greatly appreciated!!

Weekly Anti-Racism in the Outdoors Resource

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, the resource for this week is a non-profit organization, Native Women’s Wilderness, which works “to inspire and raise the voices of Native Women in the Outdoor Realm. To encourage a healthy lifestyle grounded in the Wilderness. To educate Natives and non-Natives on the rich beauty and heritage of the Ancestral Lands beneath our feet.” 

Learn more about the founder and work of Native Women’s Wilderness in this article: “Tracing the Native American Roots of Natural Icons in the U.S.”

Please reach out to [log in to unmask] with any comments/questions/thoughts or resources that you’d like to see shared in future weeks!

The WOC Equipment Room will be open Monday – Friday from 12 pm -2 pm by appointment only.  Open to all members of the Williams community.  WOC memberships are not required at the present time due to restricted amounts of equipment available.  As restrictions are eased on what equipment may be borrowed, this policy may change.  You need to email [log in to unmask]  prior to 6 pm on the day before you would like to borrow the gear in order to reserve equipment, an equipment room manager will respond with details and an appointment time.   Loan period will be 1 week.  Please see attached PDF of equipment available for loan.

We want your feedback on trips! Have you recently gone on a trip and want to give us feedback on COVID-19 precautions and how things went? Fill out our feedback form after your trip so we know how we’re doing! We want to make our trips are safe, fun, and inclusive.

Activities

Wednesday

Short and easy walk along the river amongst sculpture and sound art.  This walk will explore a North Adams park across the river from Tourists and Stop and Shop.  There are several pieces of sculpture and a couple interactive sound machines as well as 2 pedestrian bridges across the river. This flat and mostly level walk will leave at 4 pm in order to catch the sunset and be back to campus by 5:15.  Sign up here or email dave at [log in to unmask] with questions

Thursday

See the Hopkins Sugarbush - We’ll leave at 3:15 PM from outside Paresky to walk up to the Hopkins Forest maple grove. It is a very peaceful place at this time of year with many old trees. This will be a gentle trip with ample time for reflection, and we will return shortly before sunset. Email Gavin, [log in to unmask] with any questions, or to sign up. You can also sign up on this form. (Capacity is 8).

Friday

LAST Weekly sunrise hike of the semester “wake up” and down Pine Cobble - witness the  sunrise at 6:42AM. Meet on Paresky steps at 5:45 AM!!  Dress for the weather -  bring extra layers) footwear for a trail that can be wet, muddy and always rocky! Headlamps are highly recommended (I’ll have extras if needed!) bring a filled water bottle and a cup for hot drinks.  Return to campus by 8:45AM.   Please Contact Scott, [log in to unmask] to reserve a spot! (capacity is 7)

WOC(k) Skipping at the Hoosic: Come take a break to go rock skipping by the Hoosic! Don’t know how to skip rocks? Come to learn how! Consider yourself an expert rock skipper capable of making the Olympics? Come show off your skills! Leaving from the Dennett side of Mission at 1:30pm. Please email Danny ([log in to unmask]) to reserve a spot! (capacity is 10)