By Kyle Fotheringham
As summer gives way to autumn, everyone who loves exploring the great outdoors can look forward to another season of rich soil beneath their feet and beautiful scenery before their eyes.
The BYU Outdoors Club is devoted to enjoying nature, recreation and friendship, according to club officers. Boyd Newsome, president of the Outdoors Club, said he wishes that those who enjoy the outdoors and meeting new people would come and enjoy what the club has to offer.
“We will be accepting new members throughout club week, and have booths set up to answer students’ questions and talk to the officers,” said Newsome, a senior from Nashville, Tenn., majoring in accounting.
Tyson Wilde, vice president of the club, runs the fishing, caving and recreational awareness activities.
Wilde has climbed Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America. He is also a member of the Alaskan Nordic Ski Patrol and is an expert on winter emergency care.
Wilde, a microbiology major from Anchorage, Alaska, said he plans to share these and other experiences with the club.
The Outdoors Club plans to hike Mount Timpanogos as one of its first activities.
“We are planning to enjoy this year’s activities,” said Katie Parker, 20, from Sandy, Utah. “It’s going to be really fun.”
Parker is in charge of hiking, biking and service for the club.
“This past summer I’ve done some fun hikes like Red Pine Lake in the Little Cottonwood Canyon and The Narrows at Zions,” Parker said.
The club also plans outdoor-related service projects.
Chad Poole, 22, from Spartanburg, S.C., is the club’s Webmaster. He has designed a system where any student can go to the club’s Web site, outdoors.clubs.byu.edu, and sign up on a list to receive e-mails about the club’s activities and other opportunities outside the club.
“The club will serve as a network for students to meet other students with outdoor interests who can enjoy the club’s activities as well as plan and enjoy their own activities,” Newsome said. “We plan on having lots of fun this semester.”
