The Outing Club

The W&L Outing Club offers students, faculty, and staff a variety of outdoor activities and classes. W&L students lead most of the activities, which include backpacking, fly fishing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking, caving, skiing, and outdoor cooking. Trips vary in length from day hikes to ten-day trips held during February and Spring break. Equipment and trip planning resources are available to all Outing Club members who want to do their own trips.

W&L Outing Club Membership

Membership to the W&L Outing Club entitles you to access our indoor climbing facility, access our bike shop, participate in all day trips,overnight trips, outdoor classes, and allows you to check out any outdoor equipment (SUP’s, kayaks, bikes, packs, tents and more), without further cost. Trip sign-ups and equipment are limited so all sign-ups and rentals will be taken on a first-come first-served basis. 

Where We Are

Want to get to the Outing Club to checkout equipment, a bike or climb the rockwall? Go to 159 West Denny Circle, right next to the Tennis Center and the Baseball Field. 

The Outing Club meeting room is located on Campus Level of the Elrod Commons, room 114.The Outing Club House is located at 203 East Washington St. in Davidson Park.We can be reached by phone at (540) 458-4066 or by e-mail at outing@wlu.edu.

Outing Club Merchandise

  • Outing Club Membership – $40 (for 4 years Undergraduate Students or 3 years Law Students)
  • Outing Club Guidebook – $15
  • Wildflowers of W&L poster – $12
  • Nalgene water bottle with OC Logo – $15
  • Crazy Creek Chair with OC Logo – $45
  • Outing Club patch – $5

Outing Club Hours

Sunday (Sep 28)
closed
Monday (Sep 29)
3:00-5:00pm
Tuesday (Sep 30)
closed
Wednesday (Oct 1)
closing at 5 pm
Thursday (Oct 2)
closed
Friday (Oct 3)
closing at 6:30 pm
Saturday (Oct 4)
closed

Climbing Wall Hours

Sunday (Sep 28)
3:00-7:00pm
Monday (Sep 29)
5:00-7:00pm
Tuesday (Sep 30)
3:00-5:00pm
Wednesday (Oct 1)
closed
Thursday (Oct 2)
3:00-5:00pm
Friday (Oct 3)
5:00-7:00pm
Saturday (Oct 4)
closed

OC Events

Sep 29 - 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Paddleboarding on the Maury River

Join us for an afternoon paddleboarding adventure on the Maury River! Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or just get

Sep 30 - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Women’s Climbing Night

Join us at the climbing wall for a women’s only climbing night! Whether you’ve never climbed before or you’re a reg

Oct 02 - 7:30 am - 9:30 am

(Homemade) Breakfast Burrito Ride!

What’s more exciting than a morning bike ride and free breakfast? Come join Mac for a scenic ride on the Chessie tr

Oct 02 - 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

OC Book Club

Looking for a fun, relaxing read and good discussion? Join OC book club!

Oct 04 - 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Bike the Jackson River Trail

The leaves are changing. Falling. Moving. So why aren’t you moving with them? Join Mac on a tranquil 27 (total) mil

Oct 05 - 10:30 am - 3:30 pm

Carter Mountain Apple Picking

Join one of the best fall trips with the best Key staff going apple picking on Carter Mountain in Charlottesville,

Oct 05 - 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Horseback Ride!

Join us for a beginner-friendly horseback riding trip in Hot Springs, VA! Departing from OC Pavilion at noon on Oct

Oct 06 - 8:30 pm - 10:45 pm

Moonlight Paddle on the Maury!

Take advantage of the full moon for a fun paddle on the Maury under the stars. Wear layers and shoes that can get w

Adventures Aplenty

Many students’ first adventure with the Outing Club happens during their first week on campus ⁠— on the Appalachian Adventure trip during Leading Edge.

Appalachian Adventure, which takes students on a four-night hike of the Appalachian Trail, is the most popular Leading Edge trip at W&L.

In the Great Outdoors

The surrounding area provides a scenic playground for hikers, cyclists, climbers, paddlers and fly fishers — and the Outing Club does it all all.

Adventures


Tackling the Bucket List

Students in the Outing Club’s new pilot Spring Term program had the chance to step outside their comfort zones one more time before Commencement.

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What the Mountain Gives You

Chris Paudel ’28 set out to challenge himself — and cultural stereotypes — through a mountaineering expedition in his home country of Nepal.

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Poetry in Motion

Aby Joyner ’28 believes in the power of photography and poetry, publishing two books, with another in progress.

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Meet Elizabeth Barr ’27

Barr’s love of nature led her to a biology major and getting her scuba certification with the Outing Club.

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‘To Be Where Your Feet Are’

The Kendrick Award, established in memory of Bryant Kendrick ’67, encourages W&L students to experience the natural world.

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Legacy of Outdoor Exploration

The Matelich Endowment enhances Outing Club experiences.

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Celebrating Spring: Outing Club’s Top Five Hikes

Spring Term and Alumni Weekend reunions are the perfect times to experience the outdoors that hug Washington and Lee.

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Meet Emma Scott ‘26

Scott’s passion for the environment carries over from the classroom to opportunities on campus and beyond.

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Meet Sydney Fleming ’27

The first-year student says the Outing Club and W&L’s proximity to great hiking and kayaking spots were a big draw.

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Meet a Colleague: Peter Grajzl

Peter Grajzl is the John F. Hendon Professor of Economics.

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Meet a Colleague: Mauricio Betancourt

Mauricio Betancourt is an assistant professor of environmental studies.

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Meet a Colleague: Michael Rhodes

Michael Rhodes is the manager of copying services.

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