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 10-day trips held during February and Spring breaks. 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 (Apr 12)
Closed
Monday (Apr 13)
Closed
Tuesday (Apr 14)
Closed
Wednesday (Apr 15)
5:00-7:00
Thursday (Apr 16)
closed
Friday (Apr 17)
closed
Saturday (Apr 18)
closed

Climbing Wall Hours

Sunday (Apr 12)
Closed
Monday (Apr 13)
Closed
Tuesday (Apr 14)
Closed
Wednesday (Apr 15)
5:00-7:00
Thursday (Apr 16)
closed
Friday (Apr 17)
closed
Saturday (Apr 18)
closed

OC Events

Apr 14 - 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Paddleboarding on the James River

Finals week got you down? Ready for some much needed time in the sun? Come paddle on the James for an afternoon! We

Apr 15 - 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Back Campus Sunset with Katalyn & Mac

Need a break from finals? Join Katalyn and Mac on an easy going backcampus sunset hike. Bring a water bottle, comfo

Apr 18 - Apr 25 - All Day

New Mexico Backpacking Trip

Epic backpacking trip in the Gila Wilderness in Southwest New Mexico, America’s first wilderness. Canyons, rivers a

Apr 18 - Apr 20 - All Day

Backpacking in Dolly Sods Wilderness

Come explore the Dolly Sods Wilderness area with the Outing Club! This trip will be a three-day intermediate backpa

Apr 23 - Apr 24 - All Day

Camping & Paddleboarding at Lake Douthat

Come car camp and paddle board at the beautiful Lake Douthat, only 40 minutes away from campus! We’ll leave campus

May 02 - May 03 - All Day

Triple Crown Backpacking

Have you wanted to see the Virginia Blue Ridge like never before? Join Jenna and Megan on a 27 mile weekend backpac

May 02 - 7:00 am - 7:00 pm

White Water Rafting on the New River Gorge

Experience the best whitewater in New River Gorge National Park. The Lower New River Gorge is an 8–12 mile full-day

May 09 - 7:00 am - 7:00 pm

Via Ferrata

The Via Ferrata at NROCKS is a one-of-a-kind adventure that delivers big thrills and unforgettable views. This prof

May 10 - 7:00 am - 7:00 pm

White Water Rafting on the New River Gorge

Experience the best whitewater in New River Gorge National Park. The Lower New River Gorge is an 8–12 mile full-day

May 31 - Jun 06 - All Day

International Trip: Chestnut Hike Italy

Join us for a wonderful 6 day walking trip from hotel to hotel under and in the Dolomite Mountain range in northern

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


Meet Gaby White ’27

White has embraced several leadership opportunities at W&L.

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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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