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 (May 3)
closed
Monday (May 4)
2:00-5:00 pm
Tuesday (May 5)
closed
Wednesday (May 6)
closed
Thursday (May 7)
closed
Friday (May 8)
2:00-5:00 pm
Saturday (May 9)
closed

Climbing Wall Hours

Sunday (May 3)
closed
Monday (May 4)
5:00-7:00 pm
Tuesday (May 5)
5:00-8:00 pm
Wednesday (May 6)
closed
Thursday (May 7)
5:00-8:00 pm
Friday (May 8)
5:00-7:00 pm
Saturday (May 9)
closed

OC Events

May 05 - May 06 - All Day

Spring Term Option: Rock & Raft

For Outing Club Spring Term Option participants only. College Goes Fast...Get Outside!

May 08 - 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Spring Term Option: Mountain Bike Carvins Cove

For Outing Club Spring Term Option participants only. College Goes Fast...Get Outside!

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 10 - 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

HORSEBACK RIDING BABY

Horseback riding for those who requested!!! Bring some advil because your butt WILL hurt after two hours on the sad

May 11 - May 12 - All Day

Spring Term Option: James River Float & Camp

For Outing Club Spring Term Option participants only. College Goes Fast...Get Outside!

May 14 - 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Spring Term Option: Rappelling

For Outing Club Spring Term Option participants only. College Goes Fast...Get Outside!

May 15 - 6:00 am - 6:00 pm

Spring Term Option: Full Day Hike

For Outing Club Spring Term Option participants only. College Goes Fast...Get Outside!

May 15 - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Rich Hole Trail Service Day

Spend a day enjoying the local Rich Hole wilderness area and give back with some trail work! We’ll work with Southe

May 16 - 8:30 am - 1:30 pm

Horseback Riding at Hot Springs

Come for a 2 hour horseback ride at Let’s Ride Horses in Hot Springs, VA! No experience required. The Outing Club

May 18 - May 20 - All Day

Spring Term Option: OBX

For Outing Club Spring Term Option participants only. College Goes Fast...Get Outside!

May 22 - 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Spring Term Option: Paddleboarding

For Outing Club Spring Term Option participants only. College Goes Fast...Get Outside!

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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