California’s Central Coast offers some of the state’s most scenic outdoor destinations. Whether students like to surf, hike, climb or kayak, new updates to Poly Escapes can help them get outside quickly and with all the gear they need.
The Organization:
Poly Escapes is a division of Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) , which means that even if students are not taking advantage of their trips and gear rentals, their student fees help others do so.
For the first time since 1968, the Poly Escapes center has a new location. Now students, faculty and community members can rent equipment at its new office in the Recreation Center. Students can also sign up for escapes or weekend trips led by professionals.
But a state-of-the-art office isn’t the only new change Poly Escapes this quarter. The program is updating equipment, adding new, big-ticket items and supplying students with new destinations.
Nancy Clark is the program coordinator. She manages the 14 trip leaders, eight front-line (or office) employees, 10 climbing park supervisors and the 50 student co-leaders.
“Everything is new this quarter,” Clark said. “Our location is new. We now have the climbing park.”
The climbing park is located between the Recreation and Health centers, around the corner from the new Poly Escapes office.
“It’s a park-like experience,” Clark said. “We’re going to add benches and landscaping. The old wall panels from the previous climbing wall (in the University Union) are incorporated into the new park. We had designed it with that in mind.”
She also announced the program will be adding eight stand-up paddleboards, or SUPs, for rental by the day, weekend or week. These paddleboards will join the nine surfboards and nine kayaks available.
But Poly Escapes offers more than big-ticket items. Students can check out everything from headlamps to snow shoes.
Students are responsible for damages to equipment and are required to sign a contract before they can leave with their gear, but Clark stresses that Poly Escapes is a service for students.
Student rates are the lowest, and staff are understanding about assigning rates, Clark said. They understand students who spend the day surfing might not make it back with their surfboards by 6 p.m. on the dot, but they would still, most likely, receive the day rate. There usually are late fees, though.
The Escapes:
Poly Escapes is varying the trips it offers as well, adding destinations such as a backpacking and caving trip in Anza Borrego State Park in Southeastern California, backpacking at Point Reyes and horseback riding and camping through San Luis Obispo County.
Darren Conor is the assistant director for programs at ASI as well as the designer of the previous rock wall.
“The trips are self-sustaining (through the fees students pay to attend), but it is a subsidized program,” Conor said. “Fees are nominal as all students are in effect supporting Poly Escapes.”
And students do take advantage of what the program offers.
“They fill quickly,” Conor said. “Trips are available online at the beginning of every quarter. If you want to get a headstart, the best way would be to visit our site during the first week of the quarter.”
Beside offering students the opportunity to get off campus or out of town, Conor said he hopes Poly Escapes leaves a lasting impression.
“We want students to have an outdoor experience and remember it fondly,” Conor said. “Later, they can pass that along to their kids. That’s what we hope to accomplish.”
The Experiences:
English senior Megan LaPlante is a front-line employee at Poly Escapes. In addition to working inside the office, she attends the escapes her workplace hosts. Her favorite was a day spent climbing Cabrillo Rock.
“It’s a local spot,” LaPlante said. “We took a day trip to a really cool rock area between Morro Bay and Los Osos.”
LaPlante said Poly Escapes is all about creating an affordable, approachable way for students to tackle the outdoors.
“My main takeaway has been the friendships you make,” LaPlante said. “It’s a fun environment; trip leaders all have really great personalities. On these trips, you’re in elements where you really need to rely on each other.”
As a trip leader, Dean Preedeedilok guides students through their Escapes. Preedeedilok, a biological sciences senior, has been involved with the program for three years, but started officially in October.
“My favorite trip was probably White Chief (Sequoia National Park) caving,” Preedeedilok said. “I led the trip twice last quarter. You sleep and wake up in a huge bowl surrounded by mountains on every side. Next morning, you hike to the top of a nearby ridge.”
His involvement in the program has helped hone his leadership abilities, he said.
“I get to lead a team of my peers,” Preedeedilok said. “It’s all about getting people out of their comfort zone.”