Horse pens 40 is a historic outdoor nature park, a natural wonderland of unique rock formations nestled atop Chandler Mountain in the foothills of the Appalachians. Enjoy two nights of camping and two full days of bouldering at the bouldering mecca.

Cost: $105 Affiliates | $140 Non-Affiliates
Includes: Gear, Camping, Transportation, Bouldering, and Instruction
Destination: Steele, AL
Dates: January 19-21
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 11 | 6:00pm
Pre-trip Meeting: Tuesday, January 15 | 5:00pm

Spend your Spring Break on the most beautiful undeveloped beaches on the East Coast, a visit to Cumberland is not just a “trip to the beach.” Experience the Island’s rich history, architecture, and natural areas. Participants will travel to Georgia and spending 2 nights at various State Parks along the way. Upon arriving to Cumberland Island, the group will enjoy a ferry ride to the secluded island where we will spend three nights sleeping under the stars and exploring the natural wonders of the maritime environment.

Cost: $315 Affiliates | $410 Non-Affiliates
Includes: Transportation, Equipment & Instruction
Destination: Cumberland Island National Shore, GA
Dates: March 2-8
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 15 | 6:00pm
Pre-Trip Meeting: TBA

WAITLISTED - Due to high interest in the trip, our program is full but participants can be waitlisted. Please contact Outdoor Putsuits for more details at 765-285-1164 or outdrpursuit@bsu.edu
Spend a weekend camping, hiking, and exploring the world’s largest cave system with OP. Experience the natural wonders of the underground world with a guided tour.

Cost: $80 Affiliates | $105 Non-Affiliates
Includes: Transportation, Food, Camping, and Guided Tour
Destination: Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
Dates: April 5-7
Registration Deadline: Friday, March 29 | 6:00pm
Pre-Trip Meeting: Wednesday, April 3 | 5:00pm

Want to experience the backcountry? Come hike with us on this easygoing 12.4-mile loop through southern Indiana’s hill country. No experience necessary. We will spend the night on the trail and enjoy a real campfire dinner. In the morning we’ll catch the sunrise coming straight across the lake.

Cost: $40 Affiliates | $52 Non-Affiliates
Includes: Gear and Transportation
Destination:Hoosier National Forest, Indiana (near Evansville, IN)
Dates: April 13-14
Registration Deadline: Friday, April 5 | 6:00pm
Pre-Trip Meeting: Tuesday, April 9 | 5:00pm
Register Here

Join Outdoor Pursuits on this moonlight adventure. Hult’s Farm contains a variety of ecosystems including a wetland, a tallgrass prairie, a hardwood forest, successional areas, and agricultural fields. Participants will cross country ski and snowshoe on the property’s designated trails and observe the full moon.

Cost: $10 Affiliates | $12 Non-Affiliates
Includes: Skis, Boots, Snowshoes, Transportation, and Instruction
Destination: Albany, IN
Dates: January 26 (weather dependent) | 4:00pm
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, January 23 | 6:00pm

Enjoy an afternoon on mountain biking at the local Rangeline Nature Preserve. Participants will learn basic mountain biking techniques. Rangeline offers a variety of trails and has something for everyone. All equipment will be provided by Outdoor Pursuits. Helmets must be worn at all times. 

Cost: $15 Affiliates | $20 Non-Affiliates
Includes: Transportation and Equipment
Destination: Anderson, IN
Dates: Saturday, March 23
Registration Deadline: Friday, March 15 | 6:00pm
Pre-trip Meeting: Thursday, March 21 | 5:00pm

Join Ball State Outdoor Pursuits for an afternoon canoeing adventure on Muncie’s local river!    Participants will learn basic paddling techniques.   Come into the Rental Center today to sign up for the Muncie canoe trip

Cost: $15 Affiliates | $20 Non-Affiliates
Includes: Transportation, Equipment and Instruction
Destination: Muncie, IN
Dates: April 20
Registration Deadline: Friday, April 12 | 6:00pm
Register Here

This class includes about 40 hours of instruction - 16 hours in the classroom and 16 hours in the pool, with an additional 8 to 10 hours of open water training instructed by Scuba Educators International. The certification card you receive after having completed all requirements will list you as an Open Water Diver that is recognized worldwide. The pool sessions are especially designed to gradually increase your confidence in the water. Each lesson is fun & different.

Cost: $165 Affiliates | $215 Non-Affiliates
Includes: Equipment & Instruction
Destination: Ball Gym Pool
Dates: February 11 - April 8 (no class March 4) | 6-10pm
Registration Deadline: Thursday, February 7 | 6:00 pm

Instruction on basic bicylce maintenance, requiring zero to few tools or experience.
Areas that will be covered include:
Tires and Wheels - Changing Flats, Pumping and Out of True Wheels/Tires
Brakes - Minor adjustments, rubbing and/or loose brakes
Seat/Seat Post - Seat post too high/low, or loose
Handlebars - loose and straightening
Basic Bike Care (cleaning, greasing, etc) - How to clean a bike, how to grease a chain, storing a bicylce

Cost: $5 Affiliates | $7 Non-Affiliates
Includes: Instruction
Destination: Outdoor Pursuits Conference Room
Dates: Wednesday, March 20 | 6:30-8:30pm
Registration Deadline: Monday, March 18 | 6:00pm
Register Here

Enhance the enjoyment of fly-fishing to the next level by learning the angler's art : Fly Tying. In this class taught by Jeff Farber who has over a decade of fly-fishing and fly-tying experience. You will gain knowledge of the tools and materials used in a historic craft and will learn to manipulate them to create imitations of insects, baitfish, and other natural fish food. You will also learn the most effective ways to utilize fly patterns to catch a variety of game fish

Cost: $55 Affiliates | $72 Non-Affiliates
Includes: Equipment and Instruction
Destination: Outdoor Pursuits Conference Room
Dates: Feb 5 - 26 | 6:30-8:30pm
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, January 30| 6:00pm
Register Here

The main goal of this class is to introduce you to the “gentle arts” of fly casting and fly fishing as part of Outdoor Pursuits philosophy of helping people develop interests designed to promote emotional and physical well being as well as life-long recreational interests. Speaking from personal experience, fly casting and fly fishing – one cannot do the latter without learning how to do the former – can indeed help you become more involved in a world that ranges from a unique form of outdoor recreation to some excellent literature. The class will consist of individualized instruction about basic fly casting techniques; introductory material on fly fishing for trout, bass, and panfish which will include “arcane” topics ranging from appropriate equipment to appropriate knots; and, perhaps, a comment or two about the best in fly fishing literature and DVDs

Cost: $50 Affiliates | $65 Non-Affiliates
Includes: Equipment and Instruction
Destination: Field Sports Building (HP122) & OP Conference Room
Dates: Mondays April 8 - 29 | 7:30-9:00pm
Registration Deadline: Thursday, April 4 | 6:00pm
Course Syllabus
Register Here

This class is designed specifically for fly fishers who have either completed the BSU Introduction to Fly Fishing/Fly Casting course at any time in the past or who have mastered the basic skills of fly fishing and fly casting. The class will focus on helping participants refine such fly casting techniques as: loop control, accuracy and distance, the single haul (and perhaps some introduction to the double haul), eliminating “tailing loops” and other casting problems as well as the use of the “line hand” in casting, and retrieving line. The class will also place some emphasis on fly selection for fishing in Indiana and other destinations near and far – depending on the interests of participants. Finally, the class will give participants an opportunity to “talk fly fishing” with each other at just the right time in the Indiana fly fishing year.

Cost: $30 Affiliates | $39 Non-Affiliates
Includes: Equipment and Instruction
Destination: Field Sports Building (HP122)
Dates: Wednesdays April 10 - 24 | 7:30-9:00pm
Registration Deadline: Thursday, April 4 | 6:00pm
Course Syllabus
Register Here

During this course participants will learn the basics to kayaking in a safe and controlled environment. The course will be instructed by an experienced instructor and will include classroom time and time in the pool to practice their new found skills. OP will provide PFDs and kayaks. *Stay tuned for more information- like us on Facebook “Ball State Outdoor Pursuits”.

Cost: $TBA Affiliates | $TBA Non-Affiliates
Includes: Equipment and Instruction
Destination: TBA
Dates: TBA | TBA
Registration Deadline: TBA | TBA

Are you an experienced paddler? Want to learn how to roll a kayak in a safe and controlled environment?  Then this course is for you! The course will be instructed by an ACA instructor and will include classroom time and time in the pool to practice your roll technique. All equipment will be provided by Outdoor Pursuits. *Stay tuned for more information- like us on Facebook “Ball State Outdoor Pursuits”.

Cost: $TBA Affiliates | $TBA Non-Affiliates
Includes: Equipment and Instruction
Destination: TBA
Dates: TBA | TBA
Registration Deadline: TBA | TBA

Learn the basics to outdoor survival in a classroom setting from renowned survival expert Creek Stewart founder of Will Haven Outdoors. *Stay tuned for more information- like us on Facebook “Ball State Outdoor Pursuits”.

Cost: $TBA Affiliates | $TBA Non-Affiliates
Includes: Equipment and Instruction
Destination: Outdoor Pursuits Conference Room
Dates: TBA | TBA
Registration Deadline: TBA | TBA

I just got back from my first Outdoor Pursuits trip ever and many more are to come. As far as I can tell this organization is going to be awesome!

This trip was fantastic, totally worth the price, and I got to meet new people.

Outdoor Pursuits is an amazing organization. These trips are perfect for getting out and meeting friends. It's organizations like this that have shaped me to be the person I am today.

Outdoor Pursuits is a great way to spend a weekend and learn something new.

These trips are a fantastic way to get outside and enjoy nature while learning useful skills and meeting awesome people!

This backpacking trip was a lot of fun! I met a ton of new awesome people, and I even made some friends that I know I could go hiking with in the future. It was definitely worth the money.

Outdoor Pursuits (OP) is such an asset to Ball State students and faculty. We had a fantastic experience back-packing in beautiful Southern Indiana. We were well outfitted and prepared thanks to OP's experienced guides. We will definitely sign-up for more trips. Thank you.

The OP hiking trip to the HNF is a welcome break from books and cell phones. Challenge yourself to break away with a group of new friends and learn about the outdoors while hiking through some scenic woodland areas.

The guides did a great job! I felt safe and well-prepared. The destination was beautiful. Thank you

Jessica, Julie, and Rothman did a fabulous job keeping everything humorous but safe.