Essential Eligibility Requirements

The Outdoor Adventure Pursuits (OAP) program of West Chester University is a student centered and driven program whose purpose is to engage students in meaningful experiential education opportunities by utilizing a variety of outdoor activities, trips, and excursions. These programs will develop participants’ commitment to the campus community, encourage healthy living, and help them gain confidence in their ability to lead.   In order to best enhance this experience, our program is open to all who are able to meet the following essential eligibility requirements listed below. Accommodations may be made as long as it does not compromise the health or safety of staff members or other participants or significantly alter the fundamental learning outcomes of the program.

General Requirements

  1. Have the cognitive ability to discern all instructions of OAP staff
  2. Effectively communicate ideas on a group and individual level
  3. Properly wear and use all required safety equipment designated by the OAP staff
  4. Be able to effectively notify OAP staff and participants of potential hazards, personal distress, or other emergency situations
  5. Be able and willing to equally share in group responsibilities such as tent set up, campsite clean-up, and cooking
  6. Contribute to a safe learning environment-no inappropriate verbal or physical behavior is tolerated for any reason
  7. If taking prescription medications, be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others
  8. Have an average level of fitness including the agility, endurance and strength necessary to complete the chosen activity
  9. Perform necessary self-care in a remote outdoor environment, including maintaining adequate nutrition and hydration, maintaining proper body temperature by dressing appropriately for weather conditions, and maintaining personal hygiene
  10. Act in manner consistent with the 7 principles of Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics (www.lnt.org)

Backpacking/Hiking

  1. Meet all general requirements listed above
  2. Be able to negotiate varied wilderness terrain including rugged steep and sloping terrain, human and animal made trails, rocky terrain that might include smooth bedrock or areas of large boulder fields
  3. Be able to carry a backpack weighting up to 40% of body weight (Backpacking)
  4. Be able to stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling
  5. Able to carry gear, food, and personal items or medications needed for the duration of the trip
  6. Be able to travel distances ranging from less than 1 mile to more than 10 miles per day
  7. Be able to travel less than 1 hour to more than 8 hours

Biking (Mountain and Road)

  1. Meet all general requirements listed above
  2. Safely get on and off bicycle with or without assistance
  3. Pedal, steer, and stop a bicycle over a variety of terrain including flat, uphill, and downhill

Camping

  1. Meet all general requirements listed above
  2. Learn and safely perform the fundamental camping skills of finding a campsite, setting up a shelter, and cooking with a campstove

Paddlesports (Canoeuing, Kayaking, Rafting, Standup Paddleboard)

  1. Meet all general requirements listed above
  2. Breathe Independently without the use of a medical device to sustain breathing
  3. Independently maintain sealed airway passages while underwater
  4. Independently turn from face-down to face-up and remain floating face up while wearing a properly fitted personal flotation device (life jacket)
  5. Get in and out of paddlecraft independently or with reasonable amount of assistance of a companion
  6. Independently get out of a capsized paddlecraft and grab on to another vessel and/or rescue line

Rock Climbing

I. Belaying

  1. Meet all general requirements listed above
  2. Successfully pass the WCU Climbing Wall Belay test
    • Be able to reliability manipulate a climbing rope through a belay device (ATC, GriGri)
    • Understand and convey necessary communication and climbing signals which include being able to clearly communicate at a distance of up to 50 meters
    • Be able to independently tie figure of eight follow through and overhand knot
    • Be able to inspect climber’s harness, knot, and helmet (when applicable)
  3. Reliably and independently perform simple technical tasks such as tying into a rope, clipping into an anchor and getting into a harness without the direct supervision of a staff member

II. Climbing

  1. Meet all general requirements listed above
  2. Understand and convey necessary communication and climbing signals which include being able to clearly communicate at a distance of up to 50 meters

III. Climbing (Lead)

  1. Meet all general and rock climbing requirements listed above
  2. Able to meet all climbing and belaying requirements listed above
  3. Able to proficiently climb 5.9 or above on Top Rope

Ski/Snowboard

  1. Meet all general requirements listed above
  2. Move skies or snowboard over a variety of conditions including flat, uphill, and downhill
  3. After falling down, be able to get off trail and into a position necessary to continue skiing/snowboarding