Welcome to the Environmental Adventure Center at UW-Eau Claire. We sincerely hope that the following information serves as a guide for planning your outdoor schedule. We welcome the opportunity to introduce students and faculty/staff to the outdoors by providing a variety of activities designed to fit your needs. We truly hope that all of you find something fun, new, and exciting in our programs, and that sometime during the course of the year we have the opportunity to meet you. We are located in the basement of the Hilltop Center, and can be reached at (715) 836-3616.

Spring 2008 Brochure

Check out our EAC Program Brochure for more information on the Environmental Adventure Center's program offerings!

1. Who can rent equipment from the Environmental Adventure Center-Rental Program?
   The EAC Rental Program is available to currently enrolled UW-Eau Claire students and faculty/staff. Equipment is available on a first-come, first-served basis to UW-Eau Claire ID cardholders. All equipment rental and reservations must be made in person at the EAC, located in the Hilltop Recreation Center basement.
2. Who can sign up for the trips offered by the Environmental Adventure Center?
   The wide variety of trips offered by the EAC are available to currently enrolled UW-Eau Claire students and faculty/staff. Trip participation is usually limited to eight to eleven persons, to ensure a personalized experience and a close ratio of trip leaders to participants. Most trips require a mandatory pre-trip meeting where participants begin to know each other and prepare for the outing.
3. Must I provide my own equipment to go along on a trip?
   The Environmental Adventure Center provides all the necessary outdoor equipment you will need to participate. All the equipment is top notch, and included in the cost of the trip. The trip cost also includes transportation, trip guides, camping permits, maps, and other essentials. The only extra cost is for food, which is discussed at the pre-trip meeting and shared by participants.
4. Where are some of the more popular areas in the Chippewa Valley
   that I can go to enjoy the outdoors?
   The UW-Eau Claire campus is surrounded by a wealth of activities areas. It starts right in our own back yard, where we have the beautiful Chippewa River flowing through campus, as well as the Chippewa River State Bike Trail, which crosses the campus and allows biking access for many miles north and west of the city. The campus is within easy driving distance of huge tracts of county forestland, which allows opportunities for camping and hiking. The opportunities for Environmental Adventure Center are not diminished in the winter - you may also enjoy easy access to numerous lakes, cross-country ski areas, and downhill ski/snowboard areas.
5. What other programs does Environmental Adventure Center offer?
   The EAC offers outdoor skill sessions, leadership training, environmental speakers on a wide variety of topics, and opportunities to become directly involved with the program by being employed as a rental clerk or student trip guide.

Archery Range

You can find the Archery Range at the Environmental Adventure Center, located in the Hilltop Basement. It is designed to provide students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to be safely introduced to the sport of Archery.

Any student or faculty/staff member with a current University ID is eligible to use the range. All participants in the program will be required to attend a brief orientation to the Archery Range, conducted by the on-duty range officer. It will consist of a brief presentation on range safety, etiquette, commands, and scoring. No one will be allowed to use the range without attending an orientation session. Orientation arrangements can be made on any open/league dates.

All archery equipment is to be provided by range participants. The only points allowed on range arrows are standard field points. The use of broad heads is not allowed due to potential bunker damage.

Environmental Adventure Center Rental Program

We provide a center where people can rent various supplies for outdoor activities. We offer camping supplies, canoes, backpacking supplies, sporting equipment, ski equipment, fishing supplies, and more. For more information on costs, please review our brochure.

Environmental Adventure Center Resource Program

The Outdoor Resource Center provides visitors with information on such Environmental Adventure Center activities as backpacking, skiing, outdoor cooking, sailing, climbing, orienteering, traveling Europe, etc. We have acquired numerous books on these topics, which can be checked out by University ID holders.

We also have a number of periodicals including Backpacker, Outside, X-Country Skier, and Bicycling Magazine for your reading pleasure. File cabinets contain information on state parks and forests, national parks and forests, county maps, bicycling maps, cross-country skiing maps, canoeing maps, resort information, outdoor training programs (Outward Bound, National Outdoor Leadership School, Wilderness Education Association, etc.), outdoor clubs, environmental concerns, trip planning information, and much more.

Adventure Trips Program

Everyone needs to get away every now and then. Adventure trips are weekend-long trips to locations around this part of the mid-west. From hiking to canoeing to skiing, we have the trip for you!

Envrionmental Adventure Trips Program

Having an understanding of the environment we live in and how to take care of it are important for everyone. With our new Environmental Adventure program, you will have an opportunity to learn about the natural environment, have fun, and give something back.

Special Clinics and Speakers

We also offer a wide array of special clinics, speakers, and events relating to Environmental Adventure Center topics. Learn how to plan a trip, the basics of rock climbing, or the knowledge of an experience outdoorsman.

Extended Trips Program

Usually once during winter break and during spring break, University Recreation offers longer trips to some of the most fantastic Environmental Adventure Center areas in the entire county.

For more information on these programs, click the link below to download and view the Spring 2008 Brochure.

Special Needs

If you have any special needs and would like to participate in any of the activities/programs detailed here, please contact Dan Langlois or Al Wiberg.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area, canoeing & camping (6 day Trip)
May 23-28, 2008
Cost: $275.00 includes everything
Limit: 6
Call 836-5601 for more information

The BWCA is located in Northern Minnesota and is a well known destination for paddlers. Its numerous lakes linked by portages allow even the novice paddlers to experience the remoteness and beauty of its interior. This six day trip will include all the necessary instruction, gear, food and permits. Space is limited so sign up early!


Sea Kayaking, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (5 day trip)
June 10-14, 2008
Cost: $250.00 includes everything
Limit: 5
Call 836-5601 for more information

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to paddle the beautiful waters of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. This is a five day trip includes all the necessary instruction, gear, food, permits and a chance to see the Devil’s Island famous sea caves! Space is limited due to permits, so sign up early!


Lake Superior Trail Backpacking (5 day trip)
July 9-13, 2008
Cost: $175.00 includes everything.
Limit: 8
Call 836-5601 for more information

This trip will take us hiking along the most scenic part of the Superior Hiking Trail, located on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The section that we will be hiking includes many scenic overlooks, picturesque creeks and backcountry camping. The trail can be demanding at times but the views of Lake Superior and the night sky will be worth the hike!

2008 SCARD Adventure Race

Race date: Saturday, September 27, 2008

Team information: Team registration, gear check and race briefing held Friday evening September 26

Locations: Will be disclosed seven days prior to race date.

Deadline Registration date: Post marked by Friday, September 19

The University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Recreation & Sport Facilities and Camp Manitou have teamed up for this fun and challenging unsupported ten- twelve hour race that will be enticing for those new to the sport and the seasoned racer. This event will take place in the North woods of Chippewa County and will include: Canoeing, portaging, mountain biking (road and off road), land navigation utilizing topographic maps and several unknown challenges. Teams may consist of two-person open or four-person co-ed. All two-person teams will compete against each other and to qualify as a four-person team you need at least one person of the opposite sex on the team. For more information call Al Wiberg at 715-836-5601.

Registration Fees
$60.00 - Current YMCA member discount
$85.00 - Community members
$40.00 - Current enrolled student (16 years and older)

2008 Forms General Race Information (4/15/2008) Gear List (4/15/2008) Registration Form (4/15/2008) Race Rules (4/15/2008)

2007 Race Results
Results are in! Click here to download them (Microsoft Excel File)

This fun and challenging unsupported five-hour novice & eight-hour intermediate race will be enticing for those new to the sport and to the seasoned racer. This event will take place in the rural & urban Eau Claire area and will include: Canoeing, portaging, mountain biking (single track & road), land navigation utilizing topographic maps and several unknown challenges. Teams may consist of two-person open or four-person co-ed. All two-person teams will compete against each other and to qualify as a four-person team you need at least one person of the opposite sex on the team. Please read the rules section closely and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to call.

Thanks,
Al Wiberg, Race Director. Click on the thumbnails to enlarge photos.

2-Person Teams

1st Place Everyone Likes A Long Hill

2nd Place Bearded Meat

3rd Place Elkbones/WARS

4-Person Teams

1st Place Force of Nature

2nd Place Mistaken Identity

3rd Place Team Shards of Narsil

Race Photos

Lodging Exel Inn (715) 834-3193 Holiday Inn campus area (715) 835-2211 Super 8 campus area (715) 832-9731 Quality Inn (715) 834-6611

Area Map

Below is a map of featuring lodging options, as well as the location for race registration.
This race event is listed on SleepMonsters.com