Meet LMU’s newest program to support student health and well-being, Outdoor and Adventure Recreation (OAR). The program’s main goal is simple: get students to experience and explore everything the great outdoors has to offer in Los Angeles and beyond.
Student Affairs saw an opportunity with a campus community located in Southern California to offer a thriving and diverse outdoor program to meet the health and well-being needs of students. A program not all higher education institutions have or can offer, LMU is well positioned to create and expand programming outside of the classroom.
“When I first heard about the idea for outdoor programming from our Campus Recreation department, I knew this was an exciting opportunity for us to use the beauty of our campus location to create a program where students can challenge themselves,” said Kawanna Leggett, Ed.D., senior vice president for Student Affairs. “This was a way for our team to support outdoor living and learning both on and off the bluff.”
With a focus on wellness at the forefront of Student Affairs’ work for several years, coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the health and well-being of students has become more needed than ever. The pandemic also created a unique moment where people started spending more time outside finding new activities and exploring more passions for outdoor adventures.
“Like many people my passion for the outdoors took off during the pandemic,” said Makenna Mottram ’23, a marketing major and president of the Outdoors Club. “Doing activities such as hiking, backpacking, and camping really helped me with de-stress and feeling more grounded. I feel as if we get caught up in school and work and sometimes forget to slow down and be in the present. Being outdoors definitely helps with disconnecting from my busy fast paced life and I love that. Now, with the new OAR program, students can have multiple opportunities to go on outdoor adventures and not be limited to what the registered student organizations offer. Many of the Outdoors Club members utilize the club since they don’t have a car but still want to get off campus and explore the area or go hiking.”
Many outdoor activities and experiences are within proximity, sometimes within walking distance, and many other offerings are available throughout California. The location of LMU’s campus encourages students to experience all this scenic locale has to offer. OAR aims to:
- Provide off-campus opportunities for students to explore the great outdoors;
- Lower barriers to outdoor activities through pre-planned trips, dedicated vehicle transportation, and an introduction to basic rental equipment options;
- Develop continued communities of connection through outdoor related registered student organizations.
As the program gets off the ground, OAR will partner with Recreation and Outdoor Adventure in Rosecrans (ROAR), a living and learning community based in Student Housing, on a ski and snowboarding trip to Bear Mountain on Jan. 29. From there, OAR is partnering with several Student Affairs departments and registered student organizations based around outdoor activities to provide day trips or activities for students this spring, including:
- Feb. 24-27 – Yosemite Trip with ROAR and the Outdoor Club
- March 1 – Spring Break Hike with LGBTSS
- March 2 – Outdoor Adventure and Recreation led Spring Break Hike
- March 3 – Spring Break Hike with OISS
- March 18 – Indoor Rock Climbing with ROAR and the Rock Climbing Club
- March 22 – Women’s Skate Day with the Skate Club
- April 2 – Day Trip to Catalina.
“My experience with the Outdoor Club is great, but because we’re a registered student organization, at the first meeting, you’re expected to commit to the club and pay the full dues,” said Ben Clifford ’24, a mechanical engineering major and co-vice president of the Running Club and involved with the Outdoor Club. “This program will help people have these adventures one at a time, you don’t need to commit to something for the full year. You can explore your options and try new things. I see this program as a way for people to push their boundaries and try new things.”
For Jake Richard ’25, a mechanical engineering major and president for the Surf Club and the Surf Team, being back at school at the start of the spring semester already has him itching to get back outside and go camping. “Being out in nature, just away from the city and your responsibilities, is a completely different feeling, such a good mental reset from all the stresses that we have from living in the biggest city that we have in the U.S.,” said Richard. “A lot of the students don’t have the means to participate in outdoor activities but providing the means and a cheap way to do it will help. And some of the biggest benefits I see about participating in a program like this will be meeting new people and making new friends outside of the Surf Club. Being outdoors comes with the education of preserving the outdoors.”
Ryan Yamashita ’13 leads this newly launched program as an assistant director and brings a wealth of knowledge to this role as an alum and an LMU staff member, alongside his personal passion and love for the outdoors. “Growing up in Southern California, I was never really interested in playing ball sports, the outdoors allowed me to learn how to surf, skate, and snowboard at a young age, which opened a lot of doors for me,” said Yamashita. “It helped me make friends, build confidence, find community and healing through all of the different outdoor activities I’ve been able to be a part of. I’m excited to create a space for students to lower barriers to outdoor activities, so they can gain access to the outdoors and have experiences that will strengthen them as student leaders and our LMU community as a whole.”
Yamashita currently serves as a staff advisor for some of the outdoor RSOs like the Surf Club, Surf Team, Skate Club, and the Surfrider Foundation. In this new role leading the OAR program, Yamashita will be able to provide extra leadership to our other outdoor related RSOs and this partnership will allow students to engage in a community that fits them best. These organizations include:
- Outdoor Club
- Rock Climbing Club
- Skate and Longboarding Club
- Ski and Snowboarding Club
- Surf Club
- Surf Team
- Surfrider Foundation
As the OAR program becomes established, the team will be looking to grow, such as offering an on campus outdoor rental equipment space.
Want to learn more about the OAR program or meet the assistant director? Yamashita will be in the “Doctor Is In” booth during Wellness Wednesday, on Jan. 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by to ask questions, get connected and learn more about the outdoor opportunities available this semester. For more information on the OAR program, visit lmu.edu/outdooradventures and join the OAR LEO page to get the latest information on trips or activities available for all students.
