The sun is out and spring is in full swing. As Colorado College students find every excuse to soak up some rays, the Outdoor Education community has exciting news and events to wrap up the school year.
The new Ahlberg Outdoor Education Center will be up and running by the end of Block 7.
The center is constructed with many sustainability features. “We really tried to use the most environmentally friendly materials and recycled content where we could,” said Ryan Hammes, Director of Outdoor Education.
While the building will be a hub for future CC students, current students have taken it upon themselves to contribute relentlessly to the productivity of the center.
“I am really excited about how much the students have been involved in this project,” Hammes said. “This is truly a facility ‘for students by students.’ Students have helped with the design, picking out floors, cabinets, colors, and the list goes on.”
The center will feature student-staff workspace, a boardroom/classroom, bulk food storage, the Ahlberg Gear House, and an outdoor avalanche beacon park to practice avalanche safety year-round. With all of this space and new resources, the center will be able to host a multitude of clinics, workshops, and training sessions.
In typical CC fashion, the community will celebrate the accomplishment of finishing the Ahlberg Outdoor Education Center with a Grand Opening Extravaganza in Block 8.
The event will likely host multiple student bands on the new back deck. There are plans for a gear swap or sale, as well as tours of the new facility. The Carnivore Club will grill up some grub. After the grand opening, CC’s first screening of a student-submitted Outdoor Film Festival film will be held inside the center.
Aside from the Ahlberg Outdoor Education Center, there are other big changes happening in the Outdoor Ed community.
Staff members Tricia Chan, Assistant Director of Outdoor Education; Chris Dickson, Ritt Kellogg & Outdoor Education Coordinator; and Neal Smeltzer, Outdoor Ed Specialist will be leaving their positions at Colorado College.
A 2013 alum was recently hired to replace Dickson as the Ritt Kellogg & Outdoor Ed Coordinator. However, both the Assistant Director and Outdoor Education Specialist positions are still open.
By the end of Block 8, students will have the opportunity to participate in the interviewing process for employee candidates. Hammes encourages students to attend all of the open forums and submit feedback “so that the search committee can take all perspectives into account.”