Courtesy of Nicolet College

RHINELANDER – Anyone feeling cooped up and ready to get outside is invited to check out the full complement of upcoming classes in the Outdoor Adventure Program at Nicolet College.

From July through October, the program will feature more than 30 different offerings that include a broad range of outdoor experiences and learning opportunities, Outdoor Adventure coordinator Terry Rutlin said.

“We always try to put together a nice mix that covers both a variety of interests and ability levels,” Rutlin stated. “Along with some long-time favorites we also have quite a few new classes this year for people to learn new skills and pursue new interests. There’s even one class that you could say has gone to the dogs.”

Classes will include a paddling adventure on the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage to learn about loons with loon expert Jeff Wilson, nature hikes with noted naturalist and author John Bates, classes that teach the basics of canoeing and kayaking, and a couple of mushroom classes, one on how to find them in the wild and another on how to grow gourmet shiitake and oyster mushrooms.

Others include easy to intermediate bicycle tours on the scenic Great Headwaters Trail in Vilas County, Date Night by Sea Kayak or Canoe on Lake Nokomis, wild game cooking, grouse hunting, fly fishing, outdoor photography, and the popular On the Hunt for Lake Superior Agates.

As for the dogs, the program will offer Dog-Powered Silent Sports with Niina Baum, co-captain of the U.S. Dryland Dog Sledding Team. Niina will cover the fast-growing sports of carnicross, bikejor, and scooterjor at the Washburn Lake Silent Sports Trails just west of Rhinelander.

For a complete list of classes, details on each, and to register, visit www.nicoletcollege.edu/outdooradventure.

Rutlin also noted that COVID-19 has impacted how classes will be run in this changed landscape.

“Student safety is the No. 1 Priority for all of us in Nicolet’s Outdoor Adventure Program and at the college as a whole,” he stressed. “And we’ve taken numerous steps to help ensure safety in each and every class.”

Nicolet is following local, state, and federal guidance in regards to COVID-19.

Along with pushing back the start of classes to mid-July, all classes currently have a maximum of 10 people, including instructors. Any classes that have an indoor component have been moved to larger classrooms to accommodate at least six feet of physical distancing.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own cloth face coverings and hand sanitizer. The college will also have masks and sanitizer available for those who do not have their own. All participants are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings when in indoor settings and when practicable when outdoors.

“We all know things can change fast and we are monitoring the situation daily,” Rutlin said. “If conditions improve with the COVID-19 virus, we will increase the maximum number of students for each class as appropriate. Conversely, a local surge in case numbers will trigger additional safeguards and or restrictions.”

For the latest and most up to date information, visit www.nicoletcollege.edu/outdooradventure.