Trip Information and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Please complete a waiver before arriving to the trip. Please submit our online waiver and medical questionnaire found on the Required Participant Forms webpage.

Departure and return times vary depending on the trip. We typically leave between 7-8 a.m. for most weekend trips, and return between 5-6 p.m. For trips leaving on Fridays we leave as early as possible depending on the schedules of the group members, typically around 5 p.m. For information on the specific departure and return times, first check the trip handout which includes an itinerary. Trip handouts can be found on the Trip Calendar page.

For most trips, no previous experience is required. We design trips with beginners in mind, and love to introduce people to new experiences. Some trips do require some previous experience, such as the Grand Canyon Spring Break trip. To find out if the trip you are interested in requires previous experience, review the trip information for that specific trip by clicking the trip name on the Trip Calendar webpage. You can also contact the Outdoor Adventure Program with any questions or concerns.

• Transportation: typically 12-passenger van, traveling together is an important aspect of trips; it gives us time to get to know each other and helps us stay on time.
• Meals: for all overnight trips, excluding meals on the road
• Instruction and Leadership: our trained staff will teach you the skills you need to know to be successful!
• Equipment: From head lamps and sleeping bags to climbing shoes to bikes, you are covered. *For downhill ski trips, rentals are an extra cost, listed on the registration.
• Accommodations: campsite, entrance, and permit fees

Each trip has a physical exertion rating ranging from light, moderate, and vigorous. Exertion levels are estimates based off of individuals who regularly fulfill the US Department of Health & Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines and have no major limiting conditions. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding the physical exertion level of any of our trips.

All overnight trips and some day trips have a mandatory pre-trip meeting. This meeting includes a review of trip policies, emergency procedures, itinerary, logistics, packing list review, meal planning and equipment issue. Attendance at this meeting is required. If you are unable to attend the meeting due to a conflict, it is very important that you contact us. If a pre-trip meeting is required, the date and time is listed on the trip calendar page.

If there is no pre-trip meeting, the trip leaders will contact the participants individually by email and/or phone call the week of the trip to confirm the details of the trip. Please make sure your email and telephone contact information is correct when registering for any trip so we can effectively communicate with you.

We provide transportation for all of our trips in 12 passenger vans with a few exceptions. We expect that the group will ride together. This is because an important part of our trip is giving participants a chance to get to know other people and the travel time allows great opportunities to do this. Traveling separately also often causes logistics issues and makes it more difficult to stay on track with time. Another perk is that, after a day full of outdoor activity, everyone can relax on the drive back to the Outdoor Adventure Center.

Equipment rentals are included in the price of all programs unless otherwise noted. Participants are responsible for equipment rented to them by the Outdoor Adventure Program. If you have your own gear (bicycles, helmets, backpacks, sleeping bags, climbing gear, etc), it will need to be shown to the trip leaders and approved for safety before use.

You can register by clicking the "register now" link on the trip calendar webpage. If the trip you wish to attend is full, you may register free of charge to be placed on the wait list. (See more below under Wait List Policy.)

Current students, faculty, and staff members of UMass Lowell are eligible to participate in Outdoor Adventure Program trips and events. Students who are under 18 years of age must have forms signed by their parent/legal guardian before being eligible to participate in a trip. If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact us. We are not able to allow any guests to register for OAP trips at this time.

Due to needs of trip planning and reservations, cancellations must be made 14 DAYS PRIOR TO TRIP DEPARTURE to receive a full refund. Cancellations that occur within 14 days of trip departure will receive no refund, unless another participant on the waiting list can be found to take the open spot; exceptions to refund amounts are below. 100% of your payment will be refunded if a trip is cancelled by Outdoor Adventure Program staff (due to weather or other circumstances). Participants are expected to be responsible for arriving on time and prepared for trips. Those who register for a trip but do not show up on time for a trip cannot receive a refund. 

Day Trips with Third-Party Vendors: If we can't find another participant to take your spot on a trip where we hire a separate vendor (surfing or climbing, for example) and we were not required to pay for your empty spot, we will refund all but $30 back. 

Overnight Trips: If we can't find another participant to take your spot on an overnight trip, we will refund you a portion of the amount we did not have to pay  (i.e. housing, vendor, food expenses as calculated by us, with the OAP retaining at least $50.) Some specialty trips/events may have separate cancellation and refund policies, which will be outlined separately. 

We are not able to allow any guests to register for OAP trips at this time. When non-University guests are allowed again, they are limited to one per each Student/Faculty/Staff member, and must be accompanied by the sponsoring participant. All guests must be 18 years of age or older. Guest must register for trip at the guest price. You may contact the Outdoor Adventure Program with questions.

When a participant signs up on the wait list for a trip, they are indicating interest in participation in this trip. Participants on the wait list are not charged for trip costs, although they may have entered their card information online. If a spot opens up on the trip, the first person on the waiting list will be contacted by Outdoor Adventure Program Staff. They will have set amount of time (1-2 days) to confirm their continued interest for the trip before the next wait listed person is called. If they are no longer available to participate or do not confirm in 2 days, the spot will be opened up to the next person on the waiting list.

It is our mission to provide healthy and safe outdoor recreation experiences. Alcohol and drugs are PROHIBITED on Outdoor Adventure Program (OAP) trips. Because OAP Trips are a university sponsored event we need to follow the Student Conduct Code even while away from campus. Consumption and/or possession of alcohol or drugs while attending an Outdoor Adventure trip or event will be handled through the appropriate UMass Lowell authorities. If you carry personal medications you must indicate this on your Health Statement and keep it in your possession while on the trip. We encourage participants to refrain from use of tobacco products during the trip. If you do use tobacco products please be considerate of your proximity of others and all related trash must be properly disposed of to protect the sensitive areas we travel.

Harassment of any kind WILL NOT be tolerated by participants or staff during any Outdoor Adventure trip or event. The Outdoor Adventure Program strives to be sensitive and supportive of cultural and individual differences—specifically those differences due to age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and socioeconomic status. We encourage respect and appreciation for the diversity of all participants and staff and we hope you will do the same. It is your responsibility to report any misconduct to Outdoor Adventure Program staff or the Program Administration immediately.

The Outdoor Adventure Program seeks to provide what trip equipment we can to participants in order to provide a safe and fun trip experience. Equipment rentals are included in the price of all programs unless otherwise noted. Participants are responsible for equipment rented to them by the Outdoor Adventure Program. Participants will be responsible for paying for any damaged or lost equipment as assessed by the Outdoor Program Coordinator.