Outdoor Action suffering from budget strains, begins fund raising drive

For the past 27 years, incoming freshman have arrived on campus early to enjoy a week of camping and group bonding with Outdoor Action. However, the OA program is currently running a deficit of about $30,000 a year and is in dire financial straits.

More than 10,000 University students have participated in OA trips since 1974. The number of OA participants has increased by 790 percent since 1981. But, University funding of OA has only increased by two percent in those years — leading the program into debt.

"The Outdoor Action program has grown by such leaps and bounds over the last 10 years — beyond all expectation — that no one really had the chance to implement a system to match that growth with funding," said Brandon Hall '02, who directs the OA fundraising committee.

In response to the growing deficit, OA leaders are trying to build the program's endowment and ensure its future. The program's endowment, established in 1992, currently has an estimated $150,000. OA leaders estimate that they need about $2 million. Their goal is to raise the necessary funds in the next three years, with $500,000 coming in by the end of this year.

Various committees have formed to help start raising funds effectively. The fundraising committee is concentrating on contacting the University's extensive alumni network. The public relations committee, headed by George Howard '02, is organizing and distributing information regarding the OA program to students, alumni and administrators.

The special projects committee, supervised by Meghan Mullarkey '02, a former 'Prince' associate photography editor, is attempting to find ways in which current University funding for financial aid and programs such as the alcohol initiative can be applied to OA.

In a meeting held Friday night to discuss the lack of OA funding, current leaders were encouraged to brainstorm ideas and actively solicit funds to keep the program alive. A telephone campaign will be held next week to inform alumni leaders about changes in OA and the current financial situation. Current OA leaders are being asked to raise $50,000 — $250 per leader.

"This is the first time that the OA leader body has taken the initiative to go out and actively raise money for OA," Hall said. "In times before, much was left to [OA director] Rick Curtis '79, who really never had enough time to pursue funding aggressively. As OA leaders, we have the ability to collectively save a now struggling program. I'm very optimistic about our chances.