Purdue Outing Club
| Short name | POC |
|---|---|
| Type | Outdoor Recreation Club |
| Location | Córdova Recreational Sports Center |
| Affiliations |
Purdue University Purdue University Division of Recreational Sports |
| Activities |
Rock Climbing Caving Backpacking Mountain Biking Mountaineering Whitewater Kayaking. |
President | Alex Weldy |
The Purdue Outing Club (POC) is a Purdue University student run outdoor recreational organization officially part of Purdue Club Sports based in West Lafayette, Indiana. The club was founded in 1946[1] and focuses on introducing new students and community members to a variety of outdoor sports. Today the club averages over 400 official members at Purdue and in the community with thousands of Alumni all over the world. The current major sports include Rock Climbing, Caving, Backpacking, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, and Whitewater Kayaking.
History
The Purdue Outing Club was originally organized to provide a weekend diversion from the rigors of schoolwork. Initially in 1946, it was a picnic and hiking type of organization, however, it was not long before canoeing, spelunking, skiing, and climbing were added to the list of regular activities. A dedicated group frequently climbed the Portland Arch in Fountain County, IN. This group didn't last too long as a good portion of them graduated, got drafted, married, or just left Purdue. This resulted in most of the climbing routes lost, continuity of training and practice was broken.[2] This cycle kept occurring every few years. Eventually consultants were elected or appointed each year to spark interest in each club sport to ensure continuity and eventually planning most of the trips.
Purdue Outing Club Adventure Race (POCAR)
The Purdue Outing Club Adventure Race (POCAR) is a 48-hour orienteering race held over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in Southern Indiana. Endurance was the theme of the first race and all others that have succeeded it. The race is 30+ miles “as the crow flies” and participants have about 48 hours (sunrise on Saturday until noon on Monday) to cover the distance. This proves to be extremely challenging and sometimes only 10% of the competitors complete the entire course.
The 1st POCAR took place in January 2001 during Martin Luther King Jr. weekend (as have all subsequent POCARs). The strategy behind these sets of dates having the Monday following the race off as a holiday allowed race participants (and volunteers) a day to recover before facing back up to the realities of work and school. Second, a race in the dead of winter, when days are short, nights are long, and weather can go from bad to worse without warning, is enough to test anyone’s will and endurance.
The 1st POCAR was held in Wyandotte Woods in Southern Indiana (west of Louisville, KY) near where the Blue River empties into the Ohio River. The idea behind this location was to illustrate to those native (and non) to Indiana that there actually is some terrain in the state. Subsequent races have all been held in Indiana to reinforce this fact. But more importantly, the location remains relatively close to home to alleviate the dangers of tired racers driving long distances back to Lafayette or their respective home.[3]
A map is supplied to each team which they use to navigate point-to-point in a specified order (expedition style). Once all valid points (yes, there are decoys) are visited, you have completed the course. At each check point (control) the team would sign in their name, the time they arrived, and any comment, serious or otherwise. This allows the race organizers and volunteers to track the progress of teams and supply assistance if a team was in jeopardy. A system of punches and punch cards is set up to verify a team has indeed found a checkpoint.[4]
Anyone can participate. The original race was designed exclusively for POC members. The event was a success and well received. Other clubs within Purdue, other universities, and the public (or at least those crazy enough to take part in such an event) now participate.
Purdue Kayak Club
The Purdue Kayak Club was eventually merged into the Purdue Outing Club in the mid-2000s. This merger brought over more than a dozen whitewater kayaks and is now one of the most popular club sports.