Come join us for at least one Nature trip while you are at SUUSI. You'll be spending a week in the New River Valley, in a new community of SUUSI people. While you're here, be sure to take advantage of the opportunities to explore an area rich in mountainous terrain, rocky cliffs, caves, rivers and lakes. This is a great time to add richness and challenges to your SUUSI experience.
Nature trips get us out in the natural world to experience biodiversity. And we have a diversity of experiences to offer - we have about 90 trips on our schedule, offering expeditions at all hours of the day and night. Some trips are physically easy and some are demanding - even strenuous. We have added new trips for 2010, including more family friendly ones. We have also brought back some of the old favorites. Whether you are attending SUUSI for the first-time or a veteran, we think there's a Nature trip on our schedule just calling you.
We will not be caving again this year due to a moratorium issued by The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. White Nose Syndrome (WNS) continues to decimate the bat population. There is speculation that humans may
spread the disease. As a precautionary measure we will not cave until research concludes that caving will not exacerbate the situation. This decision is consistent with the Unitarian Principle "We Affirm and Promote Respect for the Interdependent Web of All Existence of Which We are a Part."
The SUUSI nature program
has officially adopted Leave No
Trace (LNT) outdoor ethics.
LNT is a program dedicated to
building awareness, appreciation
and respect for the great
outdoors, particuraly public
recreation places. We will be
promoting the program as well
as spreading the Leave No Trace
message throughout the week
during our activities.
Register early for trips, rather than wait until you arrive at SUUSI. We rent the vans based on advance registration. To keep costs down, we usually cancel trips with low registration before SUUSI, so don't wait to register.
If you don't get the trip you want when you pre-register, don't despair. You can often add more trips at registration on the first day of SUUSI. Even after SUUSI starts come by the Nature Office throughout the week to see what trips still have spaces available.
Be at the Nature Tent 10-15 minutes before your trip is scheduled to leave. SUUSI is a magical vacation time, but the vans run on real-world time. We'll take stand-by Nature trippers just before we leave, so don't be late.
If a trip is full even at registration you are welcome to come to the Nature Tent 10 minutes before start time and check in as a standby. Yeah, we've discovered some folks really will oversleep... the nap workshop gets very popular starting about Wednesday of every SUUSI.
Since our trip leaders are all volunteers and must fulfill their responsibilities to everyone, we require any person needing one-on-one assistance at SUUSI to be accompanied on Nature trips by a caregiver who also registers for the trip. Each child under 14 must be accompanied by an adult who takes responsibility for that child's safety and behavior during the trip.
Register the kids too, whatever their age, if you want them to join you on a trip. Everyone on a trip has to register. Be sure each child and each adult signs up for a trip, so we can ensure there's a seat belt for everyone in the vans and handle other logistics. In Virginia, car seats are required for all children under 8 years old. Please bring the car seat to the Nature tent when you arrive for your trip.
The minimum age requirement is 14 years of age to take a Nature trip unless otherwise noted. To help you decipher the trip descriptions: 0+ means anyone can go, 12+ means anyone at least 12 years old at SUUSI registration can go, etc. The trips we have designated as Family Friendly are open to families with children less than 14 years old but are appropriate for children and adults of all ages. We encourage adults without children to participate in these trips.
to be athletic
to "do Nature."
The requirements for trips are real. We emphasize safety, along with fun and companionship. If it's listed in the trip description, you really do have to wear approved footwear. Plan to bring water, flashlight, or other equipment as listed in the trip description. We want you to get into the natural setting at SUUSI - but we really do say "No" when we think the trip is a bad match for your skills or preparation. If you don't show up on time with the right gear, we may not allow you to participate.
Mother Nature has beautiful vistas and wondrous patterns but also tree roots in trails, rocks in rivers, rain in the sky... and the trip leaders can't provide a cocoon of protection against all natural hazards.
Don't make anyone depend on random acts of kindness. Nature workshops are group experiences as well as personal explorations, so please be considerate of others when deciding if you can handle a trip. We want you to stretch your self, but not the patience of your companions.
On rare occasions we will change a trip's intended location to ensure safety. We cancel trips because of unsafe weather, not just because of rain. If we actually have to cancel a trip, your money will be refunded- or you can donate it to SUUSI. Refunds are not offered to people who don't come to the assembly point. If you have specific physical limitations or other questions, we can help you determine what trips are do-able. Anyone under physician's care should get their physician's permission before registering for trips. Trip leaders are under orders to "play it safe" and may not allow participants to go on trips they consider inappropriate.
Questions? Contact the Nature Staff at nature@suusi.org.