Adventure Summit set to return to Wright State Student Union

Adventure Summit partcipants dunk their buckets in the water and try to sink each other at the Wright State Natatorium during the Canoe Battleship Competition.

Don’t let frigid winter weather keep you from having a warm and active Valentine’s weekend. Discover a new outdoor activity with your sweetheart or meet someone new at the 2014 Adventure Summit at Wright State University.

Five Rivers MetroParks and Wright State bring the outdoors to the cozy confines of the Student Union this time every other year. The 2014 Adventure Summit is set for Friday, Feb. 14, from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Kayaking, scuba diving, rock climbing, indoor cycling and yoga are among the get-out-and-play activities in addition to inspiring speakers, recreational skill clinics, hands-on training and fitness sessions.

The Adventure Summit at Wright State University helps students of all ages climb to new heights.

Pre-registration is not required to attend the summit’s feature presentation—famed British adventurer Dave Cornthwaite’s “Philosophy of Adventure” at 8 p.m. Feb. 14  in the Apollo Room.

Outdoor-loving couples and singles may also attend a Valentine’s dinner before the presentation at 6:30 in the Endeavor Room.

Make reservations for the dinner online.

Students who don’t attend the dinner can enjoy free pizza before being inspired by Cornthwaite. After the presentation, students can attend a free party at 9 p.m. at the Wright State Pool even if they don’t want to get wet. The event will feature a DJ, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and an assortment of other floatation devices.

Saturday’s activities include over 40 inspiring and educational presentations including “Crocodiles and Ice,” a presentation by adventurer and explorer Jon Turk, about his experiences circumnavigating Ellesmere Island. Turk will also share his expert advice on expedition planning.

Saturday’s competitions include bouldering, canoe battleship, kayak polo, an indoor triathlon and the Frosty Checks 5K. Non-competitive activities include a full fitness and pool schedule in addition to the climbing wall. New this year is a used gear sales area. Students and guests over 21 can take part in free beer tastings. Seats are limited.

“The event is a great opportunity for students to get inspired and educated on how to have their own life-changing adventures. Whether they are interested in crossing the Andes or hiking on Ohio’s Buckeye Trail, there are presentations for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts,” said Amy Anslinger, assistant director of outdoor recreation at Wright State.

Many of the summit’s activities are perennial favorites and draw students from far beyond the Wright State campus. The bouldering competition, scheduled for Saturday in the Student Union’s climbing wall facility, draws students from across the Midwest. “We’ve had them come from as far away as Notre Dame,” Anslinger said.

Five Rivers MetroParks and Wright State have held the Adventure Summit on the university’s main campus since 2006. Tom Helbig, special events coordinator for MetroParks’ Outdoor Recreation Department, said both organizations developed their outdoor recreation programs at the same time and developed the concept for the summit together.

“We have similar missions in trying to get people actively engaged in the outdoors. There are a ton of opportunities for people to explore the Miami Valley through outdoor adventure,” Helbig said.

He noted the region has more than 300 miles of paved recreational trails, 30 miles of mountain biking trails, the 22-mile Twin Valley Trail for backpacking and 70 miles of navigable streams.

More information is available on the Adventure Summit website.