Annual Adventure Challenge takes place at SJU

The number of participants for The Outdoor Leadership Center’s (OLC) Adventure Challenge exceeded the organizer’s expectations this year. The annual event, which has been around for more than a decade, took place this Sunday around the SJU campus.

The Adventure Challenge, organized by SJU sophomore staff members Cameron Schreifels and Mac Franklin, provides an opportunity for students to engage in a race that incorporates mini competitions to win prizes, all while enjoying the autumn beauty of the St. John’s campus.

“First and foremost, we want participants to have fun and try new activities,” Franklin said. “It is also a good way to get outside and hang out with OLC staff.”

Each class of sophomore, junior and senior OLC staff are tasked with organizing an event during the school year. Franklin and Schreifels are this year’s designated Adventure Challenge organizers.

The two have spent the past month planning the event. Their checklist included advertising, purchasing supplies, recruiting fellow staff members to oversee the stations and coordinating with Life Safety and SJU Dining Services for a post-race pizza party. They were required to submit a safety plan for any incidents that may occur and communicate with Life Safety about where and when the event would be held.

As for inclement weather, it was decided that in the event of rain the show would go on, despite most of the challenge taking place outside.

The first-place prize for the team with the fastest time through the five parts of the challenge was a hammock for each participant. The second-place team was awarded Carhartt hats and third place won Nalgene water bottles.

“I would still do this in the rain for a hammock,” Franklin said.

Teams were comprised of two to four participants. Schreifels and Franklin hoped to see a dozen or so students sign up; however, they saw almost double that number arrive to the OLC on Sunday morning, with seven total teams. Some students had participated in the challenge in previous years, while others were new to the competition.

The race contest kicked off with a climb up the rock wall at the Warner Palestra. After one team member successfully topped the wall, the teams ran back to the OLC to carve pumpkins.

Once the pumpkins were complete with two eyes, a nose, and a mouth, competitors navigated a slack line with their pumpkin in hand. Yells of encouragement buoyed students along the line.

Next, teams raced to the Abbey Guesthouse for a bean bag toss. With each successful toss, they were given a clue to a riddle they had to solve to move on.

Finally, the teams ran to the tundra for the last challenge: frisbee golf.

The first-place team, SJU sophomore duo Graham Imholte and Noah Zent, sped through the course, finishing in 11 minutes and outpacing the rest of the field by a significant margin. Imholte had a simple but effective strategy which he credited to their success.

“Start fast, go fast in the middle and finish fast,” Imholte said.

Others, though not lacking enthusiasm, took a more laid-back approach to the event, spending time crafting a creative jack-o-lantern and enjoying the beautiful morning with friends.

“I asked my friends [to join me] because it sounded so fun—pumpkin carving, rock climbing and prizes. Plus, it’s just fun to hang out with friends,” CSB junior Sophie Ryan said.

CSB sophomore Ana Dailey was also drawn in by the enticing activities on offer.

“It sounded like an adventure, and I’m always excited for new adventures,” Dailey said.