If you’re looking for adventure this summer, look no further than Outdoor Recreation.
U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart’s Outdoor Recreation offers a wide range of activities for outdoor enthusiasts, whether families or singles.
“We will have a trip every weekend — everything from white water rafting to camping to bike trips,” said Jenn Young, the program manager for USAG Stuttgart Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s Outdoor Recreation.
Many are day trips, but there are three overnight trips scheduled.
Cyclists can hit the open road July 24 and 25 with a supported bike trip that will take riders from the Karlsruhe area to France and back.
“We’ll cover 110 kilometers on the first day — it could be farther depending on the group,” said Outdoor Recreation’s Steve Dunlap, who will lead the ride. “On the second day, it could be anywhere from 80 to 105 kilometers. “
While the first day’s ride is fairly flat, the second day will prove more challenging. “There is a really difficult mountain to climb. I’ve known many good riders who have struggled with it,” he said.
If pedaling isn’t your thing, perhaps paddling is.
Outdoor Recreation offers a Black Forest camping and paddling weekend July 31 to Aug. 1.
“If you’ve never had an oar in your hand, we’ll teach you,” said Young.
Beginners can work on their technique using inflatable canoes on a nearby lake on Saturday. On Sunday, they can advance to paddling on a river, if they feel confident in their abilities.
Outdoor Recreation provides the tents, sleeping bags, camp stoves and other essential gear.
“The only thing the campers need to bring is food, drinks, toiletries and a propane tank, if you want to use one of the [camping] stoves. Just tell us how many folks you’re bringing and their ages,” said Young.
In August, the recreation crew is headed to Noordjwk, Netherlands, for a weekend of windsurfing.
About 25 kilometers north of Den Haag, the area features long, sandy beaches.
“There’s lots of wind, but you don’t have to windsurf — you can hang out on the beach or visit Amsterdam, which is about 45 minutes away,” said Young.
And if that weren’t enough, there’s a Black Forest day trip for hiking, a trip to a local ropes course, rafting, wakeboarding and amusement park outings.
There is also an ongoing paragliding program. “We offer paragliding every weekend, but it is very weather dependent,” said Young.
Outdoor Recreation offers two options. The first is a beginner or “teaser” course where participants can learn what paragliding is.
“It’s designed for people who think they may want to become a pilot,” said Young. Participants will learn basic techniques such as inflating the canopy and launching from a training hill.
The other option is a tandem flight. This is for those who “don’t want to be a pilot, but want to fly 1,000 feet in the air and gets some great photos,” said Young.
Germany offers many great outdoor opportunities, according to Young.
“There’s a lot to see and do here. We try to offer a variety of activities, so that there is something for everyone,” she said.
A complete summer schedule is available at Outdoor Recreation, Building 2953, on Panzer Kaserne. For more information, call 431-2774/civ. 07031-15-2774, or visit www.stuttgartmwr.com.
