Help Lees-McRae become the next National Outdoor Champion

Hiking, kayaking, backpacking, bicycling and even bird-watching–just a few of the activities Lees-McRae students, faculty, staff, alumni and the local community will be participating in from Sept. 18 through Oct. 15 as they compete to win the fourth annual Outdoor Nation Campus Challenge.

Hosted by the Outdoor Foundation, a nonprofit committed to reconnecting millennials with the outdoors, and sponsored by REI, The North Face, Hydro Flask and ENO, the Campus Challenge aims to get students from more than 90 universities across the U.S. off the couch and into the wilderness since its launch in 2010.

To participate, simply download the Campus Challenge app, join the Lees-McRae team and log one of several activities during the Challenge to score points. Participants may begin downloading the app on Friday, Sept. 1.

Prizes for winners include national titles and free outdoor gear.

Joining the Outdoor Nation Campus Challenge for its first year, Lees-McRae will be one of the smallest division I participants. Lees-McRae will head up against North Carolina universities such as UNC Asheville, UNC Charlotte, NC State University and East Carolina University among several others.

On Sept. 18, Lees-McRae will host an Outdoor Nation Campus Challenge “kick-off” event on campus to further introduce students to the competition and to begin collecting points by practicing yoga, relaxing in hammocks, riding bicycles and several other activities.

All members of the community are invited to get active and join the Challenge.

To learn more about the Outdoor Nation Campus Challenge, visit oncampuschallenge.org and OutdoorFoundation.org.