The Outdoor Adventure Center has relocated to 216 W. Irvine Ave. to avoid a mid-semester move that could have resulted from the start-up of construction on two new residence halls.

All of the spring programs adventures, trips and activities will go on as scheduled.

“When we were told that construction was going to take place and that we would have to move eventually, we just decided to go ahead and beat them to the punch line and move now,” said McKenzie Martin, coordinator of outdoor adventures and special events. “We have done this to ensure that none of our programs or events will be hindered or cancelled because of a move during the middle of the semester.”

Staff member Patrick Shremshock saw the new location as an opportunity to get the center better visibility with the UNA community, he said.

“I think we’ll be more visible in our new location than we were in our old one,” said Shremshock, a graduate assistant at the Outdoor Adventure Center. “Especially once we get a new sign put up.”

Student employee Christian Walker found that the new building offered a better environment for students to come hang out, he said.

“I see the move as a fresh start to an already progressive program in a bigger building with more space for students to just come hang out,” Walker said.

The staff wants to make the center a place for students to come between classes or when they just have a break in their schedules, Martin said.

The new building and the location of the Outdoor Adventure Center are a good match for the program, said Vice President for Student Affairs David Shields.

“Their new location is a great place and a great fit for them,” he said. “Because of the success of the (recreational) sports program here at UNA, we didn’t want to stop any of their programs or slow anything down, so we gave them plenty of notice about the construction and got them moved.”

Members of the Outdoor Adventure Club like Alex Maxwell and Jonathan Powers considered the relocation a positive thing, they said.

“I liked the old spot, but I think the new one is going to be great once we get the painting scheme finished and get all of our calendars and stuff hung on the walls,” Maxwell said. “I think that more people will check it out now that it’s in a better spot, right next to where students park.”

Powers, who helped with the building set-up and painting, was excited about the opportunity to have a backyard garden at the new location, he said.

“I like the new spot and think it’s going to be very beneficial,” he said. “Hopefully we are going to be able to use the back yard for a gardening project.”

The new location is on the corner of West Irvine Avenue and North Pine Street beside the parking lot.

“I love change,” Martin said. “I always think it’s a good thing, especially in our case.”

More information regarding programs and events sponsored by the Outdoor Adventure Center may be found on the center’s Facebook page, by searching for Outdoor Adventure Center on the UNA homepage or at una.edu/recsports.

A full schedule of events and programs for the spring 2014 semester may be accessed there.

For questions about the OAC, McKenzie Martin may be contacted at [email protected].