Orgt

Outdoor Recreation Georgia Tech (ORGT)
is the outdoor program at Georgia Tech which takes students, faculty, and staff on a variety of trips around the Atlanta area. ORGT has 8 sport areas, all take out trips each semester, there are also freshmen orientation trips to Alaska, woman's specific trips, and a challenge course.
History

ORGT began in 1970 as Outward Bound Georgia Tech. It was
originally a part of the Student Center’s recreation program,
which also included indoor recreation, such as bowling and pool.
Two faculty members, Payson Kennedy and Miller Templeton,
were extremely active in developing outdoor activities, starting
with tandem whitewater canoeing. Under their supervision, the
outdoor activities became popular. Eventually, students were
elected to help lead these activities.

In 1973, the program was renamed Outdoor Recreation Georgia
Tech (ORGT). Students began taking trips in caving, canoeing,
kayaking, rafting, backpacking, and rock climbing. In 1976,
Miller Templeton became the ORGT administrator charged with
overseeing the safety of the program. ORGT established the
committee structure and developed active subcommittees with
student oversight. Several outdoor sports became permanent
ORGT activities.

By 1981, ORGT had grown in size and become so large that a
full-time staff member was needed. An agreement was struck
between the Student Athletic Complex (now Campus
Recreation) and the Student Center to fund a full time position,
called the Outdoor Recreation Coordinator (ORC).

The first ORC was Bob O’Connor. Unfortunately, Bob was
killed in a kayaking accident on the Gauley River in 1982, during
his first year as ORC.

Chuck Hammersly, the next ORC, started the Wilderness
Outpost rental program and saw further development of the
ORGT subcommittees. In 1984, he left ORGT and was replaced
by Bob Jones. Under Bob’s administration, ORGT was
transferred to Campus Recreation in order to obtain greater
support and funding. As a result of this move, ORGT became a
university outdoor program and ceased to be merely an outdoor
club.

Bob left ORGT in 1988. ORGT operated under student
direction and oversight by Miller Templeton until Suzi
Beaumont was hired in 1989. Suzi was the ORC for eight years.
Under her leadership, ORGT saw record growth, and became a
full-fledged outdoor program.

Lynn Zwaagstra became ORC in 1997. Lynn helped create an
updated mission and this Operation Manual. Lynn also created
a new and improved database, which allows ORGT to better
track participant data and equipment use.

In 1998 Lynn left ORGT. Suzi Beaumont returned for four
months to serve as interim ORC. Suzi was instrumental in hiring
ORC, Will Marble, who started in June of 1999.

Instructional Programs
; Backpacking
; Caving
; Climbing
; Mountain Biking
; Sea Kayak Touring
; Whitewater canoeing
; Whitewater Kayaking
; Whitewater Rafting
Affiliated programs and facilities
; Campus Recreation Center Climbing wall
; Wilderness Outpost
; Georgia Tech Challenge Course

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See Also

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