You found us! Welcome to Outdoor Pursuits, your one stop shop at UWM for outdoor trips, equipment rentals, and bike shop services located in the Klotsche Center. We are supported by students therefore our focus is on students! UWM students have full access to Outdoor Pursuits trips, equipment rentals, and bike shop services. Klotsche Center members have access to our equipment rentals and bike shop services.
Outdoor Trips: Our trip offerings cater to all, from thrilling local outings to unforgettable cross country road trips over academic breaks. Our trips include but are not limited to biking, camping, hiking, stand-up paddle boarding, cross country skiing, and more, all guided by our experienced student trip leaders. Each trip’s cost includes all transportation, lodging, meals, equipment, and instruction unless otherwise noted. For current offerings, visit the Trips Schedule.
Equipment Rentals: Why buy when you can rent? With over 1,500 pieces of equipment, we can outfit any adventure you have in mind including camping, water sports, winter sports and more.
Bike Shop Services: If cycling is your passion, our well-equipped bike shop is at your service, ready to provide basic to intermediate maintenance and repairs performed by our student bike mechanics.
Visit Us
Review our refund and cancellation policies for programs, trips/clinics, and expanded trips.
Learn MoreApply to work as a Customer Service Representative and Trip Leader. Application opens February 2025.
Learn MoreOutdoor Pursuits offers a scholarship for students in need of financial assistance to participate in trips.
Learn More
Policies
Program Cancellation and Refund Policy
- Programs may be cancelled by Outdoor Pursuits due to reasons such as those listed here: Low enrollment, inclement weather, staffing complications, no-shows, logistics issues, etc.
- If Outdoor Pursuits cancels a program, students will be offered a full refund or credit toward another trip or program. The student chooses the method for the refund, with no fees attached.
- If a student does not show up for a program they are registered for, no refund will be provided. Occasional exceptions are made through discussions with the Outdoor Pursuits Program Director.
- If a student has a family or medical emergency, Outdoor Pursuits will review their case and assess whether or not a refund or credit is an option. Notice must be provided in advance of trip, if possible. Outdoor Pursuits reserves the right to request a doctor’s note or evidence of event.
Trips/Clinics Cancellation and Refund Policy
Trips and clinics are classified as any programs that are less than or equal to four days. This includes but is not limited to clinics as short as a single hour, or trips that last up to three nights, and everything in-between.
- In order to be eligible for a refund, the student must notify Outdoor Pursuits of cancellation greater than or equal to 48 hours from the start date.
- If Outdoor Pursuits is notified less than 48 hours before start date, no refund will be issued. During this time-frame, program transfers and refunds happen only occasionally through discussions with the Outdoor Pursuits Program Director.
Extended Trip & WFR Course Cancellation and Refund Policy
Extended trips are classified as any program that is greater than or equal to five days. This includes but is not limited to spring break trips, winter break trips, and some summer trips that we offer.
- Unless otherwise noted, extended trips require a non-refundable $200 deposit to secure a spot. Refunds are only possible if Outdoor Pursuits is able to fill the vacancies prior to pre-trip meetings.
- If a student registers by paying full price for a trip, instead of the deposit followed by the settlement, then $200 of the full price acts as a deposit and is non-refundable.
- In order to be eligible for a refund of trip fees that surpass the security deposit, the student must notify Outdoor Pursuits of cancellation greater than or equal to 14 days from the trip start date. UREC will retain the $200 deposit.
- If Outdoor Pursuits is notified less than 14 days before trip departure, no refund will be issued.
Places to Play
Lake Michigan Beaches
- Bradford Beach: (1.6mi/2.6km from UWM) sand volleyball, swimming, concessions, free beach wheelchair rentals
- Atwater Park: (1.4mi/2.3km from UWM) swimming, ADA accessible path, playground
- Klode Park: (4mi/6.4km from UWM) swimming, ADA accessible path, tennis courts, playground
Paved Paths
- Milwaukee Interactive Bike Map: offers biking directions using only low stress streets
- Oak Leaf Trail: 135mi (217km) trail system, closest entrances to campus at Providence Ave and River Park
- Beerline Trail: 3.7mi (6km) trail, closest entrance to campus at Locust St
- Hank Aaron State Trail: 11mi (17km) trail, connects to the Oak Leaf Trail at Discovery World
- Glacial Drumlin State Trail: 52mi (83.6km) trail, connects to the Hank Aaron
- WI Bike Maps (organized by County)
- Lake: (1mi/1.6km from UWM) hiking, biking, free golf course, soccer field, tennis court, track, lighthouse
- Hubbard: (1mi/1.6km from UWM) hiking, biking, fishing, beer garden, paddling
- Cambridge Woods: (2mi/3.2km from UWM) hiking, biking, fishing
- Estabrook: (2.5mi/4km from UWM) seasonal farmers market, beer garden, disc golf, sand volleyball, hiking, biking, waterfall, dog park, soccer field, playground, canoeing, golf course, fishing
- Big Bay: (2.7mi/4.3km from UWM) hiking, beachfront
- Lincoln: (4.5mi/7km from UWM) hiking, paddling, golf course, soccer field, swimming pool, fishing
- Washington: (6mi/9.6km from UWM) hiking, biking, Urban Ecology Center, paddling, swimming pool, youth basketball court
- South Shore: (7.8mi/12.5km from UWM) hiking, biking, beachfront, beer garden, sand volleyball
- Doctors: (8mi/12.8km from UWM) hiking, beachfront, playground, disc golf
- Humboldt: (8.3mi/12.8km from UWM) hiking, biking, tennis courts, sledding hill, playground, Chill on the Hill summer concert series
- Brown Deer: (8.5mi/13.6km from UWM) hiking, biking, golf course, sledding hill, disc golf, sand volleyball, soccer field, cross country skiing
- Grant/ 7 Bridges: (14mi/22.5km from UWM) hiking, biking, disc golf, soccer fields, tennis courts, playground, beachfront
- Whitnall: (18mi/ 29km from UWM) hiking, mountain biking, golf course, sledding hill, botanical gardens, cross country skiing
State Parks/ Forests
- Lakeshore: (4.2mi/6.8km from UWM) hiking, biking, paddling, fishing, ADA friendly paths
- Lapham Peak: (45mins from UWM) hiking, mountain biking, camping, horseback riding, cross country skiing, adaptive equipment rentals
- Kohler-Andrae: (1hr from UWM) biking, paddling, camping, swimming, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting
- Devil’s Lake: (2hrs from UWM) biking, paddling, camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, rock climbing, swimming, ADA accessible cabins/ campsites
- Governor’s Dodge: (2.5hrs from UWM) biking, paddling, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, swimming, rock climbing
- Buckhorn: (2.5hrs from UWM) adaptive equipment rentals, ADA accessible cabins/ campsites
Outdoor Pursuits Staff Picks
- Emma: (5hrs from UWM) Canoeing the St. Croix River
- Liam F: (2hrs from UWM) Whitewater paddling or rafting Section II and III of the Wolf River
- Marelise: (40mins from UWM) Lapham Peak State Park Adventure Race every November
- Wynn: (2hrs from UWM) Bouldering at Devil’s Lake State Park
- Alex: (6hrs from UWM) Apostle Islands: Bayfield, WI and Madeline Island
- Liam S: (2hrs from UWM) Hiking in Devil’s Lake State Park
- Gretchen: (3hrs from UWM) Kayaking, hiking, biking, and camping at Peninsula State Park
- Dinesh: (5hrs from UWM) Canoeing the Flambeau River
- Hannah: (5hrs from UWM) Backpacking the North Country Trail near Copper Falls State Park