USF College of Public Health health sciences major Gabriela Duque says her main goal as an adventure trip lead for the university’s office of Recreation & Wellness is to “break down the barriers that come with wanting to experience the great outdoors.”

According to Duque, who’s led some eight trips to places like Key Largo, Puerto Rico and North Carolina, those barriers include gear expenses, transportation issues and having the proper knowledge to enjoy the trip while still staying safe.

“We have so many participants camping, backpacking and kayaking on each of our trips, and the overall feeling of enjoyment and relaxation is easily seen,” said Duque, who plans to pursue a career in physical therapy after her December 2023 graduation. “Being in college can easily get stressful, but by setting aside some time to relax and enjoy the beauty that is the outdoors, one is able to decompress and re-energize to tackle what lies ahead.”

Duque has worked for Recreation & Wellness for the past year and a half. In that time, she’s taken students, staff and others camping in Georgia’s Providence Canyon State Park, backpacking along the Appalachian Trail, kayaking throughout Florida’s waterways, skiing in North Carolina and to Puerto Rico on a service adventure trip.

It’s a job that requires some solid time management skills.

“As far as hours go, this job is definitely out of the norm. Planning a trip is an intricate process that can take hours,” Duque said. “When we’re planning a camping or backpacking trip, for example, we have to research campsites, estimate driving time, consider what equipment is needed and figure out what trails we will take.”

Despite the time involved, Duque says the Recreation & Wellness office is committed to student success, providing them with a dedicated study space in their offices.

“Each time I go to the office, I see at least one of my coworkers taking advantage of this space,” she said. “I also have to say that having a very diverse group of coworkers pushes me to do my best in school. We have people that are pursuing degrees in engineering, business, the healthcare field, computer science and so much more. We each bring our different characteristics to the job.”

In addition to learning some practical skills such as performing first aid in primitive settings, Duque said the job has given her invaluable experience in interpersonal communication and leadership.

“I have been able to gain a lot of tools within the world of psychology to provide a good group environment on each of the trips I lead,” she said. “I think the biggest lessons we gain as leads are being able to use leadership skills beyond formal settings and gather diverse groups together around a campfire!”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health