By Christina Lépine – Staff Writer

BU Outdoors geared up for this year’s Eco Week, offering one of the most event-filled weeks of the school year with four events in five days.  This initiative brought a new interactive perspective to environmental awareness by providing at least two outdoor activities in collaboration with Eco Week for all students who wished to participate in this experience.

 During the first week of February, Eco Week organizers planned a few initiatives on campus to increase students’ environmental awareness. These efforts included a “no cup day” during which students were encouraged to bring their reusable mugs or receive mugs when consuming beverages on campus. These initiatives are eye-opening every year for many who do not realize how many disposable dishes we use on a daily basis. 

This year, BU Outdoors made many efforts to offer an interactive outdoor experience for students because we truly understand the importance of environmental sustainability when surrounded by natural landscapes. 

On Monday, Feb. 3, the club offered a rock-climbing trip at D- Vert in Magog. On Tuesday, Feb. 4, BU Outdoors and Eco Week organizers collaborated to offer a local walk in Lennoxville on a section of the trail leading to North Hatley. On Thursday, Feb. 6, a Mount Pinnacle Sunrise Hike was offered for Eco Week, and lastly, on Friday, Feb. 7, the club announced a Diable Vert Sunset Snowshoeing hike. On Friday, Jan. 31, the club’s co-leads sent an informational email to their participant list informing them about the week’s activities. Students could sign up for any event and were then provided with further instructions to prepare for the different activities.

As many did on Thursday, Feb. 6, I woke up very early and got ready for my first sunrise hike. All participants met on campus before rejoining at the bottom of Mount Pinnacle, close to Coaticook. After a 40-minute drive, we started ascending the mountain to catch the sunrise at the top. The weather was perfect, although one of the coldest days we have experienced this year, the winter landscapes were beautiful during the hike and breathtaking at the top of the mountain. 

The club’s co-leads offered spikes for all participants to facilitate the hike. Our group took a long break to admire the sunrise and capture the moment. Many shared, while descending Mount Pinnacle, that this type of outdoor activity kick-started their day in the right way and they felt lucky to have the opportunity to experience nature in this way.

BU Outdoors succeeded in shedding a new light on Eco Week this year by offering a diversified set of physical activities in nature.