TCU’s Outdoor Adventure Program to head to Buffalo National River for spring break excursion

By Kaylene Cunningham, Staff Writer

Published Feb 18, 2025

TCU students and staff ready to canoe the Rio Grande at Big Bend National Park.

TCU’s Campus Recreation Outdoor Program is hosting a spring break trip to Buffalo National River in Arkansas.

Apart from this five-day excursion, the program plans to organize several adventure trips throughout the semester, including full moon paddles, canoes and caves, spring break trips and Easter weekend backpacking.

TCU’s Outdoor Adventure Program was designed to provide students with a way to get outdoors, enjoy the beautiful places and landscapes in Texas and other states and as a way for staff and students to spend time together.

“I get to connect with some of TCU’s amazing students while reconnecting with nature,” Brenda Palone, a TCU security guard, said.

Canoes packed for the trip down the Rio Grande. (TCU)

TCU’s Outdoor Program was designed to provide students, faculty and staff with a way to get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful places and landscapes.

Each trip is tailored to provide housing, dining and access to rentals for a fee. The fees vary depending on the activities planned and the trip length.

TCU students, faculty and staff also have employment opportunities through the program. There are several student and staff-run positions within the program, including member service, group fitness instructor, outdoor staff and adventure program staff.

Palone’s work experience with the program has “been so special and unique because of the people and the challenges you experience together–lots of laughter, lots of memories,” Palone said. “I am grateful to be a part of the community.”

Canoeing through the Rio Grande at Big Bend National Park. (Brenda Palone)

Dale Conor, a retired Fort Worth and TCU police officer, said the TCU’s adventure trip to the Rio Grande was awesome.

“We introduced a lot of students to canoeing and only capsized twice,” Conor said. “We had a week of amazing experiences, endless views and the camp food was always better than you would imagine.”

The dates for the spring break trip are March 16-21, and there will be a pre-trip meeting on Monday, March 10, at 6 p.m.

The trip costs $225, but the early bird sign-up cost is only $200 if you sign up by Feb. 21. The final sign-up deadline is March 7.

The next adventure trip activity is a full moon paddle from 6 p.m. through 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at Benbrook Lake. The cost of this trip is $30 to $35, and the registration deadline is Tuesday, March 11.