Penn State Outing Club

What the Outing Club does
Each semester, PSOC staff members organize several trips and announce them via the email listserv. The staff also helps other members plan their own trips. Most of these trips are eligible to be sponsored with reimbursements for food, gas, and camping fees – meaning your trip could be FREE! Contact an officer if you are interested in planning a trip, and watch for announcements about trips on the listserv.

In addition to organizing and sponsoring trips, PSOC serves a knowledge resource for those interested in learning outdoor skills and as a place to meet new friends with similar outdoor interests. PSOC also sponsors social events and hosts guest speakers, such as professional athletes Peter Athans, John Griber, Andrew McLean, and Tim O’Brien.

History of the Penn State Outing Club
Founded on April 14, 1920, PSOC is one of the oldest student organizations at Penn State’s University Park campus and among the oldest collegiate outing clubs nationwide. Although PSOC currently focuses on backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, and trail maintenance, it has encompassed many other outdoor sports throughout the years and spun off several other clubs at Penn State. PSOC has a rich tradition of service to the outdoor community, from helping begin the clearing of the 261-mile Mid State Trail in 1969 to the annual Earth Day river cleanups of recent years. The Penn State Outing Club continues to pride itself on being the premier student-run adventure organization serving the Penn State community.

The Penn State Outing Club – Outside Since 1920