Students to take Thanksgiving Texas trip

Outdoor Adventure will be taking a handful of students on their second annual Tour of Texas Thursday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 27.

Though the trip leaves for Sam Houston National Forrest on Thanksgiving Day, participants will not miss out on the traditional turkey dinner. In between learning about the history of the great state of Texas, students from all skill levels are set to enjoy outdoor activities that range from hiking to a glass-bottom boat tour.

"Essentially we know that there are a lot of students on campus that may not be able to get home to family over Thanksgiving break," Outdoor Adventure Director Todd Grier said. "Their family may live across the country or internationally so it's a way for people to enjoy the thanksgiving break while they have a little bit of time off of school. "

Grier said participants will get a glimpse of the origins of Texas and how it became independent and then a state.

"It is a little bit of a historical perspective of Texas as well," he said. "The plan is for them to go down through Sam Houston Forest camping there and hiking then they will swing through historic Independence, kind of the foundation of where Texas started. Washington-on-the-Brazos is the original state capitol so there are some good tours that they will be doing down there. Then they will be going through the heart of the outdoor world in Texas in Austin, going hiking, climbing and paddling down there as well."

The group will also make a stop in San Antonio to view the historic Alamo. Outdoor Adventure will be cooking the meals; some of them even include Dutch oven delicacies.

"We are planning on continuing doing it which is sometimes hard because some people do not want to use their vacation that they may be going back to family; but, it is always a good opportunity to serve students who may not be able to get back home to their families," Grier said.