Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is developing an outdoor recreation program through the Division of Student Affairs designed to help students connect with the natural environment and interact in a new way with people in surrounding communities. Mark Sethne, a former lecturer in the UWP department of geography, will develop programming through the spring and summer.

"This is a good opportunity for students and community members, both beginners and seasoned outdoor enthusiasts, to join in some guided touring together. I'm going to start this spring with very low-cost, high-interest activities that I've had success with in the past, such as caving, biking and canoeing, and then develop some additional activities for the summer. I'll be very interested to get feedback from participants even as I am planning future activities," said Sethne.

Events will begin in April with a trip to Popp's Cave near Richland Center, which Sethne said will be open to beginners and more advanced cavers as well. Also in April, he will coordinate a bike ride from Mineral Point to Calamine and finally to Belmont. In May, Sethne is planning a Paddle in the Park event in Governor Dodge Park in Dodgeville, which he has being doing informally with friends for about seven years.

"This is always great fun for parents and their children, even when the kids are initially resistant. They love getting into the canoes or kayaks and going out, feeling independent while mom and dad watch from the beach," Sethne explained.

The benefits of outdoor recreation are many, according to Sethne. In addition to the obvious benefits for physical health, outdoor recreation has psychological benefits, including the prevention or reduction of stress; improved self-esteem, confidence and creativity; spiritual growth; and an increased sense of exhilaration and adventure. It also helps raise awareness about the environment and helps people to feel invested in their communities.

In planning for future activities, he said that he would like to custom tailor activities for certain groups, such as possibly developing a weekend outing for UWP students and their visiting parents. He has also thought about developing programming for "novice" campers and their children.

"I hear from parents a lot, especially single parents, that they would like to introduce their children to a camping experience, but they have no experience themselves and maybe no contact or support systems to get started. That's one activity we might consider and possibly even involve our UWP students in as a service learning activity," he said.

Sethne brings broad leadership and guiding skills in outdoor travel to the position including hiking, paddling, climbing and open air cooking - "above and beyond normal campfire cuisine," he said. His many paddling experiences range from Class IV whitewater rafting on the Ganges River in India to open boat quiet water paddling in Southwest Wisconsin. He is an experienced caving leader, scuba diver, skier, angler, hunter, and climbing and rappelling instructor.

In his Geography of Wisconsin courses, Sethne has helped students explore the geology, history, economy, tourism, arts, foods, cultures, rivers and transportation of Wisconsin.

"I thrive on back road travel and finding the 'mom and pop' places," he said. Another favorite past time is researching ghost towns in Wisconsin - according to Sethne, there are over 100 in the tri-county area.

Dates and times for the spring activities will be announced towards the end of March, and Sethne anticipates that many activities will be free and open to the public. Anyone interested in learning more about programming or offering ideas may contact Sethne at (608) 342-5022 or sethne@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Mark Sethne, outdoor recreation specialist, UWP Division of Student Affairs, (608) 342-5022, sethne@uwplatt.edu Written by: Evelyn Martens, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, martense@uwplatt.edu