ROC-in' Ginnie Springs
Alexis Obernauer
Issue date: 9/19/08 Section: News
Sleepy members of the Rollins Outdoor Club, gathered outside of Lyman Hall before the crack of 10:00 a.m. on Sunday to embark on a day-long excursion to Ginnie Springs. Almost thirty students made the two hour trek to High Springs, Florida to enjoy the seven separate springs, 200 wooded acres, and gorgeous, albeit a bit murky, Santa Fe River. After the long and generally uneventful drive, the club members arrived safely and in good spirits; and the festivities began just after noon. After breaking a sweat from highly competitive games of ultimate disc, beach volleyball, and football, ROC members donned their inner tubes and floaties and set off for an hour-long raft ride in the chilly 72 degree water. Once back on land, everyone feasted on a delicious lunch of barbequed picnic food. Then when the clouds opened up and brought some late afternoon rain showers, not all ROCers took refuge under the relative safety of the large wooden pavilion.
A separate group of scuba divers, led by the experienced Chase Waldeck, broke off and explored many of the cavernous underwater passageways that Ginnie Springs has to offer. Even though the water was not its usual 'crystal clear' and visibility was significantly restricted, the lucky divers were able to explore unique underwater geological features with their goggles, wetsuits, and air tanks. Ginnie Springs is known primarily for Ginnie Cavern, a 100 by 15 foot cave that lies at the bottom of a deep basin near the mouth of the Santa Fe River. Interestingly enough, Ginnie Cavern is one
of only a handful of sites that experts consider safe enough for divers lacking formal cave and cavern experience. This allowed a few more ROC divers to take advantage of Ginnie Spring's chief attraction. For more information about High Springs, Florida 's favorite campground and dive resort, visit www.ginniesprings.com.
If you love tubing and diving, or even if you have never passed a swim test, the Rollins Outdoor Club offers trips to a variety of nearby sites nearly almost every weekend. This semester, the club has already gone on day outings to tube at Wekiwa Springs and they have co-sponsored trips to feed the homeless on Saturday mornings with J.U.M.P. Upcoming events include a dive trip to Blue Grotto in Williston, Florida and a beach clean-up. Both events are occurring on Saturday, September 20. More information on those and other future gatherings will be provided at Rollins Outdoor Club meetings, which are held every Tuesday night at 8:01 PM in Lyman Hall.
First year student and first year ROC member Caitlin Sayles nicely summarized last Sunday's event by describing it as "an exciting trip that everyone seemed to enjoy." She also said it was "definitely well worth the two hour drive" to get there.
A separate group of scuba divers, led by the experienced Chase Waldeck, broke off and explored many of the cavernous underwater passageways that Ginnie Springs has to offer. Even though the water was not its usual 'crystal clear' and visibility was significantly restricted, the lucky divers were able to explore unique underwater geological features with their goggles, wetsuits, and air tanks. Ginnie Springs is known primarily for Ginnie Cavern, a 100 by 15 foot cave that lies at the bottom of a deep basin near the mouth of the Santa Fe River. Interestingly enough, Ginnie Cavern is one
of only a handful of sites that experts consider safe enough for divers lacking formal cave and cavern experience. This allowed a few more ROC divers to take advantage of Ginnie Spring's chief attraction. For more information about High Springs, Florida 's favorite campground and dive resort, visit www.ginniesprings.com.
If you love tubing and diving, or even if you have never passed a swim test, the Rollins Outdoor Club offers trips to a variety of nearby sites nearly almost every weekend. This semester, the club has already gone on day outings to tube at Wekiwa Springs and they have co-sponsored trips to feed the homeless on Saturday mornings with J.U.M.P. Upcoming events include a dive trip to Blue Grotto in Williston, Florida and a beach clean-up. Both events are occurring on Saturday, September 20. More information on those and other future gatherings will be provided at Rollins Outdoor Club meetings, which are held every Tuesday night at 8:01 PM in Lyman Hall.
First year student and first year ROC member Caitlin Sayles nicely summarized last Sunday's event by describing it as "an exciting trip that everyone seemed to enjoy." She also said it was "definitely well worth the two hour drive" to get there.
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