In the mountains of Utah, surrounded by thriving wildlife and an intimate group, University of Wisconsin-Superior students experienced the trip of a lifetime.

UW-Superior’s Campus Recreation program, Superior Adventures, hosted a spring break trip to Kanab, Utah, from March 8 to 14. The trip included eight participants, with program manager Sean Monnier and trip supervisor Kaito Tsuchida – a double major in political science and peace studies – joining the group.

Along the way, students had the chance to visit Devil’s Tower and other sightseeing locations. In addition to the natural wonders, they also explored tourist attractions. Tsuchida found this to be an underrated aspect of the trip.

“I’m into nature, so I knew I was going to love that part,” Tsuchida said. “But we stopped in this small town in South Dakota, known for western movies, and I thought it was really cool. It was a new cultural experience I hadn’t seen before.”

The adventures continued in Utah, where the group camped on Antelope Island and along the Colorado River. They spent their time hiking, sightseeing and learning the basics of safe camping.

“The group learned how to set up their tents, cook and clean food, and how to use Leave No Trace principles,” Monnier recalled. “It was great to see them grow in those areas and to watch them bond. Toward the end of the trip, Kaito and I were hanging around the camp while everyone else was cooking and preparing the meal. I nudged him and said, ‘Look at them go!’”

The group also visited several trails, including Windows Viewpoint and Trail, known for its natural arches. Cameron Eriksson, a public health major, was awestruck by the beauty of the surroundings.

“It was really awesome – it felt like we were in a different world,” Eriksson said. “The sunsets, the mountains, the arches, the nature … and definitely Salt Lake City, which was a great experience.”

During the trip, Eriksson’s tent was visited by two unexpected guests: a mouse tucked inside the tent and a buffalo standing outside the flaps at 1 a.m. Monnier highlighted the likelihood of such encounters.

“Antelope Island is in the middle of Salt Lake, and there are one or two herds of buffalo there,” Monnier explained. “The buffalo come right up to your tent. Getting to see them up close is pretty cool – they were there first.”

From mindfulness activities as a group to games played during the 20-hour drive there and back, the UW-Superior students quickly formed close bonds.

“Definitely try it,” Eriksson urged. “For me, it was something new I’d never done before. It was a great opportunity to connect with new people. I feel like I made closer connections with the people I already knew, as well as those I hadn’t met.”

Superior Adventures is an active program on campus and plans to host more trips like this one in the future. Upcoming events include a hike to Amnicon Falls, a sauna and cold plunge by Lake Superior and an Unplug to Reconnect camping trip.

By Olivia Fleming, English major and student writer for UWS.