UCSD enjoys fresh, sunny days and a sparkling ocean to compliment them. Look to the horizon at certain areas of the campus and, if you’re lucky, you can spot hot air balloons floating in the distance, or hang gliders drifting along cliffs against the sunset.

Spring has arrived, and that means warmer weather, idyllic beach outings and a desire to step out into what nature has to offer. La Jolla offers an array of recreation activities to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and the brighter, longer days.

Outback Adventures, located in Sixth College, lists wilderness outings with brisk hikes, rock climbing, wild flower walks, kayaking and backpacking in the latest UCSD Spring Recreation catalog.

“A lot of [students] say they don’t even know about it, and that’s kind of sad,” Outdoor Adventures staff member Susan Pearson said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have many people signing up. We would love to have more student interest.”

UCSD students may seem vaguely aware of all the recreation activities that are available for free exploration, but there are only a handful of students who utilize the opportunity to its full potential by booking wilderness trips, packing their backpacks, stocking up on sun block lotion, and making their way to the great outdoors.

Eleanor Roosevelt College sophomore Brad Simpson actively participates in rock climbing at the Canyonview gym climbing course and local areas in Santee Boulders and Joshua Tree National Park.

“It’s just a good time. Everyone is helping out with each other, and there are good people to climb with,” Simpson said.

If you would like to try hot air ballooning, companies like the Great American Balloon Company offer a number of rides, launching from local areas like Del Mar. Both romantic and thrilling, a ride during a clear, blue-skied day or a melting sunset with a significant other or with a group of friends could create the perfect and most memorable outing. A standard hourlong ride is $130 per person.

“Everyone can do it, it’s adventurous,” Gertler said. “But maybe it just costs more than people would like to spend.”

Hiking and backpacking destinations include San Jacinto near Palm Springs and near Big Sur along California’s central coastline. Kayaking is offered in Mission Bay as well as in the San Diego bay. A pricier trip to the coastline of Santa Barbara is offered as well.

Many of these activities have scheduled dates, starting this May, with prices ranging from $35 to $56 for kayaking and $100 to $200 for backpacking.

“We try to keep the cost as bare bones as possible,” said Mike Wegner, associate director of Outback Adventures. “In addition, we offer great deals on rental equipment to get students out on their own, pretty much any activity under the sun.”

Outback Adventures also provides various equipment rentals, and their prices are far cheaper than what La Jolla shops have to offer. Surfboard rentals at the center start at $23, while a rental at a local beach shop can be up to $40 an hour.

UCSD Recreation will open the newly constructed ropes course on May 11. Labeled the Outback Team Challenge Course, the ropes course is something from a military training base or a challenge course on an MTV reality show. Located behind East Parking and Thornton Hospital, the course was specifically created as a mechanism to develop the ideals of teamwork within groups for students, staff, fraternities, sororities and many other student organizations here on campus. The 35-foot-high rope and log course is named the “Alpine Tower,” and is intended as a team-building obstacle course geared toward building communication skills.

“It isn’t just offering recreation to students, but leadership opportunities.” Wegner said. “From our standpoint, the recreation point of it provides a means to leadership for UCSD students,” Wegner said.

Inspired by Brian Grube, the director of Outback Adventures, the ropes course is designed as a “rescue simulation” for all organizations to participate in.

“There are different skills of communication and trust. As a whole, it’s about building team sense,” Wegner said. “It’s more of a challenge course than a jungle gym; it’s not just for fun.”

“We’re very competitive in pricing, especially for our students. We want them to access the outdoors,” Wegner said.

At the beaches in La Jolla, particularly Blacks Beach, hang gliders are often seen flying languidly along the edge of the cliffs, enjoying the view of the vast Pacific. They come from the Torrey Pines Gliderport, a hang gliding flight instruction center that provides lessons and gliders.

Gliderport’s Web site states, “Imagine yourself soaring with the red-tail hawks 500 to 1,500 feet above the cliffs of Torrey Pines and the Pacific Ocean. Transcend the earthly bonds into a world of freedom, quiet and exhilaration.”

Gliderport offers hang gliding and paragliding, which is similar to hang gliding, except paragliders use parachutes. Beginner paragliding lessons are offered, but are extremely pricy, starting at $795 for a three- to four-day program. But since La Jolla is the “paragliding paradise of the Pacific,” according to Gliderport, the lessons may be worth it.

As a far cheaper option, UCSD organizations provide ample recreation for students who are on a tight budget, including skydiving jumps. Far more intense than the more fluttering, serene activity of hang gliding, the UCSD Skydiving Club offers tandem skydiving jumps.

“There is a lot of skydiving around,” said Luther Kurtz, the technical advisor of the UCSD Skydiving Club. “Definitely in California, [skydiving] is popular. Most people want to go, they just don’t know about it.”

For more information on UCSD-instructed skydiving, visit the Web site, http://acs.ucsd.edu/~jumpclub.

If it’s water you’re hoping to play in, the Mission Bay Aquatic Center offers a plethora of various lessons including surfing, wakeboarding, water skiing, sailing, windsurfing and rowing. An instruction-based center more than anything else, the aquatic center offers student discounts for all their activities.

“It’s not designed to just have someone come [here] and go, but designed to teach,” Mission Bay Aquatic Center manager Kevin Straw said. “Here it’s more of a lesson type of thing, where we’re here to teach how to sail and once their lesson is over, they can come back whenever they want with friends or family.”

Noting the longer days and warmer weather, Straw said surfing and wakeboarding lessons are the most popular, but mentioned the popularity of moonlight kayaking that is offered.

“One thing that’s been really popular for some dorm and student groups is the moonlight kayaking event. They come in the evening and barbecue on the beach, and then take the kayaks out,” Straw said.

Additionally, sailing at Mission Bay may be easier for beginning learners because the bay features smooth treads with no harsh swells that are characteristic of the ocean. For a listing of rental and instruction prices, visit the Web site at http://www.missionbayacquaticcenter.com.

It would be boring to stay indoors in this beautiful weather with so many recreational options available both on and off campus. So what are you waiting for? Take advantage of UCSD’s beautiful location and have some fun in the sun.