College Students Foster Adventure, Wellness and Community
To combat student loneliness, Cedarville University students launched CU Outings, an outdoor adventure club that fosters community and mental wellness through shared experiences like hiking, rock climbing and backpacking, supported by campus resources and expert insight.
CU Outings Tackles Student Isolation With Outdoor Adventure
Feeling isolated on a college campus is not unusual — according to the American College Health Association, nearly 60% of college students report feeling lonely or isolated. A new student organization at Cedarville University decided to do something about it. Their solution? Get outside together.
Their desire for connection and love for the outdoors led to the creation of CU Outings, a student organization focused on hiking, backpacking, rock climbing and other outdoor activities. For its members, outdoor adventures aren’t just about conquering new trails or climbs — they’re a way to build a community and recharge mentally amid the demands of college life.
Expert Insight on Mental Health Benefits
Dr. Kristin DeWitt, professor of psychology at Cedarville, said outdoor recreation supports long-term mental health, promotes mindfulness and strengthens social connections — along with many other benefits.
“Regular outdoor activity is associated with lower rates of anxiety, depression and burnout,” said DeWitt. “Even ‘microdoses’ of 10 to 15 minutes outside can yield measurable improvements.”
Campus Resources and Community Engagement
Cedarville offers resources to support holistic student wellness, including a rock wall, camping equipment, pickleball and sand volleyball courts and a fitness center. CU Outings supplements those resources with meaningful on- and off-campus experiences — hikes, climbs and campouts that build friendships.
CU Outings is led by Brandon Metz, a sophomore finance major from Charlottesville, Indiana; Taylor DeYoung, a junior nursing major from Larkspur, Colorado; Joshua Pantangan, a sophomore business management major from Norfolk, Virginia; Caleb Hartman, a senior business management major from Arcanum, Ohio; and Drew Schmidt, a senior molecular biology major from Davisburg, Michigan.
Discovering Local Nature and Intercollegiate Connections
Metz, who serves as president, said Cedarville’s location is perfect for outdoor recreation.
“Twenty minutes in any direction will get you to some sort of gorge,” said Metz. “We have everything close, and it’s all gorgeous.”
While climbing at Mad River Gorge, CU Outings met students from Wright State University and exchanged contact to participate in intercollegiate events.
Finding a Home Through Shared Experiences
Abigail Osborne, a freshman biology major from Pittsfield, New Hampshire, joined CU Outings early in her first semester. At home, she loves climbing with her dad.
“It’s things like this that help me feel at home at Cedarville,” said Osborne.
For students like Osborne, CU Outings offers more than just outdoor adventure — it’s a way to build meaningful friendships and support mental wellness through shared experiences in nature.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.