The Times They Are A Changing

Student Activities is looking different this year. We did a bit of restructuring of our staff and were able to make this organization leaner and meaner. Jessica (Thompson) Johanson is now the Coordinator of Recreational Sports and Challenge Course . This move brought Jessica to full time status her at NIC and allowed us to strengthen both programs. Jess is all settled in to her new office and you can reach her at Ext. 3299.

Heather Erikson has has a few changes in her position and soon she will no longer be the "go to" person for our OARS program. In the place of OARS, Heather will be focusing on our new volunteers program. She will gather students together to get involved in service projects in our community. Heather already has a Day of Service planned for the fall and is working on the second annual alternate spring break trip.

Jon Totten and Jacob Rothrock are swamped with the summer Outdoor Pursuits programs. This year they had four interns working with the beach hut, rentals and summer trips. They kept both of our pros running while adding great support to the programs OP had to offer. Jon and Jacob have planned their fall schedules and are all set for the student to return to campus.

Next!!!

Heather named NODA regional coordinator

Kudos to Student Activities Coordinator Heather Erikson who was recently appointed as the Idaho state coordinator for Region I of the National Orientation Directors Association (NODA).
NODA provides education, leadership and professional development opportunities for professionals in the fields of college student orientation, transition, and retention. Heather’s one-year term will end in the fall of 2009.

NIC YouTube

Wow, we have made the big time. Check out the NIC YouTube site and watch the videos created from our Student Activities camera.

The video below is a great promo for the OP program.


Last spring ASNIC built Mt. Trashmore to launch their Go Green program. We think they did a great job on the recording of the event and staging the event all together.

This Week - We Are A bit Thin!

This week Alex is on vacation and is out stalking the elusive Northern Idaho Elk. He will return Monday, Oct. 20th.

Heather and Dean will be leading a group of 9 ASNIC'ers down to Beaverton Oregon to the ACUI Region 14 Conference. We hope to get some great ideas about how to help NIC go Greener.

Jacob and Jessica are on their way to the Wallowas, also in Oregon, to backpack into a yurt system to cut firewood for the winter ski season. This trip earns Outdoor Pursuits a trip into the hut system when the snow comes so our program can do some steep and deep tellemark skiing.

Jon Totten is on leave in the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River. Jon will journey down into this amazing canyon with a large dory group. Jon will be running a gear boat and honing his skills on the oars.

If you are curious as to any details about these Student Activities adventures, I'm sure you can get us to spill our guts when the next NIC Storytellers meet.

Student Activities Staff Meetings

The Student Activities Staff has set their team meetings for every other Monday at 8:00 AM. This begins October 6th so if you are in the area please feel free to drop by!

Welcome Jon Totten!

Take a minute and stop into Outdoor Pursuits to welcome Jon Totten back to NIC. Jon left the college to pursue his dream of being a sailboat skipper on the blue waters of the Caribbean.

Jon brings a strong background in outdoor programming to the Student Activities team. He has a Master of Science degree in Adult & Organizational Learning from the University of Idaho and his Bachelor of Science is in Resource Recreation and Tourism from the U of I.
Jon was also lucky enough to do some international study at Lincoln University. Christchurch, New Zealand.

Prior to his leaving NIC Jon worked as the Assistant Coordinator - Outdoor Pursuits where he oversaw the Outdoor Pursuits lakefront and rental programs and staff. He programmed and led outdoor adventures including: sailing, backpacking, mountaineering, mt. biking, whitewater rafting and kayaking, canoeing, surfing, snowshoeing, and backcountry and telemark skiing.

Ask Jon to tell you about his work at San Juan Sailing in Bellingham, WA or better yet, take some time and buy him a beer and he will tell you his stories about sailing for Barefoot Yacht Charters in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. His experiences aboard 35’ – 50’ sailing yachts throughout the Southern Caribbean will keep you entertained for hours, especially if you're buying the beer!