Trinity University senior Kirk Gulliver says he has the coolest job on campus, and that's because he leads students on trips off campus.
As a trip leader for Trinity's Outdoor Recreation program, or OREC, Gulliver has headed excursions to destinations such as Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks in Texas, the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas, and various caverns in the San Antonio area.
"There is an epic beauty that is inherent in every sight those parks have to offer and it made me realize how lucky we are to live on such a wonderful planet," said Gulliver, who is from Portland and is a triple major in geosciences, environmental policy, and economics. After he graduates in May, he plans to pursue a job in San Antonio, ideally in an environmental field. This semester, he is an intern at the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, where he is learning about the numerous environmental problems facing urban areas of Texas.
Gulliver said being an OREC trip leader has given him the opportunity to develop leadership skills and share his "passion for the wilderness with my fellow Tigers." The experience has not been without challenges, however.
During some of the trips, students became ill, even cutting short the outing. Weather can also dampen the journey, he said, adding, "During last year's Spring Break trip in the Ozarks, it rained five inches in two days and the river levels became too high to cross safely."
That meant he had to make the best decision for the morale and health of the group, and it has all been worth it. "My time as a trip leader has allowed me to meet new people and has augmented my appreciation for the natural beauty of Texas."
While at Trinity, Gulliver also has been a track and field athlete. He says running has been his passion since grade school, although he also enjoys basketball and soccer.
Another passion has been Scouting and his project to become an Eagle Scout. He focused on the Children's Cancer Association, a Portland-based nonprofit that provides emotional and financial support for children who have been diagnosed with cancer and their families. The agency runs Alexandria Ellis Caring Cabin near the Oregon coast on a private lake as a place where diagnosed cancer patients can go with their families to relax between treatment sessions. For his project, Gulliver built a shelter and campfire pit on the beach of the lake and added erosion control measures to prevent the beach from being washed away. The result gave visitors a dry place to enjoy a campfire during the rainy winter months on the Oregon coast.
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