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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Kayaking at Lake LaSalle on UB's North Campus opens for students

Kayaking and canoeing on campus available after over 40 years of lake's nonuse

Senior archaeology major Nick Derrick explores Lake LaSalle via rowboat after Monday’s ribbon cutting ceremony. Andy Koniuch, The Spectrum
Senior archaeology major Nick Derrick explores Lake LaSalle via rowboat after Monday’s ribbon cutting ceremony. Andy Koniuch, The Spectrum

Since 1970, the only things taking advantage of Lake LaSalle were the geese that flock UB’s North Campus.

But as spectators gathered for the official unveiling of UB’s newest outdoor activity, kayaking and canoeing, decades of neglect became a distant memory.

The ribbon cutting ceremony Monday officially marked the grand opening of recreational activities at Lake LaSalle waterfront.

“For students it’s an opportunity to get on a body of water and see the university from a different angle,” said Director of Outdoor Pursuits Crispell. “It’s a spectacular view, something that everybody probably dreams of doing. That’s at least the response from our graduated seniors, who say, ‘Thank God they did this, it’s about time.’”

The kayaking season is tentatively scheduled through Nov. 1, but is subject to change due to weather conditions.

Students may rent kayaks and canoes from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday for free. Five kayaks and four canoes are available for rent and the weight of each device varies from 25 to 78 pounds. Students may bring their own equipment but can not store them on campus.

A standup paddle boarding class is offered on Wednesdays for $5 dollars per half-hour from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Director of Campus Living Andrea Costantino supplied a boating dock and Outdoor Pursuits, a subdivision of Student Life, donated the kayaks and canoes. The installation of the dock was $25,000, according to Director of Student Life Thomas Tiberi.

The dock prevents any natural erosion caused by students dumping their boats off the edge of the shoreline, according to Tiberi.

Crispell said UB’s 2020 Plan calls for the expansion of experiential education and utilization of UB’s natural resources. He believes the docking station complements that movement.

Even though the 60-acre manmade lake isn’t technically natural, students are still getting something out of the initiative.

“Initially I was a little scared, because the first time I went kayaking I capped sized,” said Oscar Chen, a senior psychology major. “The nerves went away though and it was pretty fun. It was definitely relaxing. Being on campus on the water is definitely a whole new experience than walking on land.”

There is always at least one paddling instructor on duty for students worried about using the equipment. Instructors will go out onto water with inexperienced students and “leash” their boat upon a student’s request.

Students are required to wear portable flotation devices, provided by the organization, when on the lake.

Instructors like junior social science major Sophia Chianese, who has been boating since she was 5, believes canoeing is a great way to relieve stress and form new friendships.

“I would definitely recommend this,” Chianese said. “Even to people who don’t think it’s a great idea or are a little frightened. You can come with a bunch of friends and we’ll make it a fun time. We know how to teach and have fun.”

Some students even take their books into the boats and studied in the middle of the lake, according to Nick Derrick, a senior anthropology major.

Derrick, one of Crispell’s former teaching assistants and current instructor at the Outdoor Adventure Club, is in talks amongst the club to coordinate lake cleanups as trash from The Commons finds its way into the lake.

“We clean up the lake as much as possible,” Derrick said. “People fish down by the bridge, they’ll toss their garbage into the water and leave it there.”

The quality of its water has been the subject of scrutiny among UB students, but Derrick says the water in Lake LaSalle, which comes from Ellicott Creek, is clean enough to swim in.

“People have the stereotype that the lake comes from a sewage dump,” Derrick said. “That’s not true. I would jump in this water. On a hot day, sometimes I wish I could just jump in or purposely tip my boat.”

Some students wish boating on the lake was available years ago. After Lake LaSalle’s opening in 1970 and prior to creating the dock, students needed special permission from special events to boat on the lake.

“If they had this my freshman year, I would have been out [on the water] every single day,” said Kevin Santa, a senior environmental geoscience major and paddling instructor.

Chief Sustainability officer Ryan McPherson realized there was a demand for recreation. McPherson began to take safety procedures to meet the requirements of University Police along with the Environmental, Health and Safety departments.

“Activating this lake is taking a giant step toward really realizing that greater connection – something bigger than ourselves,” McPherson said. “This is the first step of a much larger effort at opening this campus and connecting with our ecosystems and enhancing the connection that we have as both faculty and students.”

Outdoor recreational activity classes will no longer be available for students for credit after this semester, so Crispell has been organizing outdoor activities for students through Student Life.

Crispell is the faculty adviser for Outdoor Adventure Club, which currently has 200 active members and 800 total members. Active members participate in events regularly, such as white water rafting, trips to Niagara Gorge in Niagara Falls State Park and the Adirondack mountains.

Crispell is still excited for the future of outdoor recreation at UB.

“I look at [the new dock] as a gateway to expand outdoor recreation for the students,” Crispell said. “That’s really what it is, it’s the first step.”

email: sports@ubspectrum.com

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