Outdoor Recreation offers SOAP for 'bucket list' Published March 4, 2016 By Airman 1st Class Timothy Kim 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- So, you're stationed in Germany, and it's you're first time in Europe. Though you're here for two years, you realize that there's a lot you want to do, see and explore. But, you find yourself in a predicament: you don't know where to start to scratch things off your "bucket list" like hiking, skiing and fishing... What do you do? For those who need help checking off those items, the 52nd Force Support Squadron's Outdoor Recreation can help by as part of their Sabers Outdoor Adventure Program, which hosts various events for base community members. SOAP, one of the Air Force's Outdoor Reaction's six core programs, comprises of specialized activities that carry a higher perceived risk, such as white-water rafting, scuba diving and sky-diving. Outdoor Recreation organizes outdoor adventures and trips throughout Europe and provides well-being, unit cohesion and fitness opportunities for families, individuals and wing units, according to Anthony Williams, Outdoor Recreation director. "We organize and guide trips and adventures desired by the Saber Community at economical costs," Williams said. "Outdoor Recreation can be every person's gateway to new outdoor experiences. We deliver 'bucket list' adventures and lifetime memories. The SOAP program is the people's program; we pride ourselves in doing what the people want to do, and we listen to their needs and try and put on the events that they are interested in. I have always said that Outdoor Recreation belongs to the men and women assigned to Spangdahlem-- we are just the caretakers. It is not about what we want to do; it is about what the men and women want to do." The Outdoor Recreation constantly holds many events for community members to participate in and enjoy. Outdoor Recreation either executes the activity with trained and certified staff or contracts experts in the field. The events are as follows: DSLR 101- Introduction to Cameras March 18, 19 April 22, 23 May 27, 28 Edelveiss Ski Trip March 11- 13 Snowworld Indoor Skiing March 18 April 15 France Ski Trip March 19 Baltic Sea Fishing April 1 - 3 Trout Pound Fishing May 22 Devil's Canyon Hike March 27 April 30 May 15 Sauer River Canoe Trip May 15 Intro to Scuba March 9, 23 April 6, 27 May 11, 25 SAPI's Snow World Indoor Ski Trip April 15 SAPI's GoRuck May 14 SAPI's St. Vith Karting April 9 The events started in the month of February and will proceed until May, with a schedule of future events to follow. According to Michael Kirsch, Outdoor Recreation adventure programmer, the program serves as a means for Spangdahlem Airmen and their families to gain exposure to the various locations and activities during their tour in Germany. "Over the course of the last 13 years I have worked for Outdoor Recreation, I get the pleasure of putting most of the events and trips together for the folks assigned here," Kirsch said. "Over the years, I have found that the trips we offer have developed new interests to all the participants involved. At Outdoor Recreation, we love to introduce people to new sports or hobbies, and this gives people the opportunity to expand their horizons. Aside from learning new interests, these programs have helped the folks that participate in them develop new friendships with others that have the same interests and helps establish long-term relationships that might not have happened otherwise." A great way to explore and meet friends, the program is also an essential means of maintaining resiliency and the RUFit? fitness columns, according to Williams. "Reintegration and resiliency are not just buzzwords for the Air Force," Williams said. "In today's high-ops tempo and demands, Outdoor Recreation's adventure and outings allow all Airmen and their families to escape the pressures and stresses of the daily grind at work, temporary duty locations and deployments. The Air Force has ensured high-adventure programs, like those offered by Outdoor Recreation, are in place for Airmen to stay fit mentally, socially, physically and spiritually. The OAP offered by Outdoor Recreation is one of many tools used to achieve that objective." For more information, contact Williams at Outdoor Recreation at DSN: 452-7170