NU Outing Club

The Northwestern University Outing Club (NUOC) was founded by Ellie Reed Lewis in the fall of 1965. The purpose of the club was to encourage students to get involved in a variety of outdoor activities. The NUOC was located at the Norris University Center. It began with sixty-three members; its first president was Dean Wallace, and its first faculty advisor was math professor Robert F. Williams.

The club's dues were two dollars, which entitled its members to borrow club owned equipment and to participate in club trips that included camping in Virginia, caving in Indiana, snowshoeing in Wisconsin, hiking and folk singing, and attending concerts and lectures. Members could also bring guests.

The NUOC played a significant role not only by encouraging students to participate in outdoor activities but also by encouraging them to gain leadership and outdoor skills. It encouraged group participation and values such as “carrying your own load,” taking care of equipment, “being prepared,” and “paying your own way.” In addition, it encouraged students to become environmental activists.

The NUOC soon gained a reputation for being liberal. The club believed that its activities provided opportunities for men and women to interact as equals without the complications of romance; however, the NUOC was accused by some parents of being a bad influence because it allowed girls and boys to intermix away from the supervision of adults.

In May, 1979, the NUOC began negotiations with Norris Outdoors to merge the two organizations.

From the guide to the Records of the Northwestern University Outing Club, 1965-1980, (Northwestern University Archives)