M.S.U.B. students provide advice on outdoor gear

Billings, Montana – The M.S.U.B. program hopes that participants gained new skills from their first-ever session of this kind, which will later come in handy when exploring Montana’s wilderness.

One student with the Outdoor Adventure Leadership Program (O.A.L.), Scott Nichols, said that “out in the field trying to learn how to fix a stove, is probably not ideal, but I think everybody learns differently.”

Nichols continues “online, some folks might learn it better that way but for other folks, having that demonstration in front of them, being able to ask those specific questions, I think it’s a good atmosphere for that.”

Various outdoor equipment types, such as water filters and portable propane stoves, were demonstrated throughout the class. Additionally, there were booths with instructions on how to mend sleeping bags and tents. Additionally, other students demonstrated to guests how to prolong the life of their clothing.

According to Ryan Butler, an assistant professor at M.S.U.B. O.A.L., this is all done to try and prolong the time that your equipment functions as intended.

Butler also said they aimed for customers who visited to ultimately be able to minimize their “consumer output so they can have gear that lasts a long time, they don’t need to replace it as often as they think they do. And making sure it performs the best while they are out and about in the mountains.”

The M.S.U.B. program hopes that participants gained new skills from their first-ever session of this kind, which will later come in handy when exploring Montana’s wilderness.