About our 2023 Giving Day project
Trusty Blue, our Outdoor Rec Program's 2011 Ford Expedition is on its last legs. Our program teaches Montana State University students how to recreate safely in the Montana back country and the first step in safe outdoor recreation is getting to the trailhead/crag/river in one piece. Each year our team facilitates outdoor recreation experiences for more than 2,000 MSU students. From avalanche education to incoming first-year student backpacking trips to wilderness medicine classes, we travel and teach all over southwest Montana. The outdoors is our classroom and our vehicles are essential to our work providing transformative student experiences.
Our goals
Our goal is raise funds to support the replacement of our aging 2011 Ford Expedition, Old Blue. We anticipate needing to raise $15,000 through MSU Giving Day to be able to support the purchase of a replacement. While the program is able to rent vehicles to support many of our programs, we need to have more reliable access to vehicles that can tow our rafting trailer and be equipped with winter tires for snow driving. If we are able to raise sufficient funds with donor support, we plan to sell our current vehicle and purchase two 6-passenger four wheel drive pickups to support our programs.
This campaign has been generously supported with a $2,000 dollar-for-dollar match. The first $2,000 dollars will be doubled.
About our organization
The ASMSU Outdoor Recreation Program is a part of the university's Department of Recreational Sports and Fitness. Our mission is to educate, equip and empower Montana State University students to safely explore all that our region has to offer. We offer equipment rentals, trips and clinics, credit-based classes and student leadership opportunities.
Your gift will have an impact
Donor support will help significantly increase the safety of transporting students as newer vehicles are equipped with safety features that were not available when our current Ford Expedition was purchased. Your donation will also help free up significant time and resources to put towards other projects as we become less reliant on rental vehicle availability in Bozeman. This vehicle upgrade represents a huge step towards safer and more accessible outdoor recreation programs for MSU Students.