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After each
adventure, we invite the participating Members to
provide feedback.
Here are just some of the wonderful things our members have shared.
GENERAL
TESTIMONIALS about OASC back to
top
"Our lives
are better with OASC."
"The OASC is a great fit for my
outdoorsy lifestyle. I’m not very motivated by the gym, so it’s
much more interesting to choose different activities each month so I can
get outside and explore. Plus, the leaders are very qualified (ie, trained
in first aid and CPR), and the club members are friendly and fun!"
"I had a great time on my first
activity last Sunday...everybody is friendly and welcoming. I am also
impressed with all of the different kinds of activities that are offered.
Very happy with the club so far!!"
"The OASC definitely makes a
difference when it comes to enjoying winter!!"
"This club is probably the best
thing that has happened to me since I have graduated from UVA in '04.
In the five months that I have been in the club, I have found myself
participating in activities I would never have imagined doing or have the
capability to do on my own. I look forward to each adventure I sign up
for, anticipating how much fun I am going to have, both at outdoor
activities and social events. And the best part is that I am constantly
surrounded by the most amazing people!"
"I have been a member of OASC since
the winter of 2005. ... I am one of the older members ... just looking for
fun and safe activities to share with amenable people of all ages. This is
exactly what I have found. [The Leaders] offer exactly what they say they
will: an amazing array of fun, safe, educational, and entertaining outdoor
and social experiences with a variety of nice people. The environment has
always been friendly and accepting and there is always plenty of
information about the outdoor adventures so that I can choose the ones
that are appropriate for me and avoid the ones that might be too
strenuous."
"My husband and I
enjoyed our first adventure very much, the hike and the people were all
very nice! We have signed up for our 2nd adventure this week. Our only
downside--too many good adventures to choose from and not enough time to
attend all of them!!! But we love all the different choices!"
"Kudos to all Club leaders - As a
big city person in the past, I am now thrilled to enjoy the beauty of
Central Virginia and learn from people very experienced in outdoors. …
As a recent immigrant … I am very interested in
learning about the American culture, tradition, a way of life. In that
respect, the club members and leaders, have been very instructive,
probably more than they are aware of …
The Club is very positive presence in [peoples’] lives
and in our community, bringing together the UVa people, Cville residents,
and some "willing-to-drive" folks from adjacent counties. It would be good
if the rest of city and county people learn that a lot of Club members
divide the time into two periods: before the Club was founded and after."
"I thought the idea of joining a
club was rather nerdy. However, I was once a Boy Scout and really liked
the idea of being able to enjoy the areas natural beauty with the guidance
of skilled, experienced leaders. What a blast I have had! The leaders and
the manager of the club, Matt Rosefsky, really know there stuff. I have
been impressed with the work they put into their outings and the fact that
every effort is made to make the trips affordable. ... The leaders and the
manager know just the right places and the right time to deliver mind
blowing social and outdoors experiences to its members. They are, in my
estimation, the foremost experts in natural beauty for the greater
Charlottesville area. I can only imagine how dry life would be without
having such convenient access to such amazing beauty through their hard
work and diligence."
"I have never before encountered a
more welcoming, diverse, and interesting collection of people. Every event
in which I have participated thus far has been an opportunity to step
outside my comfort zone, both by experiencing new outdoor activities and
meeting new types of people. Extending one's limits in this way could
potentially be intimidating, but the friendly, open-minded nature of
everyone I have met has put me at ease."
"The Outdoor Adventure Social Club
is one of the best clubs that I have ever had the pleasure of being a
member. It is hands down the greatest investment that an individual can
make to their well being. The cost is nominal, and the rewards are
astounding. OASC provides a safe environment for individuals with a common
interest to participate in events. The culture within the club is one of
acceptance in all areas. You are not expected to be an athlete, just a
desire to be challenged and rewarded in a secure environment. All of the
leaders are required to undergo First Aid and CPR training as well as a
trial period to re-enforce their ability to lead. The club management
ensures that leaders are always vigilant concerning the welfare of fellow
members. The atmosphere is positive and individuals are motivated to push
themselves to developing their skills. At the end of events, you feel
euphoric in knowing that you just accomplished something that you did not
think was possible. I can honestly say that being a member of the club has
enabled me to meet individuals that I would have never spoken to in
passing. I am personally motivated to improve my fitness level by doing
something that I have a passion for in life. I love outdoor adventures,
and I always have a lot of choices to choose from the calendar each month.
Matt, the manager, has always been a devoted leader in the club. He
dedicates countless hours of his time to ensure that all experiences are
pleasant ones. ... I can honestly say that there is no better choice, than
to be a member of OASC. Try it for a month, and you will see what I mean."
"This club is truly a rare gem to
people who love the outdoors, as well as those who crave new social
opportunities. ... Not only does it encourage you to try new and
exciting things, it makes it ridiculously easy. You simply read the
daily choices and click on the ones you like. Matt and the team leaders do
the rest. The system is so good, even non-outdoorsy people find themselves
pushing their personal boundaries. In just the last few months, I found
myself white water rafting, joining a late-night
hike up a mountain and taking a white water kayaking class (with most of
it spent upside down). In a McDonaldized world where neighborhood
connections are difficult to make, the club is a true gift to our town.
.... I always feel safe, protected and confident that my abilities will be
respected. Rather than dictating or imposing rules, the leaders work to
blend with other group members, providing their expertise when needed.
I feel truly blessed to be part of this club."
"For someone who has led a state
organization and been on an executive board for over 15 years, I was very
impressed with this group's organization. This club really has its act
together and is very concerned about the safety of the groups with the
requirement that all leaders be certified in First Aid and Adult CPR with
strict rules about alcohol use in club activities. I was also both
surprised and pleased to learn that this group does a lot of volunteer
work as well. ...
The OASC is a finely tuned club. I respect all the
thought, time, and organization that has gone into making this a very
successful and popular group. They save members hundreds of dollars on
trips that would cost more than triple if run by other organizations. I
have proof of this as I took a trip with another group this past
spring--another reason I decided to join the OASC. This club is not about
money, it is about friendships, social and outdoor interests, and
community service. The OASC, under the leadership of Matt Rosefsky, is a
real asset to the Charlottesville area."
"Like many residents of the
Charlottesville area, I enjoy being outside and being active. Also like
many, I have trouble finding and coordinating with people my age that have
similar interests. It seems that once you've finished college, many of
your friends and loved ones move away to pursue careers and families.
Finding new and interesting people to interact with locally can become
challenging; that is why discovering a group such as the OASC can be so
rewarding. I have lived in Charlottesville for 7 years and can say without
a doubt I'm having the most fun since I've been here.
Since joining OASC, I have met more great people than
at any point during the last 7 years and I am thrilled to be a part of a
well run, well organized group of outdoor enthusiasts. I joined the club
over the summer, and quickly became involved in a number of different
activities - hiking, indoor and outdoor sports including basketball and
wallyball, and social dinner and game nights that cover a variety of
different tastes. The group has so much to offer across the board, from
beginner activities to the most advanced and challenging adventures.
Instruction, care and insight are always offered freely and without
hesitation from the group leaders and experienced members. I cannot
imagine a better environment for people that enjoy outdoor activities than
OASC.
I am currently receiving my certifications in CPR and
First Aid so that I can contribute more fully to the group. It is the
progressive attitude of constant learning, experiencing, and communicating
with each other that makes this group as special as it is. Everyone is
always willing to lend a hand. In a town where people frequently come and
go, being able to form solid and long-lasting friendships is invaluable."
"Charlottesville's Outdoor
Adventure Social Club (OASC) [is] a first-class organization, not only in
its impeccable structure but also in its day-to-day operation. ...
I teach for Albemarle County schools and first learned
of the club through a colleague, who sang its praises as a well run,
all-welcoming (versus cliquish) group of like-minded individuals bonded
together by their common interests in enjoying a wide variety exciting
activities, both inside and outdoors, including those more physically (or
sports) oriented as well as those leaning toward the social or cultural.
The encouragement to join OASC could not have come at a better time for me
as I'd recently gone though a divorce and found myself in the position of
wanting to make new friends who were available for adventuresome outings,
as many of my married friends had their weekends and evenings dedicated to
family activities.
While couples do exist within OASC (some of whom have
met there), there are also quite a few singles, all of whom are primed for
adventure but -- due to the hectic press of their lives -- are lacking the
time and resources to thoughtfully plan them. In creating and maintaining
OASC, Matt Rosefsky filled an incredible void in the Charlottesville
community, and has laid the groundwork to further extend his reach by
providing safe and exciting opportunities for outings to an increasing
number of individuals ranging from interested students to established
professionals. ...
One of the things that makes OASC most attractive is
its focus on 'safety first.' All of its adventure leaders must be trained
in First Aid and CPR. .... OASC further enforces a strict alcohol policy
(limiting consumption to one beverage) at all events to and from which
members drive, and designated drivers/carpooling are heavily encouraged,
for both safety and environmental reasons.
It's both refreshing and informative that OASC
leaders tend to be 'experts' in their fields, which contain a diverse
realm beyond kayaking, camping and caving. Internationally recognized wine
critic and magazine editor Richard Leahy, leads OASC wine tastings ...
It's this rich blend of physically challenging and intellectually
intriguing activity that keeps the constantly evolving smorgasbord of OASC
club activities feeling fresh and fun, to both new and old members alike.
I'm delighted to be a part of this group and highly
recommend it to others seeking alternatives for fun, safe, meticulously
planned adventures that will challenge you physically, enlighten you
intellectually, and empower you spiritually -- all the while broadening
your horizons. Come on out and join us!"
"The Outdoor Adventure Social Club
(OASC) is a fantastic avenue to exploring the Charlottesville area and in
meeting people. Five months ago, when I moved to the Charlottesville area,
I barely knew anyone. Now, thanks to OASC, I have a large group of friends
in the area. In addition, I probably have experienced more of what
Charlottesville has to offer than people who have lived here all of their
lives. I highly recommend joining OASC!"
"I have yet to join an adventure that
I didn't thoroughly enjoy." ~Member in her 50s, in the club since January
2005
"I like the way you do
things, I'm impressed with what you've built....and more than that...I'm
grateful for the club...so much. I think I mentioned to you before that I
am coming out of phase in my life where I have really been immersed in
responsibility....and 'playfulness' mostly took a back seat for a little
while...your club is so wonderful for me! Being immersed outdoors in an
adventure that someone else has put together in a wonderful way has been
truly soul soothing and delightful to me. During a silent retreat one day,
I heard this from one of the leaders: 'May you know how to nourish
the seeds of joy within yourself today and everyday.' I think you do
this well.....Thank you!"
"The club is really
working some magic helping folks with similar interests become friends. I
am personally incredibly grateful. I haven't met anyone I haven't thought
was extremely interesting and nice. The club rocks."
"Thanks for all you do
for this community."
"Thanks for organizing everything and creating a club for us outdoor
lovers to get together and have a good time."
"I have been more than
impressed by what a fun crowd, and incredibly diverse group of activities
your group offers."
"For the first time in a long time I
am truly happy and I have great friends all around me! I have the club to
thank for that.....my first few months here in C'ville I thought maybe I
had made a mistake moving here. Then I started a fantastic job, joined an
amazing outdoor club, and have made relationships with people that I think
will last a lifetime. If there were an award for changing people's lives
for the better, you would be the number one candidate. I thank you and my
family thanks you!"
"I really like how the club has
a lot of activities for 'beginners.' I'm an avid
hiker/runner, but have gotten a little bored with the same routine, so
it's really nice to try new things - and not be the lone beginner!!!"
"I hadn't realized how strong the
'social' part of the club was initially; I had been focusing on the
'outdoor' part. However, now I see just how it is so easy to bond on these
adventures and social activities. And, best of all, I feel as if I am
making some great friends."
"I think you guys are doing a
GREAT job! I like the quantity and variety of offerings, very impressive.
I lean toward the inexpensive activities and happily there are plenty of
them. Keep up the good work!"
"It's such a relief to meet people
who have interests other than ... alcohol, people who get up before noon
on the weekends. I have been enjoying my involvement with the club in so
many ways and look forward to many more physical/mental challenges and
social gatherings."
"My first outing with OASC was so
great that I'm 100% sold!"
"Since I joined the club, there has
been so much laughter in my life!"
"We are blessed with so many skilled
leaders who are also courteous and know how to have a good time. I really
enjoy being able to test my mettle through this club, you guys deserve
like 50 gold stars."
"I LOVE that everytime I go on the
website there's something new. It's like opening a box of Cracker
Jacks!"
"Thanks for all your hard work. This club is a really great asset to
Charlottesville."
"Once I thought about it, I realized
that one of the reasons I wanted to stay in Charlottesville was because of
this very valuable and rare community you've created."
"If there was no OASC, I would
have moved out of Charlottesville a long time ago. "
"Thanks for expanding our horizons."
Importance of Feedback to OASC Leaders back to top
The following quote
from a club Leader nicely sums up the importance of providing, and how
seriously OASC Leaders take receiving feedback: "The feedback that
we are getting is a very useful tool in knowing which elements of
adventures need to be tweaked, which can remain unchanged, and in what
ways the experiences of each member can be enhanced when they participate
in a club event. Without citing specifics, it has been great to know
in what ways folks are enjoying my adventures, and in what ways I can
change things to maximize enjoyment, their comfort levels, etc. Not all
the feedback has been positive, but even the 'critical' ones have been
polite and thoughtful, which has been helpful for me in knowing how I can
run the next event better. I just wanted to give Matt and Karin Anne a nod
for working to put this system in place, and I think that the more we can
encourage folks to contribute the better the club experience will be for
all of us."
Animal
Safari
testimonials back to top
"Well organized, good
briefing in advance of what to bring and to expect. Good leadership during
trip. Expressed appreciation to drivers. Extended hospitality to join
members for pizza after the trip. Worth the outing for the company, the
views of the mountains, and seeing the animals so closely in the open."
"Thanks for the trip,
we had a blast!"
Architectural Tour
testimonials back to top
"This tour was
terrific. It was well-paced, informative, and engaging. I'll never see
downtown the same again ;) Thanks so much!"
"Fred was very
knowledgeable, and I gained a new perspective on my neighborhood. I
appreciate his insight."
"He was quite
knowledgeable, and he did a fantastic job!"
"Fred was very
knowledgeable, and good at pointing out interesting things I wouldn't
notice otherwise. Thank you for a fun, relaxing, and educational evening."
"Very interesting!
Fred is a good speaker and knows his stuff. Thanks!"
Art
Galleries on First Fridays
testimonials back to top
"Erin started
with a very good plan and kept the large group together staying just the
right amount of time at each site. She made all members, new and old, feel
welcome. Great job!"
"It was nice to go
with a group of people. I think the number of galleries you went to
was perfect. If you had added any more I think it would have been
rushed. It seemed to me that you were in tune with the group and
moved on generally when most people were ready, which I thought worked
well. I think the galleries you chose were also among the best ones
for a large group of people, as most of them were good sized and had a
variety of art to suit a lot of tastes. I look forward to going
again in the future!"
"I really enjoyed
going out with the group yesterday on First Fridays. As I said, my
experience with that was so limited, and now I see what I was missing! I
also had the chance to meet new people with common interests! Thanks for
pulling that together :) Have a wonderful weekend!"
Backpacking
testimonials back to top
"I wanted to let you know how much I
enjoyed the trip last night and today -- the stars were simply
breathtaking, the sunrise was amazing, you did your utmost to ensure
everyone had a good time, and all in all it was the best birthday I've had
in a long, long time."
"Thanks again for a
wonderful treat this weekend. I have many highlights I keep thinking
about. The scenery was incredible and I saw so many places that I felt
calling me to hunker down and linger ... so much beauty for all the
senses. On top of that there is this tremendous sense of accomplishment
having 'made it' backpacking with the group. I must confess I felt a tad
intimidated by the process and was concerned about 'holding you guys
back.' But you were so kind, gracious and encouraging, and I felt
completely secure with you at the helm. It was great to observe and learn
about 'leaving no trace,' as well as benefit from your wisdom in
precautionary camping. ... It is wonderful that you are offering something
so valuable, down to earth, wholesome, and soul nourishing especially in
today's rapid pace. The organization, pace, leadership, tone of the group,
scenery were thoughtfully and skillfully put together. It is absolutely
something I hope to repeat."
"I loved the
whole adventure! The people I met, the pace of the hike, the amazing
landscapes we enjoyed seeing, the woods, the food we cooked, the wine, the
chat, the silence, the sounds of nature, the night...It was a fantastic
hike/camping! I'm in for the next one...Thanks to our leader Keith."
"I had a great time, everyone was
really laid back and fun. ... Location was beautiful and even the weather,
everything was great."
"Keith was a great
leader. He was able to flex in an emergency and still give the group a
great hike. He was organized and helpful. He also provided the best
dinners I've ever had camping!!!!!"
Backpacking
to Mountain Cabins
testimonials back to top
"This backpacking trip
was just what I needed....so much fun and so much adventure! I have never
seen such teamwork on an adventure, we all worked well together that’s for
sure! Thanks for another awesome trip!"
"Thanks for a great
weekend... everything was amazingly well organized and the food was
AWESOME."
"Leader handled tough
situations well and was well liked by the group. Borrowed club pack and
sleeping bag were clean and comfortable"
Backpacking with
Snowshoes
testimonials back to top
"Man I had a great
time! ... Its definitely one of my most intense trips! Kudos
to you man for being such a great leader. You stayed chipper the whole
time, you carried the extra gear on your belly. You got us unlost. You
stayed in front and did the hardest walking. You built a fire AND we had
s'mores. Both of which I would never expect on such an intense trip. You
drove us around on the snowy/icy roads with no problem. You had all our
options planned out way in advance. I'm probably forgetting half-a-dozen
other ways you were awesome. It reinforces my faith that if I want to try
something adventurous or even damned adventurous, I know if I go along
with you and OASC, everything will work out. Good job man! You're very
good at what you do! I look forward to the next adventure! And
looking forward to the
pictures!"
"Great trip, awesome
campsite!"
Ballet
testimonials back to top
"I want to
congratulate Matt on his planning of this event. To have obtained the
tickets back in August is great proactive thinking. This was a wonderful
event and the seats were incredible. His negotiation skills are amazing,
as he managed to get additional 6 tickets for those of us who were on the
waitlist, and not only did he get them, they were at the same discounted
price, and we didn't even have to pay the extra gas fee. He is very honest
with everyone, giving back the extra gas money, due to gas prices
dropping. That speaks very highly of him. And as if that were not enough,
he didn't bite my head off for being late. ... Many thanks for
making one of my childhood dreams come true...to watch the Nut
Cracker...by the way, I had 12 kids behind me, another 5 next to me, and I
was able to laugh and cheer along with them. Thanks!!"
"Thanks for all of
your help in organizing the ballet trip. It was a marvelous
production."
"This was such a great
event. I really enjoyed the ballet and it was good to see so many familiar
faces"
Bar Nights
/ Parties
testimonials back to top
"Thank again so
much for an awesome party! Everything was perfect: great place (and
host!), great food, great costumes, plenty enough people making the place
feel full / very populated, great game setup, great sound system ...
awesome!"
"It was a great time,
glad to be there :) "
"Huge fun! Great
margaritas!"
"Totally awesome
party! Great hostess, beautiful surroundings, and Jere was his usual
bubbly self!"
Beach
Vacations
testimonials back to top
"The beach week trip
was a TOTAL BLAST. Thank you so much for all of your planning and hard
work to pull it off so beautifully. I had a great time!"
"Great time down in
Corolla. Karin Anne did a fantastic job of organizing the trip. Wonderful
chance to hang with club members for a longer amount of time."
"Lots of fun. Enjoyed
being there! Very well organized--thanks Karin Anne! You put a lot of work
into this adventure, and it was very much appreciated!"
Biking
testimonials back to top
"This was great! A
not-too-difficult bike ride through gorgeous rolling countryside. Loved
it."
"The after-work bike
ride in the countryside yesterday was wonderful -- such incredible views
of the Blue Ridge Mountains above and beyond, from the route you chose in
the foothills of the mountains. With so few cars around, it was fun to be
able to chat with fellow riders while getting great natural exercise. 15
miles may sound daunting to some folks, but as you wisely stated in the
trip description, it took only an hour and a quarter to complete, at a
fairly relaxed, beginner-level speed."
"THANK YOU again for
arranging the Lynchburg ride and lunch at the Depot Grille! I thought it
was the perfect combination of an easy ride with interesting scenery and a
tasty, leisurely lunch ... Doing this 'rail trail' ride has made me very
interested in other paved or hard-packed rail trails. I like the fact that
I can be surrounded by nature and away from automobile traffic but still
riding my road bike. Mega-kudos to you [Amy] as an OASC leader for
responding to my request for this adventure AND working with me to set the
date."
"Amy did a terrific
job organizing our [MS150] team. She did months of work for this one
adventure--setting up an information session, doing training rides, and
checking in with each of us to see how our training and fundraising were
going. I had a great time riding."
"Amy was very
supportive and kept in touch with all members of her flock. She assigned a
strong rider to stay at the rear of the group to make sure that any
stragglers would have support. The route she chose was ideal with little
traffic and everyone had a great time."
The bike ride "had a little bit of
everything: road, gravel, city and rural. I loved it. It was challenging,
so I felt really proud when I was done! ... I look forward to the next
'adventure' with you! You're a great trip leader!"
Bonfire &
Pot Luck
testimonials back to top
"Thank you so
much for arranging such a wonderful event. The food was delicious and the
music was wonderful. Not to mention how much fun it was to sit around and
chat with other members at the bonfire."
"Outstanding
adventure. Thanks to Helen Marie for organizing the event and to Chuck for
hosting. What a diverse and excellent group of people to hang out with."
"Great organization,
awesome food, fantastic live music, nice bonfire. Thanks so much!"
"A really fun event. I
know how difficult it can be to bring everything together when you have so
many people doing different things; Helen-Marie had everything perfectly
organized. It was a lot of fun; as a new member I really enjoyed meeting
so many different people of different ages, all with different interests."
"It was one of my
favorite adventures so far. It was a perfect birthday and the best one I
had in years, Thank you for the great organization and effort. "
Bowling
testimonials back to top
"This was an awesome
adventure! Everyone was really friendly and cheered for each other while
bowling and it was lots of fun to sit around talking while waiting your
turn to bowl. The popcorn and drinks were a great touch. I can't wait to
go bowling again! Thanks!"
"Thanks to Josh for
organizing this fun, laid back, social gathering. Fun couple of hours....
perfect for a Sunday afternoon"
"Very fun time, and
fabulous lighting."
Broomball
testimonials back to top
"Just wanted to let you know that I
had an absolute blast playing broomball yesterday.... awesome adventure!"
"Thanks for the broomball event!
It was so much fun, I haven't had that much fun since learning to drive
the luge thing down in New Zealand!! Looking forward to the next game
already I can't wait! I might just have to learn to play hockey now too!
Awesome activity thank you!!!"
"It was a blast!!!"
"I love broomball! I
know that it takes a lot of effort to coordinate and I'm really glad Matt
kept at it so we could enjoy this awesome game. I'm still sore 2 days
later but loved every minute of it!
"I had an AWESOME time
at Broomball and Miller's tonight."
Camping
testimonials back to top
"This was the first good camping
experience I've ever had. The food and company were great, and the
facilities were very clean. Not to mention we have some master s'mores
makers amongst us!"
"Thanks so much for
leading the adventure, I could not have had a better time. I was
especially delighted to have spent my birthday with such a great bunch of
people, and glad that you made it all possible. "
"Ari made us feel very welcome and at
home. He even shelled out his own money to provide food for us. He really
put a lot of work into this adventure."
"Thanks for organizing
this wonderful camping trip. The place and time were perfect; amazing
views and very different from this neck of the woods. You [Jere] and Amy
did a great job."
"I had such a great time! I
especially liked the night-frisbee" (with a lighted frisbee)
"Very good adventure. Sleeping bag
and pad (OASC's) were also very good. ...Club members were great."
"Nice laid back adventure. Just
what I wanted!"
Canoeing
testimonials back to top
"It was
fantastic. Pete did an excellent job of organizing the trip; giving
instructions on basic paddling techniques & how to negotiate the 2 rapids
we encountered. Also loved this historical info he provided & the
opportunity to see the remains of dams and locks and an old mill. Never
knew that this beautiful stretch of river & the remains of these
historical sites were so close by."
"Lovely weather and
fantastic trip. Pete is incredibly knowledgeable and a great instructor."
"Pete runs this
trip very efficiently and very funly! I especially liked the surprise of
all of the canoes grouping together and a big fun social float like a
barge down the river. Also a nice surprise was the stop to visit the
historic canal lock in the forest, which we never would have seen had Pete
not walked us there. Pete has a wealth of knowledge about historic river
navigation and we all appreciated his sharing it with us and interpreting
the historical and cultural relics. Thanks Pete! Thank you also to second
Peter for his help too."
"Thank you and the
other OASC leaders that helped w/ the canoe trip on the James this past
Sunday! I thoroughly enjoyed myself (and the weather was beautiful too). I
enjoyed meeting some of the other members of the club that I haven't met
before and enjoyed being on the James River---the first time I have ever
been on this river, even though I've lived in the area for years. Looking
forward to more adventures."
"Very helpful
canoe leader... alerted us to dangers in the water and different routes
depending on the experience level of the canoes... also very knowledgeable
of nature (birds and fauna) in addition to history of area. Would
recommend trip and leader to anyone! Thank you Pete!"
"I really had a blast
on the canoe trip last weekend, and I appreciate the time and effort you
put into organizing it. As to WHY it was so fun: the perfect weather, the
absurdity of the tires, sailing backwards through the rapids, the nice
dogs, finding 'treasure,' the isolation of the river, the great company,
the getting-in and getting-out, the navigational challenges of reaching
the trash [this was a volunteer river cleanup trip], the nifty aquatic
wildlife, the low price, environmental do-gooded-ness, and riding in the
back of a pick-up truck. The trip was an ideal balance of 'outdoors',
'adventure', and 'social'. Thanks for making it happen!"
"Beautiful weather,
well-organized trip. Clearly, this is not an easy task to pull off - there
are a lot of contingencies and safety issues that leaders need to address.
I appreciated their thoughtful design of the trip, and their careful
planning that went into the trip. There is no question that hard work went
into making this an enjoyable day."
Caving /
Spelunking testimonials
back to top
"AWESOME trip! Lots of
adventurous cave exploration mixed with thrills and laughs. No one left
the trip without a smile on their face. Definitely one of the best trips I
have been on."
"Thanks for doing the sp'lunking
outing yesterday. It was cool, although I am discovering new sore places
by the hour. It was a unique experience, unlike anything that I've ever
tried before (sort of a Downward Bound), and I'm really glad that I went."
"Very well planned
adventure, excellent and expert leadership, I will be back for more caving
trips! Caving was FUN!!!!!!! it was awesome!!! I am definitely going
again!!!"
"I had a great time.
My first time spelunking and cave camping ... We went in Friday night and
came out Saturday night. Not only was this my first time spelunking
and cave camping it is also the first time in my life I have gone 24 hours
without seeing sun light. This was a very cool trip! "
"What WONDERFUL exercise we got.
We did all kinds of stretching, pulling, pushing, dragging, reaching,
jumping...will take that again any day!"
"Great fun. Well
organized and safe. Very fun group of people. Enjoyed meeting everyone.
Let's do it again."
"Caving was a blast;
enjoyed getting to the back [of the cave]."
Concerts /
Dancing testimonials
back to top
"It was a really
good time. Such a great atmosphere. Clean and smoke free.
The band had tons of talent and it was really fun to dance so much.
Hope to be able to do it again."
"I loved the concert
and loooooved dancing to the Irish tunes. I also enjoyed very much meeting
with all the OASC members. I had a great time and could dance more and
more."
"Thanks so much for
all of your efforts in coordinating the U2 event. The carpooling went so
smoothly and the parking was a breeze thanks to you securing the parking
passes. I hope you enjoyed the concert as I did. It was quite the event -
an awesome rocker with a social conscience. We will always have a shared
memory of a great concert."
"I am so glad Kiara
suggested this as I would never had known about it otherwise. Both
performers were exceptional."
"Had a BLAST! Loved
the music and learning the dances. Great chance to get away and do
something energetic and cultural. Fun was had by all."
"Thanks for the
adventure! I had lots of fun, enjoyed the music and the pizza, but most
gathering with the OASC people!"
Cooking Club testimonials
back to top
"I loved the salmon
Irish feast, it was so yummy. Thanks for organizing another successful
cooking club event with great food and great company! And thanks for
posting the recipes on the bulletin board."
"Very relaxed
atmosphere. Excellent food--everything is so good when grilled. I
enjoyed the meal and the company of other OASC members."
"I just had my first
truffle last night. It was sooo good!! Thank you so much! I'll be giving
the rest away to my colleagues so that I don't consume all the calories I
lost through OASC. Happy Valentine's Day!"
"Well organized. Good
recipes. Appreciate learning some new healthy recipes."
"This was very fun and
enjoyable (and yummy). Steph did a great job! Thank you and kudos to
Steph."
"Great food and
great conversation."
"Delicious as usual."
CPR
& First Aid Certification Course testimonials
back to top
"I am so glad that
Mary Beth did this! It helps for those of us who might not have taken the
initiative otherwise or who might not know how/where to get it done and at
such an affordable price and it's something nice for members just in case.
Go Mary Beth! Thanks!"
"Well prepared, well
taught. Plenty of time for questions and comments. The instructor made
sure we all were comfortable with what we were doing and learning."
"Thank you SO much for
offering CPR and First Aid classes for the club, especially nice for
Leaders' requirements. It's so great to be able to take this class through
OASC with other club folks! You did a great job teaching, I truly feel
more prepared to handle a CPR emergency with an adult or child than I did
when I last took this class a little over a year ago. Thanks also for
letting us eat dinner during the video portions, it made doing this after
work much more manageable."
Craft-making testimonials
back to top
"Just saw the
pictures that were put up. I really like everyone's designs!! It was a lot
of fun. I'd have to go back and maybe put more creative thought to the
next one I do :) "
"Very fun, Stephanie
made my first adventure very comfortable and interesting!"
"It was a great
adventure. Learning a new craft was fun!"
"Really Cool, the
artist really enjoyed working with us and explaining to us the process."
(glass-blowing)
"I had a nice time
making a glass bowl and learning about the glass Palette. Also met some
new members and other members from previous adventures."
"Thanks again for the
knitting adventure. More, please! :-). I love this crafty stuff!! Oh one
good class to have sometime would be "how to fix knitting mistkaes".
Thanks again! :-)"
"Thanks so much for
hosting it. I really appreciated it- it was cool & different."
Dancing
Lessons & Practice testimonials
back to top
"A great time - dances
from all over the world!"
"I had a blast
dancing ... Thanks so much for organizing!"
"Even though I'm not a
good dancer, it was fun. The instructors were patient with us and Kiara
was an inspirational leader."
"What an amazing
evening!"
"This is great fun
even for people with 2 left feet!"
"Folk Dancing at the
Senior Center is a blast!"
Dining at Leaders' Homes testimonials
back to top
"Angela is a great
host! The event was relaxing and fun - I had a good time!"
"Very tasty gourmet
meal, nice host, nice house, fun people and fun games! Thank you!"
Dog
Walking for SPCA testimonials
back to top
"I had a fun day
walking the dogs. It was a good cause and they got a much deserved dip in
the reservoir (river?)."
Edible
Plants Walk testimonials
back to top
"Cool walk.
Learnt a lot and had an enjoyable time. Very knowledgeable."
Expeditions Far Away testimonials
back to top
"Pete is leader of the year! His
planning and flexible nature made our week in Zion, Bryce and the Grand
Canyon unbeatable! Thanks for arranging such a great trip!"
"The trip wasn't a home run it was
a grand slam!! ... It's funny but I've struggled since we got back from
the trip. I don't think I ever fully recovered emotionally and
spiritually. For me it really was a life changing event. Thank you
again for
introducing me to 'the planet.'" ~Lake Tahoe,
Yosemite National Park and Ansel Adams Wilderness Intermediate Backpacking
"Thanks for doing such
a fantastic job in New Zealand. I'm pretty sure I'll be reliving that trip
for the rest of my life, and I cannot even begin to express my
gratefulness for your arranging everything... Major, major kudos."
"I would like to thank you very
much for organizing our trip to Rocky Mountains. It was a really wonderful
time for me. It was just perfect, superb! You did a great job." ~Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks
Intermediate Backpacking
"Excellent trip,
perfect weather, numerous fun and beautiful outdoor adventures of
different types, and great cooked meals with wide variety pleasing all.
Thanks!" ~Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park
hiking, bike riding, kayaking and camping
"I very much enjoyed
this trip! Having the variety of hiking and enjoying cultural activities
in another town was terrific. It's nice to blend outdoor adventure with an
appreciation of culture. Also, having various options for Sunday was good
- the group could sub-group according to interest. Hiker's hostel was a
BIG highlight. Please offer [more] adventures like this in the future!"
~weekend of hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains in NC / TN,
and visits to Asheville, NC, the Biltmore Estate and an arts festival
"Wow, what an amazing
trip! Matt picked a great time to go. Most of our bus rides were not
crowded at all thanks to this. All of the pre-arranged travel worked out
smoothly, including pickup, transfers, etc." ~Patagonia Wilderness &
Iguazu Falls
Fencing
testimonials back to top
"What a great
club, introducing us to activities we would never try on our own
otherwise! Vinnie did a wonderful job working with the fencing alliance
head person to provide us with excellent step-by-step instruction, leading
up to a few exciting duels!"
"Very imaginative and
well executed adventure. I would never have thought of fencing on my own.
The session was fun while being stimulating and informative."
"This adventure was
lots of fun and definitely provided me with a great physical workout.
Vinnie did a great job and it seemed like we were all pretty fast
learners."
Festival
testimonials back to top
"I have only attempted
vegetable gardening once and yet found this festival so fun! Perfect
weather, lots of taste testing a million heirloom tomatoes and peppers,
plus a cheese/apple pairing table. Strolling around looking at the various
booths was very educational, not to mention more free goodies. I'd never
thought of doing my own fermentation, but seeing Ari's demo at this event
has me and my housemate excited to try it ourselves. Not to mention the
apple cider doughnuts and real lemonade spritzers, enjoyed with the lovely
view from Montalto. Thanks Jenny and Ari!" (Heritage Harvest
Festival)
"Great idea for
outing; I had no idea this sort of thing was going on! Great music,
company. It was well organized. Jere made sure everyone was comfortable by
continually 'making the rounds'. Very nice job." ("Starry Nights" at
Veritas Vineyard & Winery)
Foreign Language Gatherings
testimonials back to top
"Very enjoyable and
educational conversation together, thank you so much Roland for organizing
this, let's have more please!"
Fresh
Fruit-picking
testimonials back to top
"I had a great time.
I'd never been strawberry picking before, so it was fun to do something
new and meet some new people. The strawberries were delicious! "
"CJ got us there ahead
of the huge crowds without it being too early for a Saturday wakeup; she
explained various activity options on the drive there, guided us through
the apple picking, shopping, and eating delicious apple cider doughnuts.
Thanks for a yummy adventure!"
"Thanks for leading
the strawberry picking adventure--its proximity and time span was just
right for a Saturday morning and its was so beautiful in the country. I
made shortcake and strawberry syrup."
Fridays After Five
testimonials back to top
"It was really fun, I
enjoyed meeting the new members. I love that the event was free, it was a
good band, and that was a good recommendation on the white wine."
"I thoroughly enjoyed
the evening and felt very welcomed to the club. Keep up the good work."
"Thanks for organizing
the get together last Friday - it was nice to finally hook up with a
group!"
Frisbee
Golf
testimonials back to top
"First timer here,
frisbee golf is fun! Jason helped facilitate the fun in a fun group."
"I think that Jason
knew the course well which was helpful for us beginners and everyone had a
good time."
Fundraisers for Charities
testimonials back to top
"Great adventure! It
was very well organized, lots of fun, and all for a great cause! You
should be very proud of raising $1000 for a great cause!"
"Totally awesome job.
... Great fund raising. You might have made yourself another job in this
club ... benefit organizer!"
Game Night
testimonials back to top
"I really enjoyed
this--Catch Phrase and Taboo. Good times with good folks in a casual,
intimate atmosphere. I'd gladly come again."
"Amy did a fantastic
job ... The evening was fun, laid back, and most enjoyable. Amy made it a
point to make sure that everyone felt comfortable, had enough to eat, and
had plenty of opportunities to showcase their guitar-playing, drumming,
and singing skills. The food was excellent and the company was fun. Thanks
so much for leading!"
"Had a great time –
it’s been fun getting to know some of the folks in the club. Loved your
multiple solitaire game. I’m thinking a game night would be fun to do
during the winter."
"Pictionary turned into a total
blast. Lots o fun ... folks are really enjoying the club. It's great!"
"Great time, Cranium
Hoopla gets everyone on the same team. Plenty of snacks and beverages. I
look forward to the next Game Night."
Go-karting
testimonials back to top
"Awesome trip. I've never had more
fun on go karts. Thanks for putting on so many fun things all the time."
Happy Hours
testimonials back to top
"Good times! It
was a friendly crowd, and scenes like that are good for talking with
folks. Whereas, I find it difficult to have an intelligent conversation
when I am out of breath playing Ultimate. They were playing Blues at Beer
Run. Blues is good beer drinkin' music. Blues, beer, nice folks, and a
good ol' Va summer night. Thanks for leading!"
"My second adventure!
... Got to meet some more nice folks over a beverage and pleasant
conversation. Good choice in venue near a bus stop."
"Had lots of fun
with the gang last week. Thanks and hope to meet up again soon!"
"Like the beer
and the people!"
"I had a good time -
got to drink green beer! Company was great as always!"
High
Cables Challenge Course and Zipline
testimonials back to top
"This has been one of
the most amazing experiences I have ever had! I have been in great storms
in the middle of the ocean while sailing, at night and during the day and
I have had many other 'confronting' experiences, but so far, nothing like
what I experienced this past Saturday! I love it all, I learned about me a
lot. Although I am not acrophobic, I learned that I do have some fears ...
my experience was very emotional, intellectual, deep ... difficult to
explain and it translated in some way in a physical response; I ended up
physically tired but with very high spirits and happy about the challenge
that I was able to manage. Thanks and count me in for the next one!"
"An excellent day all
around. Superb planning by Matt and flawlessly executed on the day of the
show. The weather was perfect for this fine day playing on ropes, cables,
high challenges, low challenges and the zip line. Triple C is a beautiful
venue and the trees were in perfect color. Sign me up for the next time
out!"
"I had a great time on
Saturday. The ropes course was awesome."
"The adventure was a
blast, as usual, and it was great that [Matt] scheduled to have the lower
course be part of the activities ... that was great team building skills
and helped me feel part of the team and build self-confidence. Awesome
adventure."
"What a blast, Matt.
I have never been so scared in my life, and I was so pleased to be able to
get up on those high cables. Next year, I’m going for the zip line.
I’ll have to practice a lot in between so that I don’t freak out as much
as I did this time!"
Hiking
testimonials back to top
"You should have seen the frozen
waterfalls at South River! The base of the falls was spectacular. It was
like viewing a world wonder! We took many photos. I heard comments from
some yesterday that they had never hiked in the winter before and didn't
realize how beautiful it was and how much fun."
"Spy Rock, off of the Blue Ridge
Parkway: A summer evening, light until 9:30 pm, lightening storms in the
distance, webs of stars above, and camaraderie amongst 10 members of
outdoor adventure social club -- it was a creative and splendid outing."
"I really enjoyed the hike today
... The naturalist was extremely articulate & knowledgeable, and the group
was really nice. I was particularly pleased to see that there was a good
age range, and I didn't feel at all out of place."
"C. J. was
considerate, curteous, and thoughtful leader. Ever mindful of the
abilities of a new member. Loved that she took the time to stop and view
all the tiniest flowers along the way."
"Thanks for
introducing us to a beautiful hike so close to Charlottesville -- I'm sure
some of us will return there many times for a nearby getaway."
"The waterfalls by moonlight were
spectacular."
"Did an all day hike
with Brian. He was an excellent leader with many good qualities that
convey expertise, preparedness, empathy and attention to detail."
"Fred's hike was
awesome -- what an exciting adventure to climb and hop on a giant boulder
field, affording incredible views of the clouds below and the mountains
beyond as we got higher and higher. Extra special thanks and kudos for
having posted the hike on request!"
"This trip was
absolutely amazing! The pace and length didn't leave me gasping at the
end, but still gave me a strong sense of accomplishment and left me
feeling 'good' tired."
The "hike yesterday was awesome
... great group of people ... great views, not a single person on the
trail and some stream crossings to help you cool off. Dairy Queen in
Stanardsville for post-hike nourishment."
"I have had so many beautiful,
life-altering experiences while in the club. One I recall most vividly was
hiking up the Priest. The Priest, if you don't know, is probably the
toughest climb on the Appalachian Trail. Anyway, I showed up and we
chugged up this mountain at full speed, gleefully talking it up. I got to
meet people from the club I hadn't met before. I also got to reunite with
friends I met through the club who I hadn't seen in a while. It was great.
Once we got near the top, a view opened up to the left of us, facing east
into the valley we had drove through to get to the trail. We decided to
have our lunch there. In contrast to the chatter we shared going uphill,
we were silent throughout our whole lunch--in awe of the majesty before
us. Nobody else was up there, and hardly anything was below us. It was
amazing how miniscule it makes you feel, how humbled and impressed with
the vastness and beauty of the entire area.. how much we get wrapped up in
our own lives and forgot about the vast power and largeness of everything
compared to our own lives. In short it was a spiritual experience for me
and I believe everyone else on that hike who sat there in perfect silence
with me as we ate our lunches."
"Jerry's the best. He
has such a good positive energy. I always enjoy spending time with him.
He's flexible and just rolls with the fun."
"It was my first
outdoor adventure and it couldn't have been any better. Great leader, very
nice people, beautiful day. Looking forward to my next one."
"Thanks so much for leading us on
that hike, it was awesome! When we got home Jamie said 'that was
worth the 30 bucks right there' and I agreed."
"Great hike, perfect
pace. Matt placed the bears in just the right location considering it had
just started raining. It perked us up! Lot of fun. Another fun day with
the OASC."
Holidays
testimonials back to top
"It was all very fun,
and thank you for organizing. It was nice to be out on Mardi Gras!"
"I had a good time -
got to drink green beer! Company was great as always!"
"Just wanted to thank
you for the pumpkin carving adventure. I had a great time, and really got
into the Halloween spirit! You had all the supplies ready, and a great
clean-up system, so it all worked so smoothly. Thanks for all the fun!"
"One thing I'm
grateful for this Thanksgiving is you and your group. It's been a
lifesaver of a distraction for me this fall. Thank you!!"
"Yes, perfect way to
spend Christmas Eve."
"I enjoyed the trip
around town for the holiday lights and now know where the best spots are.
Singing Christmas carols really added to the fun!"
"Nice group, huge
buffet selection, glad to have the option of a gathering and food I didn't
have to prepare on Dec 25, Thanks Jay!"
"I was glad to have
something planned for New Year's Eve. I had a lot of fun playing games and
getting to know some of the people a bit better."
Horseback
Trail Riding
testimonials back to top
"Thank you Kiara for
organizing this wonderful adventure. Weather cooperated magnificently with
our plans, and it was one of those pinnacle days when you think 'can life
get any better than this??!' Thanks for giving us this experience!"
"This adventure was
wonderful and I hope to be able to do it again sometime! I liked the
horses, the guides, the scenery, the bunkhouse, and the food."
"The Sat. ride was a
pleasure, as it was last time. I love seeing how well cared for the horses
are. .... Dwight and his daughter are very welcoming, and understanding of
people's varying needs and experience, and it makes you want to come back.
Looking forward to the next time. Thanks Kiara for organizing."
"I loved the activity
overall! The people, the place, my horse, the spectacular views!"
"I really enjoyed our
work on the farm yesterday, what a great opportunity! Thanks for
setting it up."
Ice Skating
testimonials back to top
"Thanks for leading
the ice skating trip! I had a fantastic time and hope we can do it again
soon."
"A fun time was
had by all, as expected. The unexpected bonus was Kiara giving some very
helpful lessons and tips on skating technique -- and I improved right away
thanks to her!"
"A great
adventure; I am turned on to ice skating. Kiara made sure everyone felt
comfortable by checking in with them frequently while on the ice. She also
recommended a good place to buy ice skates [if we don't want the rentals]
and continued the adventure with dinner and drinks afterwards."
"Had a wonderful time
skating and chatting to fellow members!"
"Really enjoyed the
skating and the pizza afterward. I kinda liked the 1st Fridays ambiance
too, and felt the turn out was just right."
Info
Session & Open House testimonials back to top
"It was a great
meeting. Your speech was great, together with the slide show. I
think the club has achieved its
mission and values way beyond. I am really glad to be a member."
"Very informative and
fun! It was nice to meet new people and get to know more about the club."
"Warm environment."
Kayaking with Dolphins
testimonials back to top
"This was one of
my all time favorite club activities! Thanks so much for finding and
sharing it! ... Appropriate for beginner kayak-ers as described."
Kickball
testimonials back to top
"Kickball was a
blast!!"
"Really fun, good
group, and well organized."
Meditation testimonials
back to top
"I'm really enjoying
the Buddhist meditation workshops. The Ligmincha Institute teachers of the
workshops are warm, approachable, give good explanations to beginners, and
lead a wonderful experience. The breath/movement meditations are an
excellent workout for my breath control, and the chanting of the Warrior
Symbols every other week is amazingly relaxing. Thanks for introducing
these to the club!"
Meteor Shower testimonials
back to top
"Thanks again for the
lovely evening. Really enjoyed the show and most of all the company. Your
pictures were great!"
"Thank you for
organizing it. I would have just watched it from my front yard, like I
usually do, but there isn't quite the view and the sky doesn't seem nearly
as vast as it did on the parkway. That was a great idea and I was glad I
went (cold as I may have been!). You, and others I have met through the
club, have been very welcoming and kind and have therefore encouraged me
to recommend the OASC to other friends of mine who live in the area. I
look forward to future adventures!"
"Big fun ... nice
sunrise."
"Great idea. Nice
group of people."
Mini-golf
testimonials back to top
"I am SO glad that I joined this
group -- I had SUCH a blast with Putt-Putt and dinner, and meeting new
people was great for me."
"I had a great time tonight. It
was a blast. I didn't really want to go because I was exhausted from work
and just wanted an early night -- but I'm so glad that I went."
"I had a lot of fun
(inc. 2 hole-in-ones at Putt-Putt!). And I love ice cream, so it was my
kind of adventure."
Mini-Triathlon
testimonials back to top
"What a great
idea! This adventure was a blast. Thanks for planning it!"
Movie Night
testimonials back to top
"Thanks for offering a
fun Friday movie, just the sort of thing I enjoy ending my week with;
especially appreciated the discount ticket price! Happy to meet more
friendly new to the club people and see some familiar faces."
"Jessica - very
gracious hostess. Fun to watch a movie in a casual setting w/ others & w/o
the expense of a movie theater."
"Great movie theater
atmosphere with stadium seating and huge plasma screen T.V.! Good movie
choice!"
"Excellent movie
choice and viewing room for seeing the film. Looking forward to more movie
nights as the season changes into fall and winter. Post movie
entertainment was a blast. Hope this will continue in the future too."
"Crystal did a great
job making sure that all fifteen people were able to sit together. ...
It's totally awesome that she offered to get the discounted tickets as
well."
"I enjoyed this movie,
very funny, 'Casa de Kiara' is very cozy, the dogs are very friendly,
thanks for tea and popcorn. thanks for organizing this event."
The Banff Mountain
Film Festival "was a fabulous, life changing experience. I loved it. It
made me want to get out and do things. Great! Thank you very much."
"just the right
thing for a Sunday afternoon, fun movie with a few friends plus a generous
bounty of snack foods. Thanks Crystal! "
"I really, really
enjoyed being able to watch the film [part of the OASC 'Shocking
Documentary Film and Discussion Series]. I appreciate the opportunity of
belonging to this club very much."
Native
Skills & Outdoor Survival
testimonials back to top
"Jim enthusiasm for
the topic was evident. He was very well prepared to talk with notes,
props, and stories. There are many areas he touched upon that had
relevance to outdoor activities. It should be considered one of the core
competencies for anyone looking to spend significant time in the woods."
New
Member Mingle
testimonials back to top
"I'm very much
enjoying the club. The new member social at West Main was a great way to
start, ... and I look forward to seeing some of the folks I've met in
other adventures."
"I wanted to say that
the new/old social event held last Thursday @ West Main was a nice idea. I
am new to the social group and it was a great way to start. Crystal Tapp
did a great job! "
"Great atmosphere for
getting to know other members. Very laid back and open."
"I thought you made me
feel very welcomed and appreciate you making the effort to meet me and
speak with me. I had a great time at both events and I look forward to
future adventures! Thanks again for making my introduction into the OASC a
great one! :-) "
"Karin Anne was very
welcoming. She made meeting people very easy--which is very high praise,
since I don't mingle well! I had a great time and look forward to more
adventures and socials!"
"I enjoyed myself at
the new member mingle. I'm beginning to recognize some of the people from
different socials I've been to, which is nice."
"Nicely organized, fun
things to do, nice couch area, lots of mingling. Great! Thank you!"
"Thanks for leading
the new member mingle. It was a great idea."
Opera
testimonials back to top
"Jason, thanks for
setting up the trip to Richmond. Beautiful theatre, some wonderful
singers, a good idea."
"Thanks Jason for all
the hard work all you guys/gals do, OASC seems quite organized
the adventures are very intriguing, it gives members the opportunity to
see what's out there and join the ones they like."
Outdoor
Adventure & Live Music Festival
testimonials back to top
"Let's see....camping
at a beautiful campground not far away; completely free; all planning done
and equipment provided and set up; all meals prepared with clean-up
included; first-aid expertise; fire; live music; hiking; biking; tubing;
paddle-boating; canoeing; kayaking; fishing; frisbee; volleyball;
orienteering; superb weather and even a 180-degree double rainbow.....I
was a lazy bum and I can only express GOBS OF APPRECIATION to you as well
as Angela, Helen-Marie, Jenny, Jim, and the other leaders who put this all
together. THANKS, MATT! GREAT WEEKEND!!! "
"Kudos to you and to
all your leaders for their part in pulling off an excellent outdoor
festival."
"Congratulations on an
amazing 5th year event. The camping trip was spectacular and all of the
work put in to make it so is deeply appreciated. The best part of the club
is the community you have created. I'm so glad to be part of it."
"Awesome food, well
prepared, and lots of great extras- fruit for the pancakes, tons of
toppings for the ice cream and many different types of BBQ. You also took
into consideration, at each meal, those of us who are vegetarians. I was
impressed and my tummy was happy! Thanks and keep up the great work."
"The bands were great,
especially the reggae band at the end. Wonderful job of planning."
"We had a blast
camping, hanging out, and playing on Saturday. Thanks so much for inviting
us!! Anytime you need a live band, you just let us know! :) " ~
Honeychuck
"What a terrific way
to spend our 25th anniversary with the club. Everyone was great at
introducing themselves and talking about common interests. The food was
absolutely wonderful, and Angela should be highly congratulated. She's a
great cook! The adventures Bonnie and I participated in were well worth
the trip. Although neither of us will probably go white water kayaking, we
had a great time trying something out we never have before and Peter was
simply fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed Jim's lecture on native American
Skills and look forward to his future lectures and training sessions.
Both Friday's and Saturday's bon-fires was so thoroughly enjoyable, we're
still talking about them. The bands we had there were great (particularly
the one that did the Beatles' "Day Tripper" - Bonnie and I were alive when
it was a hit.)"
"It was exactly what I
needed to get my mind off my test and work and Sunday night was the first
time I felt rejuvenated in a long time."
Paintball
testimonials back to top
"Thanks again for organizing the
paintball adventure! It was really a lot of fun. It let me explore another
part of myself."
"That was a blast! I'd
love to play again."
"Kudos! Brian did a
grat job of organizing a fun event. and then let it run its course."
"I had a great time! I
definitely want to do it again."
"Thanks for the trip
yesterday I had a blast."
Pool
(Billiards)
testimonials back to top
"Thanks for organizing
this! It was a fun, laid-back evening, and it was really great to see
everybody!"
"Had a great time!
Thanks for organizing the adventure!"
"Always fun to shoot
pool at millers. Good mix of members participate. James rotated the
pairings so everyone could shoot with different members "
"Everyone was friendly
and I appreciate that. I plan on doing more adventures soon. Thanks again
for helping me to sign up."
Pool Party
testimonials back to top
"Very laid back
afternoon, very fun, beautiful place, nice people, Amy did an AWESOME job
introducing herself to and welcoming new people -- she has a real skill
for that -- tasty eats (neat that it was low-key bring food to share if
you want, don't if you want to), cute dogs -- a perfect adventure! Thank
you Amy!"
"Great time. Everyone
mingled and enjoyed the pool. Very relaxing and enjoyable evening."
"Amy was a great
leader, as always. She did everything she could to include cyclists of
varying abilities on the bike ride. The dog-friendly pool party afterward
was lovely and relaxing. Amy has a wonderful pool & patio for a party, and
she is very generous to share those facilities with us! She did a good job
hosting and making everyone comfortable. The dogs all got along without
problems and it was a lot of fun for this dogless OASC'er to play with the
pooches!"
"Thanks Amy for
hosting such a smashing pool/wine/dinner party!"
"Great evening of
meeting new people, swimming, eating and tasting new wines that i would
not have sought out myself. The location was great, and the July weather
did cooperate! Amy was a wonderful hostess and ensured that all had fun.
Would recommend the social and the leader!"
"Great idea and
execution for outing. Game room, pool, poolside all great."
Pot Luck
testimonials back to top
"Love potlucks, very
nice space to have it in, fun to have ping pong and pool downstairs after
food. Thanks to you and Cathy for hosting!"
"Very fun social
event. Thank you for organizing this and for including the canned good
donations!"
Restaurant Dining testimonials
back to top
"Praise to the
leader (Crystal) and the other members for ensuring a new person to the
group felt comfortable and at home. The food was great, too."
"The food was
delicious, inexpensive, and locally grown! It was nice to push the tables
so we could sit together. Who could ask for anything more?"
"I really enjoyed the
dinner. I got to meet a lot of new friendly people, while enjoying a lot
of good laughs."
"Just wanted to thank
you for the wonderful dinner on Sunday. This was my first activity after
joining the club, and I admit I was a bit nervous. From the moment I sat
down, everyone was very friendly and welcoming, and I was immediately at
ease. Since I'm new to Charlottesville, it was really nice to meet some
new people. It was also great that the restaurant was prepared for our
group and that everyone was prepared in advance to split the check. No
post-dinner awkwardness as someone digs for a calculator! I had such a
nice time chatting with everyone, I can't wait for my next adventure."
"Thanks for organizing
and sharing coupons! Appreciate cheap and yummy since I can't do the
fancy restaurants nowadays, enjoyed meeting and chatting with other
members over food."
"Nice to learn of a
small, unique restaurant with good food. Jere did well with dinner
suggestions, so everyone had a chance to sample various side dishes."
"Cozy restaurant with good food.
Opportunities for conversation with several OASC members. A small group
met afterwards for a drink and conversation. Good adventure."
"Just wanted you to know that I
had a great time Sat. morning at Cafe Cubano. The walk around the Farmers
Market was fun too. First time I had been there. ... It was nice to catch
up with you and meeting the other OASC peeps."
"Always wanted to
check this place out and this adventure gave me a good opportunity to do
so. There were 2 new members there and Jay made them both feel welcome,
engaging them in conversation. Everyone had a great time."
"It was impressive how
Karin Anne took care of several different important items in about three
seconds flat, right at the beginning of the evening:
- asking for separate checks
- ordering water for everyone
- getting free peanut buckets for us
Nice work, nice evening, thanks Karin Anne!"
"Thanks so much for
the Wing Night adventure! Great company, perfect group size and delicious
wings."
Rock
Climbing (Indoor & Out) testimonials back to top
"Excellent expert
instruction by the leader. Helped me overcome my life-long fear ...
Looking forward to honing my skills further during upcoming adventures."
"Cara did a fantastic
job of teaching we beginners knot tying and belaying with humor and
patience, and staying with us to guide us up 3 different walls, gently
pushing us to reach a bit beyond our comfort zone and get a real workout.
Also glad she had us practice falls, so we know what it would feel like as
climber and belayer, increased our confidence going up and trust in our
partner. She's clearly knowledgeable about the sport both in the physical
techniques and the science behind how the equipment works."
"Wow!! what a great
day to rock climb, great location, great group of people, and especially
an awesome leader (Will) with lots of encouragement and praise for all.
Also a fantastic guide (Lester) who's encouragement, praise and safety
consciousness was greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!"
"Great instruction as
always, helps me to be more comfortable with this new sport. Looking
forward to many more sessions!"
"I did go to the
beginners rock climbing workshop yesterday. It was awesome. Angela is a
great teacher and I can't wait to get back...I am so excited..."
"Very nice instructor
[Dan], professional, and nice team work!"
"Learned how to belay
and feel confident. I learned the basic skills and will continue to
participate."
"It was a blast! I am
hooked."
Running (Trails
/ Country Roads)
testimonials back to top
"Roland was very
friendly and welcoming, he kindly adjusted his pace so it was comfortable
for everyone, and he turned around to head back when the others felt they
were ready to start heading back. Thanks for being friendly and providing
a healthy run tailored in speed and distance to what the group wanted!"
"A great place to
run--good pace as well! Thanks for pulling this together!"
"I had a great time at
the race!"
SCUBA Diving testimonials
back to top
"Thanks to Eric for a
WONDERFUL class! We had a blast!"
Skiing (Cross
Country) & Snowshoeing testimonials
back to top
"Perfect!!! The
finest snow conditions I have ever seen. The best Winter adventure I have
had so far."
"Loved it! Loved
it!"
"Really fun trip;
great people; fun times were had by all"
"I really enjoyed the
trip, and felt you had everything well organized and planned out. I still
can't believe that, by driving, I only had to pay $8. Please tell me if I
can help out with any other expenses you may have overlooked. Thanks very
much, and I look forward to more trips like that."
"Great adventure,
appropriate leader level of engagement and freedom of participants."
Skiing
(Downhill) &
Snowboarding testimonials
back to top
"Awesome trip!
Probably the most fun since I've had since I moved to Charlottesville! It
was great that there were multiple activity options to choose from (both
outdoor activities and house activities) and always people to ski with.
Everyone I met was so friendly, and I cannot wait to do more with the
club!"
"Awesome weekend. It
is an incredible value and a great way to meet new friends."
"My favorite OASC
adventure so far (and I have about a year and 80+ adventures under my
belt). Outdoor activities were a blast. Indoor social activities were fun
and offered plenty of variety. Very well organized trip."
"I loved every aspect
of this adventure: the people, the organization, the food, the logistics,
skiing, falling down and trying again, the sunshine ... absolutely
everything!"
"Thank you for leading an
excellent weekend getaway to Snowshoe. All your hard work paid off, I
think everyone had a blast! Although it was cold, the skiing was great. I
have to say that my favorite part of the weekend was the three hour dance
party on Saturday night. My legs are still sore from dancing and the
limbo! I also loved the awesome breakfasts!"
"I had a fantastic
time on this trip. The skiing was awesome and it was fun hanging out with
everyone back at the houses. I was very impressed by how organized it was
and how smoothly everything ran. I can't wait for the next one!"
"I thought the trip
was extremely well orchestrated and the food was great, especially
considering how many people there were to feed!"
"Another great trip!
Snowshoe is always a blast and this time was no exception. Everything went
smoothly and I had a great time. Karin-Anne, you did an awesome job of
keeping us in line and getting us where we need to go, and I know Matt did
tons of prep work before to make sure everything worked out. I think
everyone had a great time, in large part because of all the work you guys
do to plan it."
"SO MUCH
FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"The skiing was fun,
and it was wonderful having the lesson already organized. They do a great
job up there with beginners, and I had a blast. This is my favorite
adventure so far! I look forward to going again next year."
"Just wanted say thanks for an
AWESOME great trip/party at Snow Shoe! ... that was the most fun I've had
in years."
Social Hour
/ Info Session
testimonials back to top
"Matt has a very
informative presentation. The slide show was excellent and Matt's use of
personal experiences worked well. Good stuff."
Softball
testimonials back to top
"Jason was inventive
when only around 13 people showed up. He made a game composed of 3 teams
playing at once so that all could play. Even though it looked like rain,
he pointed out that there was a 50% chance it would not rain and it
didn't. Good work all around."
Sporting
Events-watching
testimonials back to top
"This was a great
adventure- good seats, yummy food, good ticket deal, nice people and good
game. Thanks! I had a blast and would love to go again in February."
"I had a Super time at
the Super Bowl party. Can't wait until next year's party! Exciting game
and great food!"
"You did a great job
organizing, and what a wonderful game it turned out to be! Thanks for all
your work in creating, and delivering, such a fun adventure."
"Awesome job! This was
a ton of fun and a great value for the price. I would definitely do it
again."
Star-gazing and Astronomy Lessons
testimonials back to top
"I really enjoyed
John's presentation of deep sky objects. He did an excellent job of
blending astrophysics with his tour of the Milky way."
"Hey! We actually saw
the International Space Station! We saw planets, aka "wanderers". Cool. I
hadn't seen much of the Milky Way in a long time either."
"Really good lecture
appropriate to laypeople audience with great visual materials presentation
and responsive to our questions. Getting to see the moon and other starts
thru telescope is so amazing, thanks for offering this to the club!"
"Thanks for posting
this! It's not something I'd normally do but I thought it was cool. The
astronomer was very knowledgeable and I think a lot of people would be
interested in doing something like this again. The hot chocolate was
great. I'm glad you posted an adventure with a slower pace. Night hikes
are really cool. Overall, I think it was an awesome idea & I had a fun
time. Thanks!"
Swimming
& Picnic testimonials back to top
"I wanted you to know
that I had a really, really good time tonight. I am glad I joined OASC."
"I loved that it was a
weekday trip and that you were able to combine 2 adventures together, a
bonus if you will. ... As usual, you rock."
"Awesome adventure! Great way to
relax after a stressful week of work. We definitely need to do it again!"
"Great day, Matt !
Loved every minute of it."
"Thank you so much
Margie for a fun afternoon at a pretty lake with great people (new friends
and old) and yummy eats!"
"Awesome time. great
folks, great food. Great weather and sunset. Thanks very much."
"Love having potluck
and pool time with OASC friends. Amy's place was really nice, great way to
end the weekend."
Tennis
testimonials back to top
"Had a great time on Sunday
evening at beginner tennis. Look forward to doing that again."
"Good activity, good time, good
place, good people."
"Joshua was very
welcoming and accommodating."
Theater
Plays & Musicals
testimonials back to top
"What an amazing
resource this area has in the Blackfriar's Playhouse, a reproduction of
the original setting of Shakespeare's plays! The production was very good.
Sergei timed things just right, so we got there early and got good seats.
Glad it was the 'pay what you can' night, which makes seeing theatre much
more do-able for me."
"Great seats,
great diverse company, a wonderful eve!"
"I was a last minute add-on and
was welcomed by all. Great picnic, terrific seats and a very positive
experience. Thanks."
"Fun idea, nice people, yummy food."
(outdoor theater & picnic)
Training
testimonials back to top
"Lots of good info.
Teacher was clear, informative, helpful. Loved the format of hands-on
learning. Hope we have another class." (Bicycle Maintenance 101)
"Thank you for setting
this up. I learned a lot about horses, and I'm looking forward to
learning more. ... Thank you, Thank you, Thank you."
"Thank you so much for
organizing this! ... Scott went well over time to answer questions
and give individual attention, plus he generously allowed us to use shop
materials like lube, and helped us will issues beyond what was covered in
the basic workshop description."
"Texas Chainsaw
Massacre: Thank you so much Ari for showing and teaching us all of the
chainsaw safety and operation lessons, and letting us try it out! You're a
great teacher and we all really appreciate how keen of an eye on safety
you have, fitting with OASC in general. Thank you also for having donated
gas, oil, ear plugs and chainsaw chain to the event!" (Chainsaw 101)
": I really enjoyed
brewing on Sunday...being outside was totally cool. Thanks again for
getting me in. I look forward to tasting."
"The evening was well
done, in a supportive and open atmosphere."
"It was fun."
(Mountain Rescue Training)
"Thanks so much for
having the knitting class! I really enjoyed it. ... I love the idea of
craft nights in the winter. Very cool. Thanks for being so patient with
us."
Tubing
(River) testimonials back to top
"This was my
first adventure with OASC, and my first tubing trip. I had a fantastic
time, and am looking forward to many more adventures!"
"This was a great adventure! The
people were very friendly and outgoing to newcomers, the leader made it a
point to talk to everyone including the new people and include everyone in
the conversation, the river tubing itself was great, and there was a nice
organized list of what to bring so I didn't forget anything and could
easily get everything together for the adventure. Great job!"
"Thanks so much for
the tubing adventure... Andrew and I had a blast! I also really appreciate
your cupcake birthday surprise... that was really nice of you. Andrew and
I had wanted to do something like that for years, but we never got around
to organizing the trip ourselves, so it was a real pleasure to have
someone else do the hard work! Your 'what to bring' lists were
thorough and easy to follow and we both felt very well prepared for the
trip."
"CJ did an awesome job with the
float trip today, down to the small details like packing group sunscreen
and extra towels for people to sit on at the end. She even got creative
with fabricating a cooler float."
"I LOVED the tubing; it was a
delightful experience. No probs re heat etc. Met some lovely people.
Thanks for all your planning and caring!"
Tubing
(Snow) testimonials back to top
"Had a great time
tubing--my first outing with the club. So well organized--made it easy to
have great time between workday Tuesday and workday Wednesday. Everyone
was very friendly."
"I had a really great time at
Wintergreen. It was fun screaming and racing down the hill!"
"Lots of fun for a
great price. Well organized. Nice bunch of people. Looking forward to more
adventures."
Via
Ferrata testimonials back to top
"Excellent adventure,
wonderful location, great flow of activities and I will DEFINITELY do it
again anytime! Thanks, Matt, for picking this adventure and being so
committed to everyone's safety. I know you had to carry the first aid kit
for us, while climbing. Also a big thank you to Katie, who was keeping an
eye on everyone's well-being as and provided tips based on her previous
experience in this adventure. This was so much fun and we had the perfect
day for it too!!"
"This adventure has
been one of the most outstanding ones! I totally loved it and would do it
again many times! the beauty of the place was magnificent; I also liked
the challenges and surprises at "every corner". Thanks for offering such a
great adventure!"
"Wow! Couldn't have
had a more perfect day. Thanks to Matt for always looking out for
everyone's safety while having fun."
"Awesome adventure.
Matt (and all of the participants) were really supportive."
Vineyard
Visit testimonials
back to top
"This was an awesome adventure. I
think maybe 12 people showed up for this event and the leader Jason was a
good host in showing us around, introducing each other and carrying on
good conversation with everyone."
"This adventure was
great fun and well organized."
Volleyball
(Sand / Outdoors) testimonials
back to top
"What an excellent way
to spend an after work Friday evening--great weather, laughter, barefeet
in the sand and a pretty good volleyball game ... Thank you very much!!"
"Tons of fun, very
relaxed and casual game, everybody just having a good time. A great end to
a beautiful Sunday afternoon."
"Jason is the most
awesome leader EVER!! ... I always have so much fun at volleyball and
everyone always exhibits good sportsmanship."
"I had a great time at
the volleyball on Wednesday. It was fun learning how to play with people
who were so good-natured and not viciously competitive. I would definitely
sign up for another beginner’s session."
"It was a lot of fun. Jason always
does a great job at making the adventures fun and he has a way of making
sure people keep communicating."
"Volleyball was lots
of fun. It was a good mix of people with about the same abilities; all
just out for a good time."
"Sand volleyball with
Katie is awesome."
Volleyball
(Indoors) testimonials
back to top
"Great job, It is
really cool having a place to play volleyball in the winter."
"Thanks for organizing
this event. The game was really good."
Volunteering
/ Community Service
testimonials back to top
"This adventure
[to Rikki's Refuge] was a blast, at the same time as being helpful to the
animals in need. Pete's introductory tour of the place was fantastic, not
just a 5-minute zoom-through but rather a long slow tour enabling us to
play with animals along the way -- much appreciated! It was just like
visiting a zoo, yet with most of the animals having lots of space to roam
around which was great. The volunteer work projects were challenging but
rewarding, and it was great to finish off the day with playing with
animals again. Thanks for a great trip, highly recommended to all!"
"I had so much fun on
the Farm adventure! After working at a desk in an office all week it was a
welcome change to spend the day outdoors, go hiking, take in spectacular
views and play with the horses. The farm's owner, Jim, was such a great
host too. I don't know much about farming and he was more than happy to
answer my endless questions about horses and farm life. Thanks for a great
time!"
"I had a great time at the Special Olympics. Even though it was
challenging at times, I learned a lot about my self and my ability to work
with special-needs children and adults."
"The event was great -
volunteering for a good cause with fun people and free beer. The social
event afterwards was so nice - thanks for having us."
"Thank you ... for bringing out a
group of volunteers. You always have such a useful nice group of folks.
[Your] group worked on additional support to cat house roofing, the final
touches of purple paint to the Purple Barn and vaccinating sheep and
goats. Always a lot of fun, running, lassoing and wrestling." - Rikki's
Refuge
"I had a wonderful experience working
with the athletes at the Special Olympics."
"It was a lot of fun
to go out there [to volunteer at an animal refuge]. ... Pete gave a great
tour and made me feel very comfortable as a new member.
Wallyball
testimonials back to top
"Wallyball was a
blast, and Joshua Crane was a great leader. He's a very nice guy and I
hope he organizes some more Wallyball sessions."
"This was an awesome
wallyball event! Josh handled everything really well and everyone seemed
to have a great time."
"Wallyball is very fun
... thanks for leading it!!"
White Water
Kayaking testimonials back to top
"The Intro to
White Water Kayaking was awesome! I cannot believe how much I learned and
how much fun I had. Dave was extremely knowledgeable and patient--one of
the best instructors I have ever had. I will definitely recommend this
adventure to others!"
"A great learning
experience to brush up on kayaking skills and for the first time kayaker.
David was a great instructor, helping everyone individually and making
sure the group was having fun. A great trip altogether thanks to David and
the good weather."
"This is by far the most fun I
have had in a long time. I am so glad I found this club!" -- after
paddling through class 1 and 2 rapids
"I had an awesome time
at your last lesson. You have a great ability to give people confidence to
do something that could otherwise be very difficult. I've always been
impressed with your ability to simultaneously teach people of multiple
levels and to have everyone come away feeling challenged. I genuinely
enjoy your trips. "
"Kayaking class with
Peter. Very patient, skilled and trustworthy instructor. I felt safe doing
things I have not done before because of Peter's confidence in himself and
his skills."
"That was the coolest thing I have
ever done. Thank you soooo much for showing me how to do it!" -- after
playing in a class 3 rapid
"You [Dave] are a
great teacher. You bring a real love of the sport and a steady confidence
that we could all accomplish the required skills. My first time under the
kayak on the wet exit was pretty scary, but by the end I felt that I had
the T-exit well in hand and the idea of rolling over didn't fill me with
panic. I hope I can join you on one of the river trips this fall. Thank
you for everything,"
"David is a natural
leader and good teacher. He gives complete instructions, encouragement,
and kind constructive criticism. The event was well planned and thought
out, and the equipment was good quality."
White Water
Rafting testimonials back to top
"This was my very
first OASC adventure, and boy, was it a big one! I couldn't have chosen a
more exciting trip to start out with! I felt I got a LOT for my money! The
caterers did a fantastic job; good food and great service! The campsite
was clean and beautiful! The rafting guide was awesome! I'm non swimmer
but I felt safe and confident with him in control......even when I fell
out on a level 4 near the very end! He and Matt gave good safety
instructions for all scenarios and they were all life-saving. All we had
to do was pay attention and apply them, and I did! The hikes were at
beautiful locations....got some great pics to share. ... I had a very
memorable time on this trip, and was very pleased with the activities, the
people, the cost, and the organization.....all that went into it!! Thank
you SO much!!"
"The rafting was AWESOME and I
can't wait to go on the Gauley trip in October. Everything was very
organized and I would definitely go on the same adventure again. I liked
rafting later in the day since it was warmer out and we got to sleep in a
bit. The group we had was GREAT, no high maintenance people and everyone
was able to go with the flow which made a great trip even better. The
guides Matt chose were the BEST - I appreciated this because I have been
rafting with guides who suck and it's no fun."
"It was a total blast, and a very
organized, smooth weekend. I think that going back to a place that Matt
has established a relationship w/ is a bonus and adds to the experience.
... I look forward to going many times!"
"I had an incredible
time and would LOVE to do that again. Your club is wonderful and I am very
grateful that you take the time and have the skill to pull this off. ... I
enjoyed having lunch in such a beautiful spot on Saturday. The sounds,
sights and smells were soothing to the soul...I saw four shooting stars on
Saturday night, and the rafting on Sunday was thrilling....I'm still
grinning....I met some great people and look forward to meeting more and
joining in on another adventure."
"Thanks for an awesome weekend!
Everything was planned really well so we could just enjoy all the events
and not have to worry about anything. I loved the hikes, especially the
Cranberry Glades cuz they reminded me of some trail running I did in
Alaska, and the rafting was great too. And swimming in the river between
the rafts! ... Thanks for really organizing the trip well, giving us all
the info we needed for everything, and all the work you must have put in
before hand. Also thanks for the club cuz I am psyched to move to
Charlottesville cuz I feel like I already have friends there!"
~Member from Richmond
"There is one word that
describes the rafting trip with OASC ... Aaaaaaawesome! This was my first
time on class 4 & 5 rapids and it was a wild and exciting ride and I can't
wait for the next trip and get some serious air. All of the club members
were a blast to hangout. I made some good friends and had some laughs that
brought tears to my eyes. =) "
"This was such a fun trip! The hikes
on Saturday were great. The pace of the day was just chill enough for us
to really enjoy each other's company. Rafting on the flippy boat with Matt
was awesome! Great times, can't wait for October and the Gauley!"
"I had such a fantastic time and I
know you were doing MANY things, both behind the scenes and not, to make
sure we all had a safe, fun trip. Some went above and beyond the call of
duty. So thank you so much for everything."
"Aside from the breathtaking views
and rafting between the tree-laden cliff walls, the rafting guide was so
interesting -- telling us quirky historical stories about the region."
Wine /
Beer / Cider / Paired Foods Tasting testimonials
back to top
"I loved this event. I
would recommend it highly to anyone starting out in OASC . . . it was a
great way to meet people in a casual but slightly structured environment.
Rich is a master of his trade - I learned more about the chemistry of wine
in one night than the rest of my spotty education about the subject put
together. Great stuff."
"Thank you, Rich, for
my wonderful introduction to wine tasting last week. Although I have
attended wine tastings (at wineries) in the past, I did not know what I
was doing / tasting. I love to cook, and have felt, for a long time, the
need to upgrade my wine skills/ knowledge. I feel lucky to have attended
the Fortified Wine Tasting with such a 'generous with his expertise'
leader as yourself. You made the evening fun and very informative too. I
experienced, for the first time, how a properly paired wine will actually
transform the food to an entirely different level of greatness!"
"Peter and I have
wanted to try the local cider. Thanks for organizing the event to this
brand new venue."
"Thanks for hosting,
Vinnie! Your home is perfect for entertaining. Rich was the perfect wine
guy as usual - thanks! The food was amazing, wine was paired perfectly and
the people were interesting and fun."
"A lovely evening of
good food, good wine, and good company. Thank you to Amy for a wonderful
setting and to Rich for choosing wonderful wines and sharing his
knowledge. Eating outside was perfect."
"Very pleasant
evening. Well organized, great topic, gracious host and hostess, great
'speaker,' good company and food!"
"Thanks for organizing
the Spanish Tapas and Wine Tasting adventure. It was probably my favorite
adventure that I've done with the club so far. The atmosphere was really
laid back and social, and the food and wine were fantastic. Rich is
amazingly knowledgeable, and very kind to answer our many questions about
the wines we were tasting. I learned a lot, and had a marvelous time--I'll
definitely be signing up for more wine tasting adventures in the future!"
"I just wanted to
thank you for all the effort you put into the wine tasting on wed. Our
lives are better with OASC"
"Great food, friends
and wine! Let's do it again sometime!"
"I had a wonderful
time at the summer sipping the other night! And was pleasantly surprised
that I enjoyed a few of the white wines--I'm usually just a red wine
person, so thank you Rich for your expertise and excellent selections of
wine /foods to share! And certain foods and wines certainly compliment to
make one appreciate both! I also enjoyed meeting some of the other people
in the club (even some close to my age)!"
"This adventure gave
every one an opportunity for casual conversation throughout the evening.
It’s fun getting to know the members better."
Wilderness First Aid Course
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Yoga
testimonials
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"Wonderful yoga
practice! I enjoy the level of difficulty, pace, and music.
Looking forward to doing this every week! What a great service for
our club, this alone is worth the membership fee, and then some!
Appreciate the explanations of cooling vs. warming poses."
"This event opened my
eyes to yoga. Maritza was informative and helpful to those inexperienced
such as myself and seasoned veterans. I recommend yoga and this adventure
to everyone. I enjoyed particularly being able to challenge myself with
tough stretches but also having the options described by Maritza for less
strenuous activity (ie: putting hands on hips instead of reaching to the
sky). I look forward to next Wednesday where I plan to stretch harder and
learn more about the art of yoga."
"Maritza is an
excellent instructor. I am really enjoying her classes."
"I loved this yoga
practice. I've always been hesitant to attend yoga classes because I don't
consider myself super strong or flexible, but even by the end of the
evening I felt stronger, more flexible, and more peaceful as well. Maritza
was a wonderful leader. She was very kind and made me feel welcome as a
new OASC member. I look forward to the next one."
"Very helpful approach
to trying to stay limber. She takes the time to explain what is happening
which is much appreciated. Also, a great service that is FREE!"
"I have benefited from
it greatly and my constant aches and pains have decreased. :) " |
