Bemidji State Outdoor Program Center - OPC

04/23/2024

04/19/2024

10/06/2023

Thanks for the memories. The past two weeks have been a busy time of putting away years and years of OPC equipment while taking time to spend with some of our amazing students. The cold weather is beginning to set in and so it’s a scramble to put away boats and find a home for everything. Putting up boats, docks and lifts has always been a melancholy occasion that reminds us we will never get that special summer back. Moving out of Diamond Point for the last time has been freighted with poignancy. We had a morning gathering of past OPC staff for a sunrise paddle with coffee on and old friends laughing together again. Thanks everyone.

09/18/2023

This week we are removing all sailing equipment from Diamond Point, these photos provide just a snapshot of our history on Lake Bemidji. I will add more. Please comment or share a photo if you raced with us, capsized, or learned to sail with the OPC. These are not of some bygone era, many of these photos were taken this past summer with our affordable “Learn to Sail” sessions offered cooperatively with Bemidji Parks and Recreation. Please share this post as I would love to see people’s photos and hear your stories.

There was the JY15 era, followed by the sunfish Renaissance, the PEHS classes with Jon, the scow racing era, the wild days mastering the Hobie 16, regattas, storms, crossings, the EScow team claiming our beer money at Rutgers, and who could forget the storm tossed Blue B who nearly sank every summer. Thanks for these smiles.

09/18/2023

Ricing on our local waterways:

09/14/2023

Huge turnout last night at the friendliest most supportive atmosphere I’ve ever seen at a climbing gym.

09/07/2023

Lots of action the last two days at BSU waterfront at Diamond Point. These closing weeks of summer will be the last at this fantastic location as the lease has not been renewed and the OPC will no longer have a home beside the lake. This morning we had a class of students learning about adaptive PE methods and how to facilitate adventure sports for vision-impaired participants. This afternoon was a design class that was tasked with building handmade boats and paddle with an $50 budget. Last night the wildlife society and aquatic biology students raced alongside faculty in a friendly canoe race. The Outdoor Program Center has existed at BSU since the late 70s providing affordable accessible adventures and activities like these for BSU students and our community.

08/24/2023

Last summer concert in the park tonight on a perfect evening !! Thanks everyone for coming on this mini adventure