Asbury University invited the Commonwealth to go camping last week.

It's all part of the creation of the Kentucky Outdoor Institute, which gives Asbury students and the public a chance to embrace the great outdoors and a wide number of activities.

University students and officials say that the institute offers more opportunities than just the adventurous kind.

We are changing our name from the Asbury University's Center for Adventure Leadership to the Kentucky Outdoor Institute at Great University.

And we wanted to make it more public and wanted to really tell the community that we have programs that we offer for them as well as college students.

What we really wanted to show is that these are all things that we can do outside of the university.

So we take people rappelling and backpacking, climbing, canoeing, all these things in the Red River Gorge and around the areas there.

And if you would like us to go further, we can also do that as well.

We've done some backpacking trips in Colorado as well.

I did not come into the program with any previous experience in these really technical skills.

I like the outdoors, but I didn't have a lot of past experience.

So coming into the program, I think even regardless of where you're at, whether you're super proficient in climbing or you love backpacking or you've done none of that, I think it's a great program for anybody because you will learn those things.

But then on top of that, you will learn how to relate with other people, work through different social challenges and just get really good experience with leadership skills, logistics skills, all those other things that are super applicable to lots of things.

I think it's super beneficial.

We've already had several students come out of this that are directors at other programs, at other colleges.

They work as camp directors.

They've worked in wilderness therapy, a lot of different things, and even students who end up not going into the recreational field and they learn a lot of leadership skills through this.

I've learned a ton of practical skills along the way, but I've definitely a big thing is just growing in my confidence, whether it is in an outdoor setting or in the classroom.

In a workplace.

I've grown a lot in my confidence and my ability to lead and communicate.

There's so many different opportunities.

Also, just guiding the general public is really nice too, and being able to teach how to really like, learn those skills and hone those skills so you can go out and do it safely.

It's really worth giving it a shot, going on some kind of trip as a community member or going on a trip as a student on campus.

I think it's a great opportunity to get to know why people love it so much.

You get to step in and experience the awesome program and what it provides, even if it seems a little scary, a little daunting.

It's definitely worth it because I think at the end of the day, you'll have a really great time.

Yeah, except for that rappelling part, according to officials that Asbury, the Kentucky Outdoor Institute, offers leadership and team building exercises that have become popular among corporate groups.