Recreational Activities Policy

Certain recreational activities are permitted on the Lewis & Clark campus for Lewis & Clark College community members only. Recreational activities are defined as any indoor or outdoor activity undertaken for the purpose of exercise, relaxation, or pleasure. Recreational activities all have inherent risks, mostly associated with falling, with the potential result of bruises or scrapes, and in more serious cases, broken bones, dislocated joints, concussion, permanent injury, and even death. The College’s position regarding participation in such activities is that the participants do so at their own risk.

Participants are responsible for conducting these activities in a safe and respectful manner. These activities should not disrupt or obstruct the orderly functioning of the College, including but not limited to, academic classes. Conducting these activities in a reckless manner is prohibited, and community members will be held accountable for physical harm to others or to College property.

The College reserves the right to restrict activities to certain hours or locations or ask that an activity ceases if an activity becomes disruptive or harmful to the campus community. Community members involved in recreational activities will be responsive to requests from College officials to cease their activities should their recreation become problematic in a particular area. Campus Safety will enforce this policy and continue to work with L&C community members to ensure that these activities remain safe, not only for participants, but also for others who may be in the area.

Regulations about specific recreational activities are listed below. The guidance of this policy still applies to a recreational activity even if it is not specifically listed below. The College reserves the right to define an activity as recreational and to intervene based on that activity’s impact on the community.

• Battery-Powered Vehicles, such as electric scooters, ebikes, or segways, are restricted to designated streets/sidewalks and maintained pathways on campus, and riders shall yield to pedestrians. These battery-powered vehicles must be operated at a low speed and operated by only one rider at a time. Scooters, like bicycles, should be parked at bike racks and should not be left to block sidewalks due to safety and accessibility reasons. Operating any vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs is prohibited.
• Camping or sleeping overnight outdoors or in any building on campus other than the residence halls is prohibited.
• Cycling is restricted to designated streets/sidewalks and maintained pathways on campus, and riders shall yield to pedestrians. Cycling is not permitted on stairways. Bicycles should be parked at bike racks only.
• Hammocks are permitted only in designated areas. The College will be constructing a designated area on Pacman Lawn in the near future.
• Hiking on trails in the wooded areas of campus is permitted during daylight hours only. The SW Trails system is a community-operated and community-maintained trail system that crosses the Lewis & Clark campus, providing access to the Willamette River to our east and to numerous trails and parks, including Tryon Creek State Park, to our west. In various places, these trails enter private property, with the permission and hospitality of landowners. Littering or smoking when using the trail system is prohibited, and users are asked to keep noise to a minimum when near residential areas.
• Hoverboards are prohibited on campus.
• Roller skating and rollerblading is restricted to designated streets/sidewalks and maintained pathways on campus, and riders must yield to pedestrians. Reckless or careless riding, as well tricks, stunts, or acrobatics, are prohibited.
• Skateboarding is permitted on campus. However, boarding on city streets, particularly while also engaged in activities like listening to headphones or other listening devices, is a violation of the Oregon Vehicle Code and could result in a citation. Skateboarding is not permitted in/on locations that could cause damage to College property. Those using long-boards and skateboards as transportation are not restricted as to time and place. They are, however, cautioned against boarding at high rates of speed in areas frequented by pedestrians and motor vehicles.
• Slacklining is prohibited, except in designated areas during daylight hours. Slacklines may never be left unattended. The College will be constructing a designated area on Pacman Lawn in the near future.
• Tree climbing is prohibited.
• The personal, institutional, or commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including “drones”, as defined by the Federal Aviation Administration is prohibited on campus property unless pre-approved in writing by the Associate Vice President of Facilities Services. Once approved, the user must also notify Campus Safety of this approval and their plans for use. All pilots of approved UAS must follow all Federal Aviation Administration, state, and local government laws, as well as Lewis & Clark College policies when operating. The pilot must maintain visual contact with the UAS at all times. The UAS may only be flown in daylight hours and must maintain a minimum altitude of 15 feet above ground level when flying over people. Any reckless operation of UAS or use of UAS to record in areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy is prohibited.