Enjoying 'Critical Days of Summer' with touring trips, safety tips

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cary Smith
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Team Aviano is presented with several opportunities to fill their calendar with events and trips as the summer approaches and the hot days grow longer.

Living in northern Italy allows a wide selection of activities to experience the local culture and to travel throughout Europe. Outdoor Recreation and the Information, Tickets and Travel office offer trips to take full advantage of the Italian and European experience.

"We have spent a lot of time adding trips to this summer's schedule for families and single Airmen," said Jessica Sanchez, 31st Force Support Squadron Outdoor Rec program coordinator. "Trips that focus on single Airmen bring them together to build friendships and networking."

Trips are divided into three expertise levels, slight, moderate and high exertion, based on the activities difficulty.

The slight effort options require three to four hours of activity that include sailing, family canoeing and a guided cave tour. Moderate exertion trips require some sweat and individuals with no current injuries, like paintball, kayaking and snorkeling. The high adventure trips, which are the most physical, require a lot of effort and participants should be fit and ready for an adrenaline rush. These options include spelunking, hydro-speeding and canyoning.

There are an abundance of activities and trips offered by the agencies on base. The new program, Recharge for Resiliency, helps Team Aviano take full advantage of these opportunities and experience Europe by discounting trips.

"'R for R' helps fund trips for active duty and dependent spouses who are affected by deployment," said Sanchez. "We plan trips with these families in mind so they can get out and have fun."

Every weekend doesn't have to involve traveling to different countries. Outdoor Rec houses a multitude of summer supplies for rent like grills and bouncy castles for a day at Freedom Park enjoying the weather. If staying local and active is a better option, bikes and kayaks are also available for rent.

The main objective on these outdoor excursions is to have fun, but it is equally important to be prepared and safe when having fun in the sun.

"Make sure you are prepared by having proper training and knowledge of the equipment you checked out, before you use it," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Adrian Hall, 31st Fighter Wing ground safety manager. "All these factors affect the safety of the activity."

As the heat continues to increase, more people are congesting the roads with bicycles and motorcycles.  The 31 FW Safety Office sends a friendly reminder to stay hydrated throughout the day and keep watchful eyes for all sharing the pavement.

"It seems as though the bicycles come out in herds," said Hall. "It is important to give them the same respect on the road as you would a car. Also, remember to hydrate when enjoying the long hot summer days; we want everyone to get back safely."

As Team Aviano enters the critical days of summer, it is important to stay safe while having fun participating in the activities offered.

For a complete list of summer trips, contact Outdoor Rec and the ITT office. For information on how to stay safe this summer, contact the 31 FW Safety Office for safety tips.