RECognition: Sydney Nichol, Outback Adventures
Recreation's monthly series to highlight and celebrate our staff
By Shawn Cyr
Assistant Marketing Director
Sydney Nichol remembers being nervous. As an incoming freshman at UC San Diego, she didn’t know what to expect. So she signed up for Wilderness Orientation — and everything changed.
“My guides created such a welcoming and supportive environment that I left feeling confident, connected, and genuinely excited for the years ahead,” she says.
Wilderness Orientation is a program that UC San Diego Recreation’s Outback Adventures runs to introduce new students (incoming freshmen and graduate students) to the Southern California outdoors. They make new friends, engage in unique outdoor activities, explore beautiful places, and get the inside scoop on life at UCSD.
“That experience stuck with me, and I knew I wanted to give others the same sense of belonging and encouragement that my guides gave me,” says Sydney, who’s now a fourth-year economics and cognitive science (neuroscience) major in Seventh College. “Becoming a guide has been my way of paying that forward.”
That’s right, Sydney currently serves as Lead Guide for Outback Adventures and is the Manager for the Outback Rental Shop, where she oversees equipment rentals, manages a 12-person team, and helps “make sure everyone has the gear they need for a great adventure.”
“As a Lead Guide with UCSD Outback Adventures, I get to take students on trips that range from quick day hikes to weeklong adventures like sea kayaking in Baja, backpacking in the Sierras, and climbing in Joshua Tree,” she says. “My favorite part of the job is creating a space where people can try new things, connect with nature, and build community. I handle both the logistics and the leadership side, from planning routes to keeping groups safe, but the most rewarding part is seeing students leave with new friends, new skills, and an exciting adventure to look back on.”
“Sydney is a true outdoor professional,” says Outdoor Education Director Simon Teale. “She’s calm, skilled, and is an incredible leader.”
In between trips and shifts at the Rental Shop, Sydney plays soccer as part of REC’s Intramural Sports. “You’ll usually see my friends and me on the field each quarter, scrimmaging and having fun,” she says. She can also be found at Geisel Library or playing “just one more round of cards” with her roommates.
One of her most memorable trips — of which there are many — was last summer when she led a Wilderness Orientation trip backpacking through the Sierra Mountains and kayaking in the ocean in Mexico.
“With two amazing guide teams made up of some of the most adventurous and dependable people I know, plus all the students we got to meet, every moment felt special,” she says. “Seeing their excitement and sharing these adventures with them, from quiet moments on the trail to laughing together on the water, made the experience truly unforgettable.”
For Sydney, it’s fair to say those nerves she felt as a freshman are long gone. They’ve been replaced by memories and friendships that she’ll carry with her long after her final Outback trip.
“I’ve made some of my closest friends here, and there’s nothing better than seeing everyone come together, share experiences, and have each other’s backs,” she says. “It’s what makes every trip and event feel so special.”
