Using the outdoors as their classroom, the CRU-Lifelines club seeks to teach students leadership and personal development skills.
CRU Lifelines is a non-denominational, Christian-based outdoors group that has chapters on college campuses in several different states and recently opened one on the Central Oregon Community College campus.
Leah Cook, who studied human development and family studies in college, helped found the Bend CRU chapter after she graduated college, and is currently a staff member of the program.
“I definitely think clubs are great places for students to connect because I feel that they can meet new people and learn about themselves and their passions,” Cook said. “I think it is good for the school unity as well.”
Before Leah was a leader in CRU-Lifelines she was a member of a CRU chapter in college.
“At my university I was a member of CRU-Lifelines and it was just really impactful in my life.”
CRU-Lifelines goal is to not only encourage students to make friends and participate in the community during college but to give them confidence and leadership skills after graduation, according to Liz Robinson, a CRU intern.
Robinson was in CRU as an undergraduate student at North Carolina State University where she studied recreation and tourism management.
“CRU really helped me develop in leadership. I saw myself grow not only spiritually, but also emotionally,” Robinson said. “I felt like I was prepared to leave college and I don’t think I would have felt that prepared if I hadn’t been a part of CRU.”
Audrey Harty, COCC culinary student, joined CRU-Lifelines because it allows her to interact with other people who are also interested in the same activities.
“I love the outdoors, I’m from Park City where it’s another outdoor recreation town and Bend is an outdoor recreation town so I wanted to find a group to do stuff outside with,” Harty said.
For more information and to get involved with CRU-Lifelines contact the club at [email protected].

Michael Gary | The Broadside
(contact: [email protected])