MAPALA "WANAPRASTHA DHARMA" UNIVERSITAS UDAYANA

"Kami katakan bahwa kami adalah manusia-manusia yang tidak percaya pada slogan.

Patriotisme tidak mungkin tumbuh dari hipokrisi dan slogan-slogan.

Seseorang hanya dapat mencintai sesuatu secara sehat, kalau ia mengenal akan obyeknya.

Dan mencintai tanah air Indonesia dapat ditumbuhkan dengan mengenal Indonesia bersama rakyatnya dari dekat.

Pertumbuhan jiwa yang sehat dari pemuda harus berarti pula pertumbuhan fisik yang sehat.

Karena itulah kami naik gunung."

( Soe Hok Gie, M-007-UI )

"Now I see the secret of making the best person: 
it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth."

( Walt Whitman )

          Mapala (abbr. Mahasiswa Pecinta Alam or students that care about the nature) Wanaprastha Dharma or "WD" (from Sanskrit Language, means a forest or site where inside it the cycle of life is carried out based on goodness or Dharma) is a unit of student's activity at Udayana University, Bali. She was born on 21-st April 1981 that pioneered by a few Engineering Faculty students. The purpose this organization was formed is to educate a responsible individual with strong physic and mentality to enjoy outdoor activities and take parts on nature conservation, their playground.

           So, Mapala "WD" active on outdoor sport (with high responsibility to conserve the nature), encourage the other students to more care about the environment and voluntary at National Search & Rescue Bureau. They've provided with knowledge and skills, which they get from their gradual education & training to increase their personal quality, soft skills as addition to academic hard skills which they get everyday from their campuss.
         

Mapala "WD" Unud while onboard at KRI Surabaya 591 (Indonesian Navy LPD), in order to Sail Bunaken 2009. Photo by: Agus Isnaini. 

          First, the recruit member must be an Udayana University student who passes several selection including physical, psychological, health and motivation test to undergo basic training (ATC - Adventure Training Camp) where they accept all the basic knowledge and skills of outdoor activities, and physical training. After pass the basic training, they must undergo several months mentoring time for knowledge development,  plan, propose and implement their own small-adventure trip, before graduate as a junior member.
          Second, after they become a Junior Member, they may continue their education to advanced level which they can broaden their knowledge and choose their specialization to be a Core Member (Rock Climbing, Jungle Trekking, Caving, Diving, Whitewater Rafting and Conservation) with make a specialized small-expedition.
          The third is Search & Rescue training. Only Core Member may undergo this training to become a SAR member. Mapala "WD" has 5 outdoor divisions (RC, Jungle-Trekking, Caving, Diving, Whitewater Rafting) , 1 conservation division and 1 SAR unit. 


RC & Jungle-Trekking Division

          At first, Mountaineering Division Mapala "WD" became umbrella for two activities namely Climbing Mountain and Rock Climbing. However, due to the demands of professionalism and the characteristics of mountain terrain in Indonesia last two sub-divisions are divided into two distinct divisions, the Rock Climbing Division and the Jungle-Trekking Division.    

Climbing activities by Mapala "WD". Photo: "WD"s archives.

          Indonesia is blessed with God's mountainous region of the tip of Sumatra in the west to the eastern region known as the Ring of Fire (such as Kerinci, Slamet, Sindoro-Sumbing, Merapi-Merbabu, Arjuno-Welirang, Semeru, Argopuro, Agung, Rinjani, Tambora, etc.) is the domain of their adventure. Then a lot of Karst cliffs and the land Andesite becoming Mapala "WD" climber's field like the cliffs in Java, Bali, South Sulawesi and Flores.

          For them, students of Udayana University who thirst of challenges, it is not too difficult to join this division. Simply Junior Members of Mapala "WD" who have passed ATC and mentoring, not afraid of heights, have fortitude, and has high ability to work in teams.

Caving Division

          Caving Division Mapala "WD" curriculum has a purpose for it's students to be a caver who is able to plan and carry out cave exploration activities properly and securely, able to anticipate and cope with problems, potential accidents, and accidents in search of the cave and get a comprehensive experience of the ins & outs of the cave exploration world. The materials provided include: surveys, exploration planning, management ropes, rigging, Single Rope Technique, hauling, traversing, Tyrolean, potholing, z-drag, cave photography, mapping and others.

          Mapala "WD"s Bali Celebes Caving Expedition, South Sulawesi, 1997. 
Photo: Mapala "WD"s archives.

          For those interested in the condition is not too difficult. Simply Junior Members of Mapala "WD" who have passed ATC and mentoring. Do not have claustrophobia (phobia of enclosed spaces) and have an interest in Speleology and strong motivation to be a caver.

Diving Division
          Mapala "WD"s Diving Division education's purpose is to make it's students to become a diver who's able to plan and carry out activities independently and safely dive in the same or more secure sites than where they were trained. Then be able to plan and implement activities diving to a depth of 30 meters independently and safely. Also be able to navigate under water in their dive activities and able to anticipate and cope with problems, the potential for accidents and diving accidents. Finally, for students to experience a fairly comprehensive about the ins and outs of diving world.

Mapala "WD"s Diving Division try out, Kubu-Karangasem, 2005. Photo: M. Farish (WD-516).

          Currently Mapala "WD"s Diving Division  has had at least 5 people diving instructors who held international agency license ie PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructor). For those interested in the condition is not too difficult. Simply Mapala "WD"s Junior Members who have passed ATC and mentoring, having a conservative and prudent attitude, comfortable in the water, do not have claustrophobia and agoraphobia, passed scuba diving health test and have a passion of nature maritime.

Whitewater Rafting Division
          This division was formed in 1993. Started from a dozen members  Mapala "WD" who are interested in rowing-paddling was sent to the Rafting Education & Training trained by Sobek Rafting. In a very early age, in 1994 this division ventured to follow the National Rafting Championships on  Ayung River, competing with  legendary teams such Wanadri, Mapala UI and Aranyacala Trisakti. The result was not disappointing. Mapala "WD"s Rafting Division made it into the top 10.          
          In the field of environmental conservation, the division also did not want to miss. Has twice (1996, 2001) they entered the Badung River Cleaning Action , motivated Denpasar citizen to share the conservation of Badung River watershed which is contaminated by pollution.         
          Interested enter this division? Requirement is not too difficult, simply listed as Mapala "WD"s Junior Member, has the leadership skills, not afraid of water, likes adventure and meet other requirements to participate in Advanced Training Rafting specialization.

The first generation of  Mapala "WD"s rafting education & training in 1993. Photo by: Sobek Rafting.