PHOTO COURTESY OF GOBBLERCONNECT.VT.EDU
BLACKSBURG – The public is invited to participate in an outdoor laser tag activity this summer.
Sponsored by the Laser Tag Club at Virginia Tech (LCaT) and club sponsor Rick Orick, the weekly scheduled event is free for all ages and a guaranteed good time in the great outdoors.
Orick is also the Laser Tag Alumni Club Co-president, along with Co-president Dr. Joy Yang, and Dr. Scott Farmer as the faculty advisor for the Virginia Tech LCaT. Orick said the event offers free play for everyone, with all the equipment provided that participants will need to play.
“We even have some camouflage to loan out to folks. All the water, tags, and equipment are free to use,” Orick said.
The National Forest Service and USDA have provided a play area at Pandapas Pond of about 15 acres, but the group typically plays on about two acres at a time. Children of all ages are welcome. For safe play, attendees between the ages of 12 to 18 should be in the same area as their parents. Under the age of 12, the parent must be with them during game play.
The laser tag event typically begins at 1 p.m. every Saturday, weather permitting, and continues until 4 p.m. The club’s events can be found on their Facebook page by the name of LCAT, Virginia Tech Outdoor Laser Tag. Interested participants can find a link on the Facebook page to a Discord link where additional information is available, as well as updated information concerning weather cancellations.
“Folks can come and go as they please, and we will work them into the games as they show up,” Orick said.
Laser tag players can expect a fun and diverse atmosphere with diverse games. One favorite game played by the Club is the Team Death Match. Participants are divided into teams, balancing out beginners with expert game players to provide a challenging match. Teams work to eliminate each other. Each player can get 10 “tags”, or hits from another player, providing more playing time before elimination.
Playing laser tag involves firing an infrared beam at the dome on the other player’s body. When accurate and in close enough proximity, the dome on the other player will recognize it and that is a tag. There is no danger to the eyes, and the Club prefers using lasers in comparison to paintball or airsoft because they leave no debris behind, and the lasers have can travel as much as one to one and a half football fields.
The Laser Tag Appalachian Festival will happen in late August/early September at Caldwell Fields, just outside of Blacksburg, Virginia. This is an annual event that lasts three days. Watch the Club’s Facebook page and/or Discord for announcements on this event.
Although no fees are charged at this time for play, with all equipment provided by the club, donations of AA batteries are appreciated.
