According to alumnus and current Communications and Marketing Director Linda Moeller, the first recorded Outfly was Oct. 5, 1892. Ausflug is the German word for Outfly, meaning "an excursion." During the 1920Ős, Outfly was held three times a year: September, October and May. Soon, they stopped having Outfly in October, and when Wartburg's academic calendar changed to 4-4-1 in the 1967, only one was observed due to the impracticality of having special days during Winter term and May term. Debates regarding Outfly's frequency are still heard today.

In its earliest days, Outfly was held at Riverside Park on the Shell Rock River. Several faculty and staff from Wartburg shared how the holiday has changed over time.

Jan Striepe, Director of Alumni/Parent Relations and a member of the Class of 1959, explained that the students would decide when they wanted Outfly to occur. One floor would start chanting and gathering people early in the morning, and when they rallied enough students together, they trekked over to the President's door to make him declare Outfly. Outfly was strongly associated with freshmen initiation; the first-year students had to wear green beanies until the holiday occurred, which was about three weeks into school.

Alumnus Ron Matthias added that Outfly was held more than once during the school year in the 1950's. "We had Outfly twice a year. It was then an all day picnic near the Cedar River which involved everyone. Activities ranged from touch football to conversation."

"Outfly is no longer a single event," Matthias continued. "Now it's a day off and for the most part, students make their own decisions about what to do with the day."

Outfly is a long standing tradition here at Wartburg that will continue echoing through the halls for years to come.

"What do people remember about Wartburg? They remember Outfly," Moeller concluded.