Action Squad was formed on the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis campus in late 1996. Initially called "Adventure Squad," the group's original purpose was two-fold: first, as a kick-ass alternative to the boring college social scene, and second, to find a way into the steam tunnels that were rumored to exist far beneath the surface of the campus. Action Squad is likely the first organized and largest urban adventuring group in Minnesota.<ref>http://www.tcuec.com/20031230.pdf</ref>

The constantly-shifting team of adventurers sought out new places to explore and new techniques to employ. In the years since, they have gained access to a staggering variety of tunnel systems, swam through drain systems, scaled the exteriors of buildings, waded through waist deep sewage, rappelled down and built ladders up vertical shafts, and snuck into the guts of inhabitated structures. Thus far, they have avoided apprehension, and no one has died.

Action Squad's charismatic leader Max Action, an urban exploration celebrity,<ref>http://www.slweekly.com/index.cfm?do=article.details&id=1CA8314D-2BF4-55D0-F1F49C5B4F5B024A</ref> writes about their urban exploration on the group's website.

Code of Conduct

Like many urban explorers, Action Squad has a strict code of conduct:<ref>http://www.actionsquad.org/code.html</ref>

1. No theft.

2. No vandalism.

3. Return things to their original condition.

4. Avoid backtracking.

5. Keep lights to a minimum.

6. No drinking.

There are many reasons for these rules, not the least of which is increased security if they are violated.<ref>http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2004/08/18/50009</ref>

Documentary

Three members of Action Squad were featured in Melody Gilbert's "Urban Explorers: Into the Darkness" (2007), a documentary about some of the world's urban explorers.<ref>http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2007/03/01/70966</ref>

External Links

Action Squad

Tunnel Rat Article from August 2002 Minnesota Monthly Magazine

Notes From Underground Article from October 2001 CityPages

Notes

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