Outdoor Program
The Westminster Outdoor Program exemplifies Westminster's unique environment for learning, which is located minutes from world-class skiing, mountain biking, and rock climbing in the local Wasatch Mountains. Beyond the Wasatch lie Utah's red rock deserts, wild rivers, and vast wilderness areas—all of which become both Westminster's playground and classroom.
Through meaningful outdoor experiences, the Outdoor Program helps students to develop leadership, technical skills, self-awareness, character, and stewardship. Student leadership is a priority for the program and most outdoor trips are student-led. Graduates who were a part of the Outdoor Program often leave Westminster having weeks of valuable field experience, advanced certifications, and an understanding of how lessons learned in the outdoors can apply to other areas of college, career, and everyday life.
Whether you're joining us for an evening hike or a weekend in the backcountry, you'll most likely learn something new, meet interesting people, and spend time in awe-inspiring places.
Upcoming Trips and Events
Westminster students, faculty, staff, alumni, and their guests are welcome to participate in outdoor program trips and events. We're committed to supporting anyone who is interested in getting involved regardless of skill level, previous experience, or equipment needs. Contact outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions or if you would like to participate but cannot pay the entire event fee. While modest, the Outdoor Program Participation Fund is designed to help in these cases.
OP Biking Day Trip
September 13
All day
Come enjoy a day Biking around the Wasatch Front!
Cost:
$5 includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction.
At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. On this trip, we will be traveling in college vehicles to a car accessed trailhead and biking on uneven terrain. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.
Rappel the Giovale Library
September 14
8:00 am
Giovale Library
Join the Outdoor Program and Mountain Sports clubs in celebrating Westminster Sesquicentennial by rappelling off the Giovale Library! This event will run from 8am-12pm, and we will have the capacity to support 30 people in participating in the rappel. Please indicate your preferred timing; we will do our best to accommodate, but please note that we may not be able to fulfill every timing request. We will reach out to confirm your rappel time slot!
Cost: Free!
At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. For this event, participants will need to be able to climb a 15 foot ladder and maneuver their bodies up and over a 12" lip to gain access to the roof of the building. No rappelling experience necessary to participate in this event. This will be facilitated as a belayed rappel, meaning our professional staff will have you "on belay" as a back up to the rappel line. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.
No experience or equipment necessary - closed toed shoes with non-marking soles are required for participation!
*This event is 18+ only.
OP City of Rocks Climbing
September 19–September 21
All day
Explore the unique granite domes and high desert environment of City of Rocks National Reserve in Idaho! This trip is geared toward any experience level, including people who have never rock climbed. If you are interested in outdoor climbing (whether trying it for the first time, moving from gym to crag, or just climbing in a new place), getting more involved with the outdoor program, or just getting outside for the weekend - this trip is for you!
Cost:
Generous donors from our One Westminster Day fundraiser are allowing us to offer all of our trips this year for just $5! This includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction.
At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. On this trip, we will be traveling in college vehicles to a car accessed trailhead, hiking and scrambling on uneven trails of dirt and rock or off trail, carrying backpacks weighing up to 20 pounds. Participants get to choose the level of challenge they take on in rock climbing, and we will celebrate all successes, whether that is just making it a few feet off the ground or getting to the top of every route. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.
OP Peak Ascent Day Trip
October 03
All day
Join the OP for a peak attempt of one of our iconic peaks in the Wasatch Range just East of Campus!
Cost:
$5 includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction.
At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. On this trip, we will be traveling in college vehicles to a car accessed trailhead, hiking and scrambling on uneven trails of dirt and rock or off trail, carrying day packs weighing up to 20 pounds. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.
OP Fall Break Packrafting Trip
October 10–October 16
All day
Cost:
Generous donors from our One Westminster Day fundraiser are allowing us to offer all of our trips this year at a significant discount - due to the length of this trip, registration is $15. This includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction!
At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. On this trip, we will be traveling in college vehicles to a car accessed trailhead, hiking and scrambling on uneven trails of dirt and rock or off trail, carrying backpacks weighing up to 40 pounds. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.
No experience or equipment necessary.
We encourage anyone interested to email us at outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu about the Participation Fund if the trip fee is a barrier.
Required pre-trip meeting will be sometime early in the week of the trip, we'll be in touch with date and time.
OP Desert Backpacking
November 14–November 16
All day
Explore the red rocks and canyons of southern Utah! This trip is geared toward any experience level, including beginners. If you have been interested in seeing a different part of the state, backpacking, getting more involved with the outdoor program, or just getting outside for the weekend - this trip is for you!
Cost:
Generous donors from our One Westminster Day fundraiser are allowing us to offer all of our trips this year for just $5! This includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction.
At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. On this trip, we will be traveling in college vehicles to a car accessed trailhead, hiking and scrambling on uneven trails of dirt and rock or off trail, carrying backpacks weighing up to 40 pounds. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.
Wilderness First Aid Course
November 21–November 23
All day
Special Events Room, Dolores Doré Eccles Health Wellness and Athletics Center
This course is a standard, 3-day Wilderness First Aid course through the Wilderness Medicine Training Center (WMTC). This course includes adult & child wilderness CPR and AED certification. Westminster students wishing to receive academic credit for this WFA course (1) should first register for OEL 245C. People holding current WAFA, WFR, or WEMT certifications can use this course to recertify. People wishing to recertify using this standard WFA course must pass the WAFA, WFR or WEMT Recertification online exams within two months of completing the in-person course. Westminster students wishing to receive academic credit for recertification (1) should first register for OEL 245B.
Cost:
Current Outdoor Program Student Employees - $185, Westminster students (not for credit), faculty, and staff - $275, Non-Westminster general public - $325, Westminster students for credit (paid through tuition) - $0
OP Full Moon Cookout Evening Trip
December 05
All day
Join the OP for a cookout evening in the mountains to admire the full moon in the Wasatch Range just East of Campus!
Cost:
$5 includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction.
At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. On this trip, we will be traveling in college vehicles to a car accessed trailhead, hiking and scrambling on uneven trails of dirt and rock or off trail, carrying day packs weighing up to 20 pounds. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.
Wilderness First Responder/WEMT Course
March 13–March 17
All day
Dolores Doré Eccles Health Wellness and Athletics Center
This course is a Hybrid Wilderness First Responder/WEMT Recertification course through the Wilderness Medicine Training Center (WMTC). Westminster students wishing to receive academic credit for this course (2) should first register for OEL 245A. View the course syllabus here.
Cost:
$900 - Non-Westminster Community (Public)
$725 - Westminster Community: Students (not for credit), Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and graduates of WMTC courses through Westminster
$500 - Westminster Outdoor Program Student Employees (not for credit)
Email twhite@westminsteru.edu and mnmitchell@westminsteru.edu if you have questions or need help getting registered. If you're hoping to take this course to complete your WEMT or if you have already completed Part 1 (the independent online study and testing) and want to complete Part 2 with this course, please contact us for more information.
Everyone must complete and pass the online study and testing before the Part 2 practical session begins on March 14, 2026. The online independent study and testing requires 40+ hours of work.
Wilderness First Responder WEMT/WEMR Recertification Course
March 28–March 29
All day
This course is a Hybrid Wilderness First Responder/WEMT Recertification course through the Wilderness Medicine Training Center (WMTC). Westminster students wishing to receive academic credit for this course (1) should first register for OEL 245B. View the course syllabus here.
Cost:
(includes the Part 1 independent study and the Part 2 practical session)
$325 Non-Westminster Community (Public)
$275 for Westminster Community: Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and graduates of WMTC courses through Westminster
$200 Westminster Outdoor Program Student Employees (not for credit)
Refund and Cancellation Policy
- If there is a fee, you must pay for the trip or event before you are considered to be registered. Email outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu if you're having trouble with payment.
- If you register for a trip and cancel before the registration deadline (if applicable), you can receive a refund for the trip.
- If you register for a trip and cancel before the pre-trip meeting (if applicable), but after the registration deadline (if applicable), you can apply the registration fees as a credit toward a future trip with the Outdoor Program within the same academic school year.
- If you cancel after the pre-trip meeting (if applicable), no refunds or credits will be given.
- You MUST attend scheduled pre-trip meetings for trips if applicable. Meeting dates and times vary and will be included in event information. If you do not attend the meeting and have not made other arrangements with us to get trip information, your spot on the trip may be forfeited. Email outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions or concerns about attending pre-trip meetings.
- No refunds for Wilderness First Responder/First Aid/re-certifications, avalanche certification courses, and AMGA Single Pitch Instructor course will be given unless the Outdoor Program cancels the event.
Contact
-
Outdoor Program
Outdoor Program
Brett Carroll
Assistant Director of Outdoor Programs
Brett Carroll
- FULL-TIME Staff
- Assistant Director of Outdoor Programs
He/Him/His
B.S. Westminster University
Phone: 801.832.2867
Email: bcarroll@westminsteru.edu
Office Location: Health, Wellness, & Athletics 100B
View Directory ProfileMacKenzie Mitchell
Director of Outdoor Programs
MacKenzie Mitchell
- FULL-TIME Staff
- Director of Outdoor Programs
She/Her/Hers
B.S. Westminster University
Phone: 801.832.2859
Email: mnmitchell@westminsteru.edu
Office Location: Health, Wellness, & Athletics 100B
View Directory Profile