Outdoor Experience
Start Your Westminster Experience with the Outdoor Program
Explore the outdoors with other first-year students as you start your transition to college. The trips in the Outdoor Experience pre-orientation program occur before New Student Orientation, which begins on August 20, 2023.
Westminster's Outdoor Experience program is designed to facilitate a more positive transition to college through:
- Building community and meaningful relationships with peers and mentors
- Providing opportunity for reflection, processing, and intention-setting
- Drawing parallels from the trip to college to serve as reference points
- Connecting new students to nature and the Outdoor Program
What Participants Have to Say
“A highlight for me was bonding with everyone and learning that it was a safe space” A.H. – 2020 Participant
“Coming back to campus and feeling like I already have a community has been amazing." – 2021 Participant
“I was able to live slowly, be close to community, and to nature.” A.G. – 2020 participant
“I learned a lot about Westminster from the leaders, got a cool introduction to Utah and activities to do here, and I got to meet amazing people.” L.H. – 2019 participant
“All of the new experiences helped me build more character and confidence in myself.” S.P. – 2019 participant
Trip Options
All 2023 trips will take place in Utah’s stunning Uinta Mountains and are for incoming first-year students only. No experience is necessary, and the Outdoor Program can provide any equipment you need to borrow. If the trip fee is a barrier to your participation, inquire about the Participation Fund at outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu.
Registration for all trips opens May 1, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
Rock Climbing and Exploration
Hike, rock climb, explore, return to camp, and repeat. Participants will be base-camping with great access to rock climbing, hiking, and alpine lakes and streams. On this trip you will spend multiple days rock climbing with a day of hiking and exploration in between to take in some views, swim in a lake, and let any sore fingers and muscles recover.
Cost: $425 (includes transportation, equipment, food, camping, and instruction)
Dates: August 15–19
Alpine Backpacking
Trek through beautiful terrain in the High Uintas Wilderness. The Uintas are home to the highest terrain in Utah (including King's Peak at 13,527 ft.), offering ample opportunities to see wildlife and spend time above the tree line with spectacular vistas. Participants are likely to backpack 5-10 miles per day and occasionally experience significant elevation gains. Participants should also be prepared to carry a backpack weighing around 40 lbs and hike and camp at altitudes above 8,000 ft.
Cost: $405 (includes transportation, equipment, food, camping, and instructions)
Dates: August 15–19, 2023
Multi-Sport Adventure
Hike, paddleboard, climb. Participants will be base-camping and learning from talented student and alumni trip leaders while enjoying time in some of the Uintas’ most scenic spots.
This trip can accommodate the pre-orientation programs for Honors students, international students, and some student athletes.
Cost: $405 (includes transportation, equipment, food, camping, and instructions)
Date: August 15–18, 2023
First Scholars and STEPS Summer Bridge Program Trip
For First Scholars program students only.
Camp, hike, paddleboard, and explore. Participants will be base-camping with great access to hiking, stand-up paddleboarding, and swimming. Get ready for some amazing time together under the stars by the campfire.
This trip can accommodate the pre-orientation programs for Honors students, international students, and some student athletes.
Cost: Included with First Scholars Program
Dates: August 15–17, 2023
Arriving on Campus
Outdoor Experience participants can check in to their residence hall on Tuesday, August 14, 2023. Staff will be available from 10 a.m.–2:00 p.m. to help get participants checked in. If you need to check in outside of this time frame on August 14, email outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu to let the Outdoor Program know so that you can be accommodated. There is no residence hall check-in for the Outdoor Experience on Tuesday, August 15.
When you get to campus, come to the Outdoor Program in the Eccles Health, Wellness, and Athletic Center. There is an exterior entrance to the Outdoor Program on the northwest corner of the building. If you do not already have your student ID, you will do that first. Then, you will get your keys from the Outdoor Program, and a staff member will take you to your residence hall.
There is no official programming on August 14, 2023. Those who arrive are on their own for food and activities that day, but the Outdoor Program can give ideas for some things to do.
The Outdoor Program will provide airport shuttles periodically throughout the day on August 14, 2023. If you need a shuttle, email your flight number and arrival time to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu. The program will respond with instructions on how and when to find the shuttle at the airport. If your flight is delayed or getting your bags takes a while, don’t worry, you can catch the next shuttle. If possible, call the Outdoor Program at 801.832.2866 to notify the staff about delays.
Trip Departure
Outdoor Experience starts at 9:00 a.m. on August 15, 2023. Come to the Outdoor Program (exterior entrance on the northwest corner of the Health, Wellness, and Athletic Center) with all of your trip gear packed and ready to go. You’ll leave your gear there and head over to the welcome and breakfast. Trips will divide into groups, meet, and take care of equipment needs. If you are borrowing equipment from the Outdoor Program, this is when you’ll get the gear. All trips will load up and depart around noon. Box lunches will be provided as you depart.
Cancellations
Refunds are based on when you cancel your trip:
- Before July 10: Full refund
- After July 10 but before July 24: 50% refund. The 50% that the Outdoor Program keeps will be available to apply towards future Outdoor Program trips.
- After July 24: No refund. 50% of the trip fee will be available to apply towards future Outdoor Program trips.
Evacuations
If a participant needs to leave the trip for a policy violation either on or off campus, that participant is responsible for the cost of evacuation. If a participant needs to be evacuated for other reasons, responsibility for the cost of evacuation will be assigned on a case-by-case basis depending on location, logistics, and cost.
Each trip has emergency communication that can be used to access help should it be needed. Most trips will be out of cellular phone coverage and will not receive incoming messages or calls.