group of students standing in front of a lake in the mountains

Outdoor Experience

Start Your Westminster Experience with the Outdoor Program

At Westminster, learning doesn’t just happen in a classroom, learning happens everywhere. Join the Outdoor Program and fellow first year griffins and explore the stunning Uinta Mountain range before New Student Orientation starts. Any level of outdoor experience is welcome and the Outdoor Program can provide any gear you need to borrow.

 

What Participants Have to Say

“It was a great opportunity to try something new (rock climbing) while getting to know my peers and de-stressing from the daunting approach of school. I felt included and encouraged, and it made me want to spend more time in the outdoors.” – 2023 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 2026 trips will take place in Utah’s stunning Uinta Mountains and are for incoming first time Westminster students. 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, we offer a sliding scale trip fee! Please reach out to mnmitchell@westminsteru.edu to coordinate.

Registration for all trips opens March 20, 2026 at 9 a.m.

Backpackers standing in a field.

Outdoor Experience Alpine Backpacking

August 17–August 20
All day


This trip is for incoming first-year students only. No experience necessary. Trek through the beautiful alpine terrain of the Uinta Mountains. The Uintas are home to the highest terrain in Utah, including King's Peak which stands at 13,528ft. The Uintas offer ample opportunities to see wildlife and spend time above treeline. Participants are likely to backpack 3-8 miles per day and occasionally experience significant elevation gains. Participants should also be prepared to carry a backpack weighing ~40lbs and hike & camp at altitudes above 8,000ft.

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 university vehicles to a trailhead in the Uinta Mountains. During the trip, we will be hiking primarily on established trails made of dirt and rock with packs weighing up to 40lbs. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to mnmitchell@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.

Cost: $250, sliding scale available - includes transportation, equipment, food, camping, and staff. We encourage anyone interested to email us at mnmitchell@westminsteru.edu about our sliding scale if the trip fee is a barrier.
Register for Alpine Backpacking
Two people rock climbing outside.

Outdoor Experience Rock Climbing

August 17–August 20
All day


This trip is for incoming first-year students only. No experience or equipment necessary. Rock climb on the beautiful quartzite cliffs of the Uinta Mountains. 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.

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 University vehicles to a campground in the Uinta Mountains. During the trip, we will utilizing a few different activity sites -  that require an on-trail hike to access. We will also be climbing at a backcountry site that requires hiking up steep and rocky terrain to reach the base of the climbs. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to mnmitchell@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.

Cost: $250, sliding scale available - includes transportation, equipment, food, camping, and staff. We encourage anyone interested to email us at mnmitchell@westminsteru.edu about our sliding scale if the trip fee is a barrier.
Register for Rock Climbing
People paddle boarding on a river.

Outdoor Experience Multi-Sport

August 17–August 20
All day


This trip is for incoming first-year students only. No experience or equipment necessary. Hike, paddleboard, climb! On the Multi-Sport trip, participants will be base-camping and learning from talented student and alumni trip leaders while enjoying spending time in some of the Uintas’ most scenic spots.

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 university vehicles to a campground in the Uinta Mountains. During the trip, we will be utilizing a few different activity sites - some that are easily accessible from the road/vehicle and some that require an on-trail hike to access. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to mnmitchell@westminstueru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.

Cost: $250, sliding scale available - includes transportation, equipment, food, camping, and staff. We encourage anyone interested to email us at mnmitchell@westminsteru.edu about our sliding scale if the trip fee is a barrier.
Register for Multi-Sport
Group of students standing on a trail in front of a waterfall.

Outdoor Experience First Scholars Bridge

August 17–August 20
All day


This trip is for incoming First Scholars students only. Outdoor Experience is one of the best ways to kick off your college career. You'll make new friends, spend time around the campfire and under the stars, and return to campus having explored your transition to college in unique ways. No experience or equipment necessary - we can provide everything you need to explore the Uintas, paddle board, hike and stay cozy at camp at night!

Hike, swim, explore, paddleboard, return to camp, and repeat! Participants will be base-camping and learning from talented student and alumni trip leaders while enjoying spending time in some of the Uintas’ most scenic spots.

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 university vehicles to a trailhead in the Uinta Mountains. During the trip, we will be camping in a vehicle-accessed campground, sleeping in tents, and going on short hikes on trails made of dirt and rock. 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 cost for First Scholars students!
Register for First Scholars

Arriving on Campus

  • Outdoor Experience participants can check in to their residence halls on Sunday, August 16. 
  • When you get to campus, you will check in with Residence Life from 10am to 2pm.
  • They will set you up with your keys and student ID.
  • At 3pm we will have a mandatory pre-trip meeting with all participants at the Outdoor Program.
  • After the pre-trip meeting, participants will be on their own for the evening for food and activities, and we can give you some ideas of things to do! 
  • There will be no residence hall check-in for the Outdoor Experience on Monday, August 17.
  • The Outdoor Program will provide airport shuttles periodically throughout the day on Sunday, August 16. If you need a shuttle, send your flight number and arrival time to mnmitchell@westminsteru.edu. 
  • If you email us to tell us you need a shuttle, we will respond with instructions on how and when to find us at the airport.
  • If your flight is delayed, please call us at 801.832.2859 to let us know. If we don't hear from you, we'll wait for about 15 minutes after the arranged pickup time or coordinate an updated time with you.

Trip Departure

  • Outdoor Experience officially starts at 9 a.m. on Monday, August 17. Please come to the Outdoor Program
  • Trips will divide into groups, meet, and take care of equipment needs. If you are borrowing equipment for the trips 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 the registration deadline of July 29: full refund
  • After July 29 but before August 5: 50% refund. The 50% that the Outdoor Program keeps will be available to apply towards future Outdoor Program trips.
  • After August 5: 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 they can use to access help should they need it. Most trips will be out of cellular phone coverage and will not be able to receive incoming messages or calls.