large group of students staanding in front of rafts and canoes

Outdoor Experience

Start Your Westminster Experience with the Outdoor Program

At Westminster, learning doesn’t just happen in a classroom during a lecture, 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 has rental gear available.

 

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 2024 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 15th, 2024 at 9 a.m.

Students in the wilderness

Wilderness First Aid course

November 22–November 24
All day


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




Register for the course

Arriving on Campus

  • Outdoor Experience participants can check in to their residence halls on Monday, August 12. 
  • 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.
  • After you check in with Residence Life, come to the Outdoor Program in the Eccles Health, Wellness, and Athletic Center, number 12 on this map.  There is an exterior entrance to the Outdoor Program on the northwest corner of the building.
  • Please check in at the Outdoor Program before 3pm. If you need to check in outside of this time frame on Monday, August 12, please email us at outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu and let us know so that we can try to accommodate you.
  • There will be no residence hall check-in for the Outdoor Experience on Tuesday, August 13.
  • There is no official programming on Monday, August 12– those who arrive on Monday, August 12 are on their own for food and activities that day but we can give you some ideas of things to do!
  • The Outdoor Program will provide airport shuttles periodically throughout the day on Monday, August 12. If you need a shuttle, send your flight number and arrival time to outdoorprogram@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, or getting your bags takes a while, don’t worry—you can catch the next shuttle. If at all possible, please call us at 801.832.2859 to let us know about delays. If we don't hear from you, we will wait for you. Don’t stress if it takes you a few extra minutes to get your bag; we'll wait for about 15 minutes after the arranged pickup time if we don't see you.

Trip Departure

  • Outdoor Experience officially starts at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 13. Please come to the Outdoor Program (northwest corner of the Eccles Health, Wellness, and Athletic Center - number 12 on the campus map) with all of your trip gear packed and ready to go. You can come directly to the Outdoor Program door, which is on the northwest corner of the building. 
  • You’ll leave your gear with us and then head over to the welcome and breakfast.
  • 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 26: full refund
  • After July 26 but before August 2: 50% refund. The 50% that the Outdoor Program keeps will be available to apply towards future Outdoor Program trips.
  • After August 2: 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.