Outdoor Program

Come learn or refresh your avalanche rescue skills with us! The ability to rescue someone who has been buried in an avalanche is an essential skill for anyone who wants to travel (backcountry ski, splitboard, mountaineer/ice/alpine climb, more adventurous snowshoeing) in the mountains in the winter. This day trip is open to folks without prior avalanche rescue experience who want to start the process of learning, or folks who do have prior experience and want to keep their skills fresh. Note: This day trip does not take the place of an official avalanche rescue or level 1 class.

Cost: 

$10 includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction. 

OP Self-Compassion Desert Mindfulness Retreat *This is a current Westminster students only trip*

Join us for this collaborative retreat with the Outdoor Program and Counseling Center. We'll be travelling to the Capitol Reef Field Station in Capitol Reef National Park, where we'll spend the weekend practicing mindfulness, enjoying tasty food, appreciating nature, and connecting with each other. The Field Station is a collection of eco-friendly buildings that is accessible by vehicle, and includes indoor (heated) kitchen, hang out area, bathrooms, and bunk rooms. The Field Station is in the heart of a remote part of Capitol Reef National Park, which we'll explore on some easy hikes.

Cost: 

$80 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, sleeping and cooking indoors with beds and a modern kitchen, and going on (optional) short hikes 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.

OP Castle Rocks XC-Ski Trip

Come stay in a cozy cabin in snowy Castle Rocks State Park in Idaho. We'll be cross country skiing around the park during the day, then cooking food and hanging out in a rustic cabin with a wood-burning stove in the evenings. This is a great way to get outside and have some fun in the winter!

Cost: 

$80 includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction. 

Escape the snow and enjoy some (hopefully) sunny rock climbing near St George! This trip is geared toward any experience level, including beginners. If you have been interested in seeing a different part of the state, rock climbing, getting more involved with the outdoor program, or just getting outside for the weekend - this trip is for you!

Cost: 

$80 includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction. 

Enjoy a relaxing weekend in the beautiful red rock desert! We'll stay at a vehicle-accessed campground, focus on cooking tasty food, go on some short hikes, and generally enjoy hanging out with friends in the outdoors. This is a perfect way to recharge now that we're halfway through the semester!

Cost: 

$80 includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction. 

Explore the incredible backcountry ski and snowboard terrain right in our backyard! This is also a great opportunity to learn more about how to ski or snowboard in the backcountry, including managing avalanche hazard. Participants should be comfortable skiing/riding intermediate terrain at a ski resort in ungroomed snow conditions. No prior backcountry skiing/snowboarding experience is required. Ski boots, skis, skins, splitboards, and avalanche equipment are available to borrow from the Outdoor Program (free with the cost of the trip).

Cost: 

$10 includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction. 

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:

$875 - 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, 2025. The online independent study and testing requires 40+ hours of work.

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)

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: 

$80 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.

Explore and play in the red rocks and technical 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, technical canyoneering, getting more involved with the outdoor program, or just getting outside for the weekend - this trip is for you!

Cost: 

$80 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 through canyons with some tight narrows and rappels. 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.

Experience the magic of snowy mountains in the moonlight! There's really nothing quite like the silvery light and muffled quiet. We'll leave campus in the late afternoon to drive into one of the Cottonwood Canyons, where we'll get to snowshoe during sunset and moonrise. A great way to spend a Saturday night!

Cost: 

$10 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 snowshoeing in uncompacted snow conditions. 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.

Come rock climbing with us in one of the Cottonwood Canyons! No previous climbing experience required. Harness, helmet, and climbing shoe rental is included in the cost of the trip!

Cost: 

$10 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 hiking and scrambling on uneven trails of dirt and rock or off trail. 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.

Join us for an evening up in the Cottonwood Canyons cooking out on camp stoves, stargazing and hanging with friends and decompressing before the end of the semester!

Cost: 

$10 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, cooking on camp stoves and walking 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.

Come join us for a beginner-friendly mountain bike ride just a short drive from campus! Renting one of our brand new bikes is included in the cost of the trip!

Cost: 

$10 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 riding bikes on uneven rock and dirt trails. 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.

Join us for a day up in the Cottonwood Canyons focusing on nature exploration and creative expression through art/photography/your creative medium of choice, hanging with friends and decompressing before the end of the semester!

Cost: 

$10 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 walking short distances 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.