Applications Open May 1st
Wilderness Welcome 2026
Dates: Saturday 8/15– Thursday 8/20
With early move in dates on August 14th, cost of early move in is included in trip cost
Start your first year at the University of Utah off right by joining Outdoor Adventures
on one of our 6-day Wilderness Welcome Trips! These programs are designed specifically
for incoming students. They provide new students with a unique and fun opportunity
to challenge themselves, develop a community before starting college, and learn about
what it means to be a Ute.
For the incoming class of 2026, we are offering three different trips that get students out exploring the beautiful state of Utah. These trip itineraries are varied in difficulty to accommodate to all abilities, but none require previous experience. While on the trip, students will travel and live with their groups of 8-12 while being led by peer student leaders with a 4 to 1 ratio. These trip leaders lead trips for us year-round and are thoroughly trained in the disciplines of outdoor leadership, wilderness medicine, and technical sports. Along with outdoor activities, each trip also has intentional time set aside for trip leaders to share and discuss helpful resources regarding being a new student at the U.
We are so excited to be offering these programs for incoming students, and we hope
that you are able to join us! Not sure if Wilderness Welcome is for you? Send us a
message anytime at OutdoorAdventures@crs.utah.edu. We’re happy to help find the trip that’s best for you!
August 14th
- All WW students may move into their dorms any time after 9am. The early move in fee is included in the total trip cost ($250.00).
- WW Students will meet with their OA Trip Leaders in the evening to do introductions and gear checks and to answer any last-minute questions from 7-8:30pm.
August 15th – August 20th
- All WW students will meet at Outdoor Adventures (1836 Student Life Way) the morning of August 15th to begin their trip. Each trip has a different start time based on driving times for the day. These start times will be communicated closer to the start of the trip.
- All students will return to campus around 4pm on August 20th where Outdoor Adventures will be hosting a grill-out dinner. Students will be free to go back to their dorms afterwards, but we encourage them to come back to celerate the start of the Fall Semester with Campus Rec’s Kickoff Night!
Who can participate? All incoming, first-year students are able to register for this trip. Other students are encouraged to check out our other semester and break trip offerings.
What’s Included: All food, group gear, activity specific gear, accommodations, travel, and instruction are included. Participants will also receive a Wilderness Welcome Shirt with their registration. Early move-in fees are also included in the total cost of the trip ($250.00).
Mandatory Virtual Pre-Trip Meetings: All WW trips will have TWO pre-trip meetings leading up to the trip that will be led by our student trip leaders. These meetings will be virtual and trip leaders will cover all of the information regarding trip logistics. Students will have the opportunity to meet the other students in their groups and ask any additional questions they may have regarding the trip.
All Wilderness Welcome Trips are PHONE-FREE. With cell phones being an ever-growing need in our daily lives, we have found that it is rare for us to find time where we can truly disconnect from the virtual world. Students on our Wilderness Welcome Trips are required to leave their phones (and mp3 players, iPods, smart watches, iPads) at home (or kept in a safe at OA) while on their trip in order to provide them with the space to truly connect to one another and the natural world around them. It is common for both students and parents to question this policy, and we don’t blame you. To compensate, our trip leaders carry cell phones (kept off or in airplane mode unless needed) and satellite phones to be able to communicate with our managers and emergency facilities in case of an emergency. Students are welcomed and encouraged to bring cameras and each group will carry an additional Trip Camera for everyone to share. While there can be apprehension regarding this policy before trips, we have found an overwhelming amount of support for the No-Cell Phone Policy once the trip finishes!
All Outdoor Adventures Trips are drug, alcohol, weapons, and tobacco, vape, and e-cig free. This is to comply with the University’s Tobacco Free Campus Policy as well as Outdoor Adventures trip policies.
uinta Backpacking
The Uinta Mountains, just east of Salt Lake City, are home to over 1,000 lakes, expansive
forests, and incredible alpine terrain. Join us on an epic backcountry adventure in
the mountains we call home. You will learn the foundations of backpacking while traveling through beautiful terrain,
building skills in navigation, water filtration, gear systems, and Leave No Trace
ethics. As a group, you will work toward a potential summit of Kings Peak, Utah’s
highest point and a true milestone for many students. This trip is fully in the backcountry and offers a powerful mix of challenge, beauty,
and connection. While no prior experience is required, we recommend being comfortable
hiking about 8 miles per day. Due to elevation, this trip can feel more physically
demanding, especially for those arriving directly to Salt Lake City before the program
begins.
Amenities: This group will be backcountry camping for the entirety of their trip. This means
using various methods to bury their waste via Leave No Trace Practices. All water
will be carried in or filtered in the field. Don’t worry though – our trip leaders will show you how to do this safely!
Trip Cost: $625
Moab Multi-Sport
New to Utah and want to check out some of the best outdoor spaces the state has to
offer? Join on the Wilderness Welcome: Moab Multi-Sport Trip! Moab is one of the most
iconic outdoor towns in the western United States, and we’re lucky to have it in our
backyard! Students on this trip will get to try their hand at rock climbing, whitewater
rafting, and canyoneering while front-country camping. This trip is a great option
for students who want to connect with Utah while also having a few more amenities
than on our other WW trip offerings. Students will learn the basics of desert, front-country
camping including how to set up camp, how to cook for a group, and Leave No Trace
Ethics. Join us on this epic red-rock adventure!
Amenities: This trip will be based at the University of Utah’s Bonderman Field Station, located just outside of Moab
but central to all of our planned activities. Students will be staying in cabins of four at a campsite set right next to the beautiful Dolores River. There
will be access to flushing toilets, an outdoor kitchen, and covered communal spaces.
Trip Cost: $765
Green River Rafting
Utah boasts some of the best whitewater in the Western U.S.! Join us on our Green
River Rafting trip to experience it first-hand! This trip will start with two nights
of front country camping at Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area followed by four
days and three nights rafting and camping along the Green River! Students on this
trip will learn how to camp, cook for one another, read whitewater, and paddle the
river. This trip is great for students who want a backcountry experience with a few
more amenities in addition to challenging themselves in a new outdoor activity. Our
trained trip leaders will not only guide our group down the river, but they will cover
resources that will be helpful for a successful first year at the U! See you out there!
Amenities: This group will have two nights of front-country camping with pit-toilets and no running water. The other three nights will be back-country camping with no running water
and groovers. Trip Leaders will teach students how to use these and why we use them for LNT purposes.
Trip Cost: $695
FAQS
- Early move-in fee of $250. Early move-in will be organized by the OA Team to ensure that your dorm knows that you will be moving in early on August 14th.
- All transportation throughout the program
- All group meals throughout the program
- All adventure-based activities throughout the program, including technical gear needed for activities
- Personal sleeping bag and sleeping pad – if needed
- Group camping equipment including tents and kitchen gear. We will be sharing tents on these trips. A detailed packing list will be shared closer to the first pre-trip meeting for the trip.
- All scheduiled educational, adventure, and cultural activities
- A 2026 Wilderness Welcome T-shirt
- Personal clothing for all activities including rain gear. A detailed packing list will be shared closer to the first pre-trip meeting for the trip.
- Extra snacks at stops along the way
- Any souvenirs from local vendors
One of the biggest benefits of our trips for parents is that all early move-in logistics and details will be taken care of by Outdoor Adventures managers. Each student’s dorm information will be collected at the time of application, and this will be sent to housing to confirm early move in.
How it will work: All registered students will be able to move in any time after 9am on August 14th, the day before the trips begin. Students will meet at the Outdoor Adventure offices in the Student Life Center at 7pm on the 14th to meet their Trip Leaders and hear any last-minute updates. This meeting should last no later than 8:30pm. Students will sleep in their dorms that night. Trips will begin at staggered times the following morning. Exact start times will be shared during our first virtual pre-trip meeting.
It depends on the trip! All three options include bonding camp activities, campfire lessons about campus resources, free time, and organized group activities.
Moab Multi-sport has hut style camping with activities like whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and hiking.
Green River Rafting has a mix of front and backcountry camping with 3 days of overnight rafting and hiking.
Uinta Backpacking has a full 6 days of backpacking in remote settings with a potential summit depending on the group’s abilities and goals
Depending on the trip model you choose, you will have various amounts of free time in between organized group activities. All trip models incorporate free-time into their itinerary though. Each trip will also have the opportunity to do a Solo Activity, where students are taught how to lean into the quietness to promote self-discovery and mindfulness.
To apply, interested incoming first-year students should fill out the Trip Application Form. The application is fairly short, and it allows us to get to know each individual more to make sure their preferred trip model is a good fit for them. Only submitted applications will be considered for these trips and spots are approved on a first-come first-serve basis. Trips fill up fast, so we recommend applying early.
Once your application is submitted, you should receive a response no later than 2 weeks after applying. Once approved, you will be able to register and pay the trip fee. More information regarding pre-trip meetings, detailed itineraries, and packing lists will be shared at that time.
Parent contact information is collected at the time of application. These contacts will receive OA Manager check-ins throughout the trip including some group photos. Families will be contacted if there are any unexpected changes in itineraries or other trip logistics. Student will receive their phones back once they return to campus on Thursday, August 20th no later than 4pm.