Hands-On Opportunities

An ROE land-based class in single-file backpacks up a flat mountain meadow with the Castles and West Elk Peaks in the background.

At Western, education isn’t confined to the classroom. It’s out in the field, on the stage, across the globe, and in the community. Thanks to small class sizes, dedicated faculty mentorship and a campus culture built around collaboration, students have countless opportunities to gain practical, resume-worthy experience, often in their first year.

Whether you're restoring ecosystems, building solar energy systems, leading workshops, publishing creative work, or competing in national business challenges, our academic experiences are built to prepare you for a purpose-driven career and life.

Hands-on academic opportunities at Western help you build a professional portfolio, develop essential soft and technical skills, and grow your network of mentors, collaborators, and future colleagues. You’ll graduate with the kind of experience that makes employers, grad schools, and fellowship programs take notice.

A graduate celebrates after receiving his diploma.

Conduct ecological research at Crested Butte in a living lab for conservation, wildlife, and land management.

Verzuh Ranch

Partner with local experts to explore sustainability through food systems, permaculture, and renewable energy.

Coldharbour Institute

Present or help organize this major gathering focused on environmental and sustainability issues around the community and world.

Earn a Leave No Trace certification and work on sustainable outdoor recreation in the Gunnison Valley.

Lead fitness, nutrition, and wellness programs through real-world outreach like Wellness Elevated.

Community Engagement

Spend a full year in K–12 classrooms, building a foundation to jump right into your teaching career after college.

Teaching Residency

Represent Western at Model UN conferences in New York and Europe, or study cultural psychology in Hawaii.

Model UN

Travel to northern New Mexico to experience the culture and history of the Hispanic Southwest in context.

History Travel

Install solar energy systems in remote global communities through hands-on sustainability work in Peru.

Light Up The World

Compete in stock-pitch, ethics, and sales challenges to sharpen your analysis, public speaking, and leadership skills.

Competitions

Collaborate with the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory using drones, AI, and sensors.

Sensor Suite

Prototype, test, and build in a student-led hub for design and fabrication—using tools like 3D printers and CNC machines.

The Makerspace

Design and produce Western’s student-run magazine, gaining experience in everything from layout to final print.

Pathfinder Magazine

Paint murals, design for clients, and capture the Gunnison Valley’s beauty in plein-air paintings.

Community Projects

Learn to translate big ideas into branding and digital media with faculty-led mentorship.

Host a radio show, write for the student paper, or act in theatre productions.

Clubs & Orgs

Submit poetry, fiction, and nonfiction to be published—and compete for scholarships.

Pathfinder Magazine

Produce video content and digital storytelling for real audiences.

A graduate student wearing a cowboy hat smiles as he stands on Verzuh Ranch wetlands with cattle and Whetstone Mountain behind him.

Explore the programs, talk with faculty, and find your path.

Visit Our Schools & Departments

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

W

Common Questions

Common Searches

Real-World Learning Starts Here

These aren’t just projects. They’re proof.

Make a difference while you learn.

Take your studies around the world.

Engage in projects that reflect the real world.

Create meaningful work with real-world impact.

Join a creative community that brings ideas to life.

Ready to Get Involved?