Frequently Asked Questions

Any incoming new student, including transfers. WBO is designed to serve as an adventure-based orientation for all new Western students. If you have been admitted to Western for the fall semester, you are welcome to participate in WBO.

It is not just for folks who know their way around the outdoors. On the contrary, WBO is for any student who is interested in having an awesome experience, is ready to learn a new skill and wants to get to know their new home in the Gunnison Valley. No prior experience is required to participate, you just need to be physically and mentally prepared for the challenge.

Online through your MyWestern account! Students must be registered for classes before signing up for a WBO trip. From the Main Menu of your account, follow the link to register for WBO. Registration opens June 7. Students must be registered for classes before they register for WBO through their MyWestern Account. Trips are automatically removed from the list once they are full, so only open courses will be visible after June 1.

Yes. On-campus New Student Orientation is mandatory for all first-time freshmen and transfer students with 23 credits or less. WBO courses are offered as supplemental programs to New Student Orientation, not as a substitute.

You will need to provide your own clothing, personal items and basic outdoor gear including a backpack and sleeping bag appropriate for the course you will participate in. All technical equipment needed for your trip will be provided by WBO. Please see individual gear lists for each course. Select your Wilderness Based Orientation course to see what gear you need. We have a very limited number of packs and sleeping bags available for rent.

Each WBO expedition is different. The amount of skill and physical difficulty of each particular expedition is explained in the Course Description and Essential Eligibility Requirements. It can be very challenging to acclimate to our high-altitude backcountry courses (backpacking and mountaineering) if coming from at or near sea level. We recommend at least three days of acclimation in the Gunnison Valley before attempting one of those trips, and even that is no guarantee of success. We do everything we can to accommodate participants without changing the nature of the trip. Please see Essential Eligibility requirements and Course Descriptions on the course descriptions on this site for further details.

The fee is used to cover the direct costs of the expedition such as transportation, food, equipment, permits and staff stipend. The fee does not cover the cost of overhead such as the Director’s salary or facilities usage. Trips costs are to be paid in full and payment becomes non-refundable after July 12. Log on to your My Western account to view and pay your bill. You may also call the Cashier’s Office at 970.943.3003 to pay your bill with a credit card over the phone.

1. Register online by logging on to your MyWestern account and follow the link on the Main Menu.

2. Pay trip price in full

3. Complete all documents in the WBO packet that will be emailed to you mid-June and return to the WBO office by July 13.

Yes! WBO is proud to offer scholarships for those with financial need and who exemplify the values of WBO. Scholarship applications are due June 21. Applicants will be contacted regarding their standing by July 5 and must accept their award by July 12 at 4 p.m. MDT. Applicants who do not accept their award on or before July 12 will risk losing the scholarship.

Our program has an excellent safety record. WBO trip leaders hold current Wilderness First Responder medical certifications. The program is administered by a full-time professional with 15 years of outdoor programming and guiding experience and is fully backed by Western Colorado University.

Yes. Students attending a WBO course may move into their room the day prior to WBO course departure. This gives you time to safely store your belongings before you leave. Go directly to your residence hall between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on August 11 to check into your room and get your key.

We will feed you three meals a day plus snacks starting with breakfast on the first day of your course and ending with a closing BBQ. You can use your dining plan starting the following morning at Rare Air Cafe. If you are moving into your residence hall on August 11, you will need to feed yourself that night.

No. Courses are available to incoming new Western students only.

1. Trip cost refunds are available until July 12, 2021.
2. WBO reserves the right to change program locations, itineraries, group size and instructor ratio should the need arise due to weather, water levels, closures of public lands, staffing, equipment, safety or program issues.
3. Scholarship recipients will be reimbursed