We offer many trips, classes, and clinics each semester to provide you with the opportunity to learn new skills or enhance your knowledge of the great outdoors. Come take an adventure with us, bring your friends, and make some new ones.
There are so many ways to take your fun, your exercise routine and your sense of adventure outside. Here are some of our typical programs. Take a look in the Events calendar to plan your next adventure (remember to select "Outdoor Adventures" to filter)!
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Can my group do a custom program?
Yes, and the possibilities are endless! Please fill out the custom program request form at least 1 month in advance of when you want your program and we will get back to you with our availability and a quote.
Pricing is determined by the length of the program, the WSU affiliation of the group, the number of people in the group, and the activities requested.
Please contact urec@wsu.edu if you have specific questions.
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What is the difficulty rating system?
Outdoor Adventure programs (trips and clinics) are classified in this 5 tiered rating system that includes general descriptions of 5 levels of difficulties. Certain trips with low technical skill ratings and very high levels of physical requirements could be rated the same as a trip with very high technical skills and a very low physical requirement, so always be sure to inquire as to the specifics of the activity you are participating in. These are general descriptions of the 5 levels and may differ when applied to specific activities.
Level 1 This activity requires low levels of physical conditioning and no specific experience is necessary, technical skills are not necessary.
Level 2 Good physical conditioning is necessary, little experience is required, and little technical knowledge is necessary.
Level 3 Good physical conditioning is required, some experience is recommended, and some technical knowledge is highly recommended.
Level 4 Good physical conditioning is required, specific experience is required, and technical proficiency is highly recommended.
Level 5 Excellent physical conditioning is required, proficiency in specific technical skill is required, and prior experience is a necessity.
Our trips are unguided, co-educational endeavors, where the participants are responsible for their decisions and safety, so a personal, fair, and honest assessment of your abilities should be made before going on a trip or clinic. If you have questions regarding your level of physical conditioning, you should consult your physician. If you are unclear about what is expected of you on a trip/clinic, please discuss this with the Outdoor Adventures Coordinator.
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What if I cannot afford the trip I really want to go on?
We recognize that the registration fees for our trips have gone up as wages have gone up with inflation. To help alleviate that, trips and clinics are either free for students and UREC members or are heavily discounted from the non-member price (usually around 50%).
To stay aligned to our mission to increase access to the outdoors and outdoor experiences, we also have the UREC for All fund. If you are a WSU Pullman student looking at a trip thinking "there's no way I could afford that" - we can help! Follow the UREC for All link to get more information and apply.
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What are the Essential Eligibility Criteria for participating in an Outdoor Adventures program?
General Eligibility
Outdoor Adventure programs are open to all WSU students, faculty, and staff, as well as the general community. Those who can meet the following physical and mental requirements of a trip are eligible to participate. WSU students that are 17 years of age or older are also eligible. Youth, 5-17, are not allowed on regular trips unless there is an exemption*.
*Please contact urec@wsu.edu to get in contact with the Outdoor Adventures Coordinator to request an exemption and coordinate additional eligibility requirements.
Safety and Judgement
Each participant must:
- Follow instructions given by others to successfully perform appropriate techniques to avoid hazards and/or manage risks.
- Be able to notify instructors or participants of personal distress, injury, or need for assistance.
- After instruction, wear and properly use all required equipment pertaining to activity.
Leadership and Trip Behavior
Each participant must:
- Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
- Contribute to a safe learning environment; no verbal or physical inappropriate behavior of others is tolerated for any reason.
- Be able to willingly and equitably share responsibility with tent mates in daily tent group chores (exceptions may be made for approved accommodations). Each participant may not do an equal share each day but over a period of several days each participant should do a proportionate share.
- Remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed so as to remain generally healthy and be able to avoid environmental injuries.
Outdoor Living Skills
Each participant must:
- Be able to move about the campsite to attend lessons, toileting needs, and contribute to camping tasks as necessary.
- Live in a physically demanding backcountry environment for the uninterrupted period of the trip length. Conditions of this environment may vary depending on trip location, anywhere from cold (below minus 20 degrees F) to hot (above 90 degrees F) and may include inclement weather.
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Activity Specific Essential Eligibility Criteria: Hike and Climb Programs
Hiking and Backpacking
Each participant must:
- Be able to travel for extended amounts of time on challenging terrain independently, with the assistance of a companion, or with adaptive equipment.
- Carry an average of 1/3 of your body weight for multi-day trips.
Rock Climbing
Each participant must:
- Be able to respond to verbal or visual signals.
- Outfit in a UIAA-approved helmet and harness.
- Independently hold head upright without head/neck support.
- After falling, be able to get into a position necessary to continue activity.
- Maintain control of the rope and climbing surface.
- Maintain a safe body position while attempting skills and activities, and have the ability to recognize/identify when such efforts would be unsafe given personal situation.
- Manage personal care independently or with assistance of a companion.
- Manager personal mobility independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance.
Mountaineering
Each participant must:
- Meet the criteria for both rock climbing and hiking/backpacking.
- Be able to shovel in order to perform camp chores and to participate in rescues where people, gear, or shelters have been buried in the snow due to avalanche or drifts created during a storm.
- Perform self-arrest with an ice axe, after proper instruction.
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Activity Specific Essential Eligibility Criteria: Paddling Programs
Paddle Sports: SUP, Kayak, and Rafting
All water-based programming participants must acknowledge the ability to perform the following EEC's, as adopted from the American Canoe Association.
Each participant must:
- Breathe independently (i.e. not require medical devices to sustain breathing).
- Independently maintain sealed airway passages while under water.
- Independently hold head upright without head/neck support.
- Manager personal care independently or with assistance of a companion.
- Manager personal mobility independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance.
- Independently turn from face-down to face-up and remain floating face-up while wearing a properly fitted life jacket that meets Coast Guard approval.
- Get in/out of a paddle craft independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance.
- Independently get out from under a capsized paddle craft.
- Re-enter the paddle craft following deep water capsize independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance.
- Maintain a safe body position while attempting skills and activities, and have the ability to recognize/identify to others when such efforts would be unsafe given personal situation.
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Activity Specific Essential Eligibility Criteria: Snow Sports Programs
Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing, and Winter Camping
Each participant must:
- Be able to travel for extended amounts of time on challenging terrain independently, with the assistance of a companion, or with adaptive equipment.
- After falling, be able to get into a position necessary to continue activity.
- Carry an average of 1/3 of your body weight for multi-day trips.
- Be able to shovel in order to perform camp chores and to participate in rescues where people, gear, or shelters have been buried in the snow due to avalanche or drifts created during a storm. (Winter Camping Only)
Backcountry Ski/Splitboard
Each participant must:
- Be able to travel for extended amounts of time on challenging terrain independently, with the assistance of a companion, or with adaptive equipment.
- After falling, be able to get into a position necessary to continue activity.
- Carry an average of 1/3 of your body weight for multi-day trips.
- Be able to shovel in order to perform camp chores and to participate in rescues where people, gear, or shelters have been buried in the snow due to avalanche or drifts created during a storm.