WCC has a unique Freshmen Orientation Program.  While other schools may spend two or three days familiarizing students with their campus facilities, WCC spends almost a month over the course of the year teaching students how to safely participate in the beauty of the wilderness around them.

To handle such a task, WCC turned to the world-renowned National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), headquartered in Lander, Wyoming.  NOLS was founded in 1965 as a tiny outdoor school in a log cabin just outside of Lander. It was founded to teach people how to lead, and to teach people responsible, comfortable outdoor living.  Since its inception, NOLS has graduated over 85,000 persons from its prestigious programs.  NOLS conducts the fall wilderness adventure of the Freshman Orientation Program for WCC.

NOLS has some of the best instructors in the business.  Many have been with the program for decades and consider their work not only a profession but also a lifestyle. These knowledgeable instructors have developed two customized wilderness programs aimed at teaching WCC students how to thrive in the wilderness so that they may enjoy the environs to the fullest.   

The fall program is a 21-day, backpacking, wilderness expedition starting in August and ending just before the fall academic classes begin.  The program will provide instruction to those with little or no outdoors experience, yet will engage even the most seasoned woodsman.  Students are assigned to groups of no more than 15 members (2 NOLS instructors, 1 priest chaplain, 1 other WCC representative, and the rest being students), enhancing the sense of community.  The three-week stint in the wilderness gives students the satisfaction of climbing 11,000-ft. passes and summiting 13,000-ft. peaks, trekking about 100 miles, fly fishing some of the most beautiful lakes in the Rocky Mountains, and cooking their own meals.  They are exposed to learning many skills such as teamwork, treating all other members of the group with respect, doing a good share of the work, tolerating adversity and uncertainty, and developing leadership. These skills will stick with all students for the rest of their lives.

This orientation program promises to be one of the most innovative college orientation programs in the country.  Students will learn more about themselves in three weeks than many students learn in four years while at college.  Perhaps even more tantalizing is the notion that this is only the beginning.

 Incoming students may wonder how to prepare for this program or if they have enough experience to accomplish it.  No one needs to be a superstar athlete to succeed or to have an enjoyable time during this program.  However, NOLS does recommend that prior to the excursion students try to do one hour of cardiovascular exercise three times a week—hiking and biking are especially good choices.  This will greatly help them prepare for and enjoy the wilderness expedition.  Students do not need to worry about their level of outdoor experience.  NOLS is ready to challenge the advanced outdoorsman as well as to aid the backyard rookie.