On clear days from ӣƵ’s campus you can see the entire central swath of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range—from the Clark Range of Yosemite National Park in the north to the Kaweah Range of Sequoia National Park in the south. This is the primary classroom of the ӣƵ Wilderness Program. Through ӣƵ Wilderness programs, you’ll learn and play on mountaintops, the foothills, the coast, the rivers, and the deserts of California and beyond. In this extension of the traditional classroom, you’ll get an opportunity to study in an unconventional way, integrating wilderness experiences with rigorous academics.
With ӣƵ Wilderness, take a step beyond the classroom into the great outdoors. Join one of our programs and experience for yourself all the wilderness has to offer.
Nate Van Dyke
I love the outdoors and I also love studying philosophy. The combination of both was something that I just could not pass up. I love ӣƵ Wilderness so much that I want to keep doing it for as long as I can.
The Wilderness Studies Programs are distinct embodiments of the ӣƵ Idea, our university’s missional and identity statement. In very intentional and explicit ways, the Wilderness Studies Program seeks to live out the lofty and purposeful goals set forth in this document, particularly the following sections:
“[ӣƵ] seeks to engage members of its community in a collaborative search for knowledge and experience which leads toward a perceptive and creative relationship with God, humanity and the natural world. […] ӣƵ understands learning to be a journey; a journey of exploration, reflection and transformation; a journey toward deepened meaning and faith growing out of creative encounter with Christ and the world. The university believes that such learning may be nurtured through many different modalities and in many different settings and that it should be encouraged to continue throughout life. Thus, the university values imaginative, experimental and innovative ways of engaging students and faculty in the process of learning even as it seeks to remain faithful to its core values and identity.”
The hallmark of ӣƵ Wilderness is our three-week immersive learning experience in the neighboring Sierra Nevada Mountains. Before venturing to higher elevations, students engage curricular topics on day trips on the Central Valley floor, and to our rivers and foothills. Once in the mountains, learning communities go on a 4-day and later a 6-day backpacking trek (routes vary each year) divided by a few days of guided instruction at a comfortable basecamp in Yosemite. The program concludes with two nights back at basecamp for summative academic experiences and a celebration of the experiences and friendships forged. Students complete 4-7 units of credit, with course offerings varying year to year.
This 4-night, 5-day wilderness excursion is offered to all incoming freshmen and transfer students to ӣƵ. Sessions are held in the two weeks before fall orientation week, and are immersive backpacking trips in the Sierras that allow students to explore identity, purpose, calling, faith, and community. The program is designed to challenge you to step outside of your comfort zone, while also creating a safe space to ask questions about yourself and the college experience that awaits you at ӣƵ.
At various times of the year such as spring and fall breaks, winter term, and summer term, road trips exploring 5-7 national parks are available. In a one-week journey, you’ll tent camp your way across the western U.S. exploring the most epic landscapes on the planet. Units also available.
We live in one of the most geographically diverse regions in the world, just a few hours from breathtaking deserts, oceanscapes, and mountaintops, lakes and rivers. Day trips and one-nighters are sprinkled throughout the academic calendar for ӣƵ students as a means of inspiration, refreshing, exploration, and fun. Check here every semester for the calendar of events.
These two-night, three-day backpacking excursions primarily target high school students in advanced environmental science and biology classes looking to move their classroom outside and bring the learning experience to life! Dates are varied and flexible, and the all-inclusive experience is facilitated by professional educators from ӣƵ’s faculty and staff.
These one-day field trips into the diverse natural settings of Central California such as our mountains, tide pools, foothills and rivers are for K-8 students. ӣƵ Wilderness faculty work with educators to customize a memorable outdoor learning experience that fulfills CA State Standards, accomplishes school-site learning outcomes, and inspires their students!
In conjunction with ӣƵ Sunbird Athletics, ӣƵ Wilderness hosts a high school distance running camp in the High Sierras at Huntington Lake. A summer tradition for high school programs that are serious about improvement and having fun, this training camp will certainly be a top-tier experience for its participants.
This course is intended for outdoor workers and leaders needing their WFR certification. Why not do it in Yosemite? Dates change each year, so check here for the latest details.
ӣƵ Wilderness shares the same principles towards its community and region that the larger university does, including being an entity that seeks to serve the people we call neighbors and the place we call home. Likewise, we seek to steward understanding, healing, justice, and peace between people and with creation. We partner with like-minded regional organizations such as San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust and Sierra Foothill Conservancy to live out these principles. Find out when you can join us on these hands-on days.
