Trips & Classes

We offer diverse outdoor trips and classes designed to inspire adventure and connect you with nature. Whether you're a seasoned outdoor enthusiast or a beginner looking to try something new, our program has something for everyone.

Led by our outdoor leaders, embark on unforgettable journeys that allow you to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature while challenging yourself physically and mentally. From an early morning hike or overnight camping trip to multi-day climbing expeditions, our trips provide unique and memorable outdoor experiences.

Classes by Location

Mountain Campus

du-kennedy-mountain-campus

First Ascent

An exclusive experience only for First Year Students.

Most weekends through the fall quarter 2024

Hybrid Wilderness First Responder

Mar. 25 - Mar. 29, 2025

8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Head up to KMC over Spring Break Inter-term for 5 days of living and learning about wilderness medicine! This hybrid Wilderness Frist Responder consist of 30 hours of pre-course virtual content, supporting 50 hours of in-person learning to receive a nationally recognized certification from our partners, Desert Mountain Medicine!

City Campus

Ski Bus #1

Jan. 18, 2025

6:00 AM - 6:00 PM

In partnership with SUSCOM, the Outdoor Experience is hosting 5 Ski Busses this Winter Quarter to bring 糖心传媒s up to our world-class winter terrain in a safe, sustainable, and affordable manor! Breakfast included!

Ski Bus #2

Feb. 1, 2025

6:00 AM - 6:00 PM

We will be heading up to one IKON and one EPIC resort area - more info coming soon!

Ski Bus #3

Feb. 15, 2025

6:00 AM - 6:00 PM

We will be heading up to one IKON and one EPIC resort area - more info coming soon!

Ski Bus #4

March 1, 2025

6:00 AM - 6:00 PM

In partnership with SUSCOM, the Outdoor Experience is hosting 5 Ski Busses this Winter Quarter to bring 糖心传媒s up to our world-class winter terrain in a safe, sustainable, and affordable manor! Breakfast included!

Ski Bus #5

March 8, 2025

6:00 AM - 6:00 PM

In partnership with SUSCOM, the Outdoor Experience is hosting 5 Ski Busses this Winter Quarter to bring 糖心传媒s up to our world-class winter terrain in a safe, sustainable, and affordable manor! Breakfast included!

Intro to Ice Climbing @ Lake City

Feb. 26 & March. 5, 2025

6:00 - 8:00 PM

Have you been ice climbing curious (ICC) and wondering how the heck one goes about climbing an ephemeral frozen waterfall? Join the Outdoor Experience team as we learn about ice climbing gear and technique indoors and then take these new skills down to the world famous Lake City Ice Park in the beautiful San Juan Mountain Range for a long weekend of ice climbing, learning, and community! We will be staying in a small communal lodge to warm up during both evenings, and ice climbing all day!

Intro to Climbing: Basic Knots and Anchors

Jan. 31, 2025

1:00 - 3:30 PM

This introductory sport climbing anchor building course will introduce several best practices and over-arching principles for anchor building. This course will include hands-on practice and instruction of several anchoring techniques with two-bolt sport anchors.

Intro To Climbing: Belay Techniques

Feb. 11 & Feb. 13, 2025

4:00 - 6:00 PM

Learn the basics of indoor roped climbing! We will cover the management of a top rope belay, equipment, basic knots, Safety checks, and commands. These skills can allow you to pass a belay exam in any climbing gym in the front range! We will also cover basic climbing movement technique to start your climbing career off on the right foot!

Outdoor Leadership Lab Info Session #1

Jan. 15, 2025

6:00 - 7:00 PM

Drop by our info session to learn more about the Outdoor Experience's Outdoor Leadership Lab taking place in the Spring Quarter of 2025! The Outdoor Leadership Lab will train leaders to move confidently, manage people and tasks, and employ multiple methods for making decisions with outdoor environments. Course work will employ scenario-based learning, reflection, and hands-on learning utilizing the outdoor amenities at the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus and beyond.听

Outdoor leadership Lab Info Session #2

Feb. 6, 2025

6:00 - 7:00 PM

Drop by our info session to learn more about the Outdoor Experience's Outdoor Leadership Lab taking place in the Spring Quarter of 2025! The Outdoor Leadership Lab will train leaders to move confidently, manage people and tasks, and employ multiple methods for making decisions with outdoor environments. Course work will employ scenario-based learning, reflection, and hands-on learning utilizing the outdoor amenities at the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus and beyond.听

Wilderness First Aid

Feb. 22 & Feb. 23, 2025

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Our Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course partners with Desert Mountain Medicine to deliver an interactive program designed for the outdoor enthusiast, trip leader, raft guide, or land agency field staff who want more than what an urban first aid course provides. The WFA is a great introduction to wilderness medicine and basic life support skills. This training focuses on prevention, assessment, and treatment of environmental illnesses, recognizing and stabilizing life threats caused by trauma, and calling for a rescue in the event of a wilderness emergency.

Off Campus

Intro to Ice Climbing @ Lake City

Mar. 21 & Mar. 23, 2025

6:00 - 8:00 PM

Have you been ice climbing curious (ICC) and wondering how the heck one goes about climbing an ephemeral frozen waterfall? Join the Outdoor Experience team as we learn about ice climbing gear and technique indoors and then take these new skills down to the world famous Lake City Ice Park in the beautiful San Juan Mountain Range for a long weekend of ice climbing, learning, and community! We will be staying in a small communal lodge to warm up during both evenings, and ice climbing all day!

rock climber on cliff

Skill Building & Adventure

Looking to learn or improve your outdoor skills? Our classes cover everything from wilderness survival to kayaking, accommodating all skill levels and are led by expert instructors. Explore, learn, and excel in various outdoor disciplines with us!

The Outdoor Experience even goes beyond adventure and skills鈥攊t's about nurturing a love for the environment. We emphasize sustainability and Leave No Trace principles to minimize our impact, aiming to inspire lifelong environmental enjoyment and protection leaders through our trips and classes.

trees and mountains with B&W halftone filter

Interested in Working with Us?

Work with the Kennedy Mountain Campus team as a camp counselor, outdoor activity facilitator, maintenance tech, operations associate, or more!

Apply Today

Wilderness Medicine

Our Wilderness Medicine program is taught in-house in partnership with a local Leadville-based provider, Desert Mountain Medicine (DMM) to deliver, innovative, regularly updated, and dynamic wilderness medicine classes and courses. Our program offers a range of courses designed to empower individuals with the confidence and competence to respond effectively in remote and wild environments.

We believe in experiential learning and provide opportunities for participants to apply their skills in simulated wilderness scenarios. We also emphasize the importance of prevention, risk assessment, and environmental stewardship, ensuring that participants develop a well-rounded understanding of wilderness medicine.

Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast, a professional guide, a wilderness explorer, or a medical professional seeking to expand your expertise, our Wilderness Medicine Program has a course that suits your needs. Our courses are recognized and respected by outdoor organizations, employers, and medical institutions, providing you with a valuable certification that can enhance your career opportunities.

Join us and become part of a community of individuals dedicated to promoting safety and well-being in the wilderness. Acquire the knowledge, skills, and confidence to handle medical emergencies in remote and challenging environments. Embrace the spirit of adventure while prioritizing the safety and care of yourself and others!

students preparing for hands on training in the snow
  • Wilderness First Aid

    Upcoming Course: November 16 & November 17, 2024

    Gain life-saving skills with our Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course, designed for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals. Partnering with Desert Mountain Medicine, you can develop skills in prevention, assessment, and treatment of environmental illnesses and trauma, beyond a typical urban first aid course. This course consists of 16 hours of hands-on scenarios and lectures and successful completion will result in a 3-year certification, a CPR Certification, and Wilderness Anaphylaxis Training (WAT).

    Price: $150 | Location: Coors Fitness Center, DU City Campus | Schedule: 2 days, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM


  • Hybrid Wilderness First Responder

    Upcoming Course: COMING SOON

    Our Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course blends 30 hours of self-paced online learning with 50 hours of in-person, hands-on outdoor training over five days. This hybrid course prepares you for real-world scenarios with comprehensive wilderness first responder skills.

    Perfect for self-motivated individuals, the online section is available through CANVAS to course participants approximately 1 month before the practical section is to begin. The practical section consists of drills, skill stations, scenarios, and discussions with the same instructor team that supports the online section.

    Price: TBD | Location: Hybrid | Schedule: 30-hours Self-Paced; 50-hours TBD

Outdoor Leadership Lab

student group convening for lunch at the summit


  • Outdoor Leadership Lab

    Modality: Two 8-hour days at KMC or Lectures at City Campus

    Areas of Focus:

    • Problem Solving and Decision Making in Risky Situations
    • Understanding Group Dynamics
    • Emotional Intelligence for Leaders
    • Reflection and Mindfulness
    • Situational Leadership
    • Facilitation & Mentorship
    • Outdoor Exp. Resume (portfolio)

Leave No Trace

panoramic mountain landscape


  • Awareness Class

    Modality: One 2-hour class on Leave No Trace Ethics and applicable environments

  • Trainer Class

    Modality: One 16-hour course designed to equip you with tools to instruct your own Awareness Classes and become a leader for leaving no trace.

Obtaining certification through our program not only validates your proficiency in outdoor skills but also demonstrates your commitment to safety, professionalism, and ethical practices. It opens doors to new opportunities, such as employment in outdoor education, guiding, adventure tourism, or simply enriching your personal outdoor experiences.

Join us and embark on a transformative journey that will elevate your outdoor abilities and open up a world of possibilities. Take the first step toward becoming a certified outdoor enthusiast or professional by enrolling today. Our dedicated team is here to support you every step of the way. Let's embark on this adventure together and unlock your full potential in the great outdoors!

American Mountain Guides Association logo

American Mountain Guides Association supports our management standards

Desert Mountain Medicine logo

Desert Mountain Medicine informs our wilderness first aid practice