Outdoor Education
The College Outdoors program takes students to the mountains, rivers, deserts, and coasts of the Pacific Northwest.
From the majesty of Mount Hood to the crystal clear waters of Waldo Lake, Lewis & Clark students get to explore all the natural beauty the Pacific Northwest has to offer through the College Outdoors program.
For more than 30 years, College Outdoors has introduced students to amazing locations in Oregon and beyond. Our program, one of the largest of any similarly sized college in the country, takes students rafting, cross-country skiing, backpacking, and on beach explorations. Most of the getaways are run by student staff, all of who started out as volunteers for the program. The trips provide leadership opportunities, inspire group communication, build community, and enhance decision-making skills.
A few years ago we also started offering New Student Trips as part of our New Student Orientation. New Student Trips are designed to help incoming students, whether they are arriving from high school or transferring from another college, transition to life at Lewis & Clark. The trips incorporate programs designed to inspire group communication and spark discussion on issues facing college students. This fall, students ventured out on weeklong explorations to the Wallowa Mountains and Waldo Lake, as well as two “Beyond Portlandia” workshops focusing on economic justice and environmental action.
College Outdoors Facts
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Total trips this fall: 65
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More than 150 weekend opportunities for student leaders
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Over 500 students participate every semester
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Over $40,000 given out in trip scholarships this fall, including New Student Trips during orientation
