Excursions
2026 June Trip
San Juan Kayaking
Celebrate completing Spring quarter by joining the Outdoor Center on a 5-day kayak adventure through the San Juan islands. We will travel by kayak, island hopping throughout the stunning archipelago. Paddle alongside eagles, seals, otter’s porpoises and hopefully some whales. We will start and finish our voyage on Lopez Island hopefully visiting/camping on Blind, Jones and Turn Islands.
Click here to sign-up!
About Excursions
The Outdoor Center (OC) offers quarterly Excursions that allow for WWU Students to experience fun, accessible, and affordable ways for them to get outside and connect with themselves and others. OC Excursions center diverse practices so expect to engage in activities that refine your outdoor skills and environmental practices, enrich the academic experience, and promoting life-long learning!
All OC Excursions are created and led by student trip leaders who are certified and educated in safe & smart outdoor recreation practices. This also means that we love to provide a variety of trips based on what our trip leaders are passionate about passing on to students - no two quarters will be the same!
Spring 2026 Excursions
Rounds & Sign-Ups
Round 1 Opens: Tuesday, March 31st at 5 PM
Round 2 Opens: Monday, April 20th at 5 PM
Click here to Sign-Up!
Spring 2026 Excursion List
(Round 1) Interurban Trail Exploration by Bike ($5)
Wed, May 6th, 3 - 6 PM
Interested in a cycling adventure that blends fitness, sightseeing and community? Join the Outdoor Center for an Interurban Trail bike ride!
Essential Eligibility: Ability to ride a bike and willingness to follow directions and try biking on uneven terrain, on and off pavement.
- Difficulty Level: Beginner
(Round 1) Skagit River Rafting #1 ($30)
Sat, April 19th [ALL DAY]
Required pre-trip meeting: Tue, April 14th, 5 - 7 PM
This rafting trip on the beautiful Skagit River offers an exciting adventure through scenic landscapes, perfect for experiencing nature and engaging in teamwork!
Essential Eligibility: Ability to swim, comfortability sitting on a raft for extended periods of time in potentially cold and rainy conditions.
- Difficulty Level: Beginner
(Round 1) Rock Climbing at Erie ($30)
Sat, May 9th [ALL DAY]
Required pre-trip meeting: Tue, May 5th, 5 - 7 PM
Scale new heights with the Outdoor Center and join us for a beginner level rock climbing adventure at Mt. Erie. All skill levels are welcome!
Essential Eligibility: Ability to follow instruction, operate within safety guidelines, and willingness to engage in rock climbing through supporting your body on rock with the use of your limbs.
- Difficulty Level: Beginner
(Round 2) Skagit River Rafting #2 ($30)
Sat, May 10th [ALL DAY]
Required pre-trip meeting: Tue, May 5th, 5 - 7 PM (VU 567)
This rafting trip on the beautiful Skagit River offers an exciting adventure through scenic landscapes, perfect for experiencing nature and engaging in teamwork!
Essential Eligibility: Ability to swim, comfortability sitting on a raft for extended periods of time in potentially cold and rainy conditions.
- Difficulty Level: Beginner
(Round 2) Sea Kayak Day Trip ($30)
Sat, May 16th, [ALL DAY]
Required pre-trip meeting: Tue, May 12th, 5 - 7 PM
Interested in beginner level Sea Kayaking? The Outdoor Center offers this experience along the Chuckanut Mountain coastline from Larabee State Parks' boat launch all the way to Clayton Beach!
Essential Eligibility: Basic swimming abilities and the ability to sit in a kayak for extended periods of time while paddling across open water. Ability to follow instruction and operate within safety guidelines.
- Difficulty Level: Beginner
(Round 2) Mountain Biking Half Day #1 ($15)
Sun, May 17th, 8 AM - 1 PM
No pre-trip meeting
Join the Outdoor Center for a beginner level, half-day trip of mountain biking at Galbraith Mountain!
Essential Eligibility: Ability to ride a bike and willingness to try biking on uneven terrain, and off pavement.
- Difficulty Level: Beginner
(Round 2) Mountain Biking Half Day #1 ($15)
Sun, May 17th, 1 - 6 PM
No pre-trip meeting
Join the Outdoor Center for a beginner level, half-day trip of mountain biking at Galbraith Mountain!
Essential Eligibility: Ability to ride a bike and willingness to try biking on uneven terrain, and off pavement.
- Difficulty Level: Beginner
(Round 2) Backpacking #1 ($60)
Sat, April 11 - Sun April 12
Required pre-trip meeting: Tue, April 7th, 5 - 7 PM
Embark on an unforgettable Backpacking adventure and experience the natural beauty of Washington State as we explore the wilderness!
Essential Eligibility: Ability to travel multiple miles with a 20+lb pack over an uneven and steep dirt trail. Willingness to follow instruction and engage in good group backcountry camping practices, involving sleeping on a pad on the ground.
- Difficulty Level: Beginner
(Round 2) Backpacking #2 ($60)
Sat, May 2nd - Sun May 3rd
Required pre-trip meeting: Tue, April 28th, 5 - 7 PM
Embark on an unforgettable Backpacking adventure and experience the natural beauty of Washington State as we explore the wilderness!
Essential Eligibility: Ability to travel multiple miles with a 20+ lb pack over an uneven and steep dirt trail. Willingness to follow instruction and engage in good group backcountry camping practices, involving sleeping on a pad on the ground.
- Difficulty Level: Beginner
(Round 2) Rock Climbing at Vantage ($75)
Sat, May 23rd - Mon May 25th
Required pre-trip meeting: Tue, May 19th, 5 - 7 PM
If you're interested in a real adventure, come alongside the Outdoor Center for a 3-day long Excursion climbing and exploring Vantage in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge!
Essential Eligibility: Ability to follow instruction, operate within safety guidelines, and willingness to engage in rock climbing through supporting your body on rock with the use of your limbs. Willingness to sleep on a pad on the ground while camping overnight.
- Difficulty Level: Beginner
(Round 2) Sea Kayak Overnight ($60)
Sat, May 30th - Sun May 31st
Required pre-trip meeting: Tue, May 26th, 5 - 7 PM
An overnight kayaking trip from the Lummi Ferry Terminal to the breathtaking Lummi Island Campsite on the Eastern shoreline of Lummi Island.
Essential Eligibility: Basic swimming abilities and the ability to sit in a kayak for extended periods of time while paddling across open water. Ability to follow instruction and operate within safety guidelines.
- Difficulty Level: Beginner
More About Excursions
The Outdoor Center recognizes that the cost of Trips will be a barrier to some students who are interested in participating in our trips and events. To try and reduce those barriers, 3 spots on each trip will be reserved for students who receive Federal Student/Financial Aid. Our trips in quarter have no charge, our longer trips over intersessions have a reduced rate. Please fill out the form below to have the cost of your trip waived or reduced.
Outdoor Center Excursion Fee Waiver Form
Spots will be reserved the first 2 weeks of the quarter and then opened to the general student body if not filled.
For disability accommodations, questions, or requests please email our Outdoor Center Excursions Co-coordinators, Alex or Dieder, or call the Outdoor Center at least two weeks before the trip.
Informed consent is critical, and we want you to be aware of the activity you are signing up for. Each trip has a difficulty level listed in the description: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. Below you will find a detailed description of what that entails.
Beginner
Beginner Excursions cater to those individuals who are interested in trying something new! Generally, these introductory experiences are designed to be more laid back and not too strenuous. Most importantly they are created for those who do not have prior experience in the activity. Activities may range from educational experiences to artistic activities and anything in between. These excursions are great if you are looking to learn new skills, gain exposure to new activities, foster community, and have a great time outside!
Intermediate
Intermediate Excursions are a great option for those who would like to explore new challenges and build upon past skills. If you are looking to explore more difficult trails or embark on longer, more strenuous adventures, this activity category is for you! These excursions are designed to safely instruct participants on more technical skills, and to dive deeper into the activity at hand. Outings often include less introductory material, but still ensure that participants are fully informed on the activity at hand! These are a great option if you are looking to step outside of your comfort zone, continue to explore these awesome activities, and meet new people!
Advanced
Advanced Excursions are designed to build upon prior experience and solidify technical skills in outdoor recreation. Participants must have experience in the associated activity and feel competent, but still open to growth in their individual skill sets. Designed to explore more challenging recreational activities, expect a higher level of potential difficulty on these Excursions. These are great if you are looking to build upon past experiences and use old skills in new ways. Come explore new aspects of your favorite activities, and of course have a great (and safe) time!
FAQ's
Please limit your sign-up for an Excursion to one trip per quarter to allow other students the opportunity to sign-up for a desired trip.
Once a trip is full you may register for our waitlist, which can be found at the bottom of the trip sign-up link. If a spot becomes available on a trip you will receive a text from the Outdoor Center.
You will receive a text from the Outdoor Center if a trip becomes available. You must respond to that text within 1 hour to confirm your spot. You will then need to come into the Outdoor Center to complete trip registration.
Check our refund policies below.
Nope! Please have your friend sign up individually.
Refund Policy
Read the policies below to determine if you are eligible for a refund.
If you are, then you will need to come in person to the Outdoor Center (VU 150) during the hours we are open in order to process the refund.
Yes.
No.
Outdoor recreation is a extremely dynamic and occasionally, we need to change the location or format of a trip due to safety concerns (concerns are typically caused by weather or other environmental factors). We do not offer refunds when this occurs.
