The Outdoor Education & Leadership degree program is for the student interested in careers in outdoor education, environmental education, adventure programming, or conservation. This unique program combines wilderness expeditions and outdoor skills courses with natural history and a liberal arts curriculum. The program emphasizes leadership development and experience-based education. CWC’s Alpine Science Institute offers a range of courses that use non-motorized travel (hiking, skiing, mountain biking and whitewater rafting) to visit and learn about remote wilderness areas in and around the Wyoming Rockies.
The Outdoor Education & Leadership program is a 4-semester program for the student ready for college-level courses. A student who places into pre-college math or English courses may require a preparatory semester before beginning the four-semester program. Most majors choose to live at the Alpine Science Institute (ASI) near Lander, WY. In the foothills of the Wind River Mountains, ASI offers unparalleled opportunities for reflective solitude, outdoor adventure, and study of the natural world. The student pays an equipment fee which grants access to mountain bikes, snow bikes, cross country and downhill skis, snowboards, rafts, canoes, paddleboards, climbing and camping gear.
The student has the option to spend up to one full semester taking wilderness-based courses with the Nols. Nols offers educational expeditions at remote, pristine locations in the US and abroad. To receive college credit for Nols courses, students must enroll concurrently in the appropriate corresponding course at CWC. For example, CWC students taking a Nols semester course should be enrolled in G&R-2050, G&R-2031, and EDUC-2050. For more information on Nols, visit www.nols.edu or call 1-800-710-6657.
As part of the program, there is an option to spend up to one full semester taking wilderness-based courses with the NOLS. NOLS offers these educational expeditions at remote, pristine locations in the U.S. and abroad. To receive college credit for NOLS courses, enroll concurrently in the appropriate corresponding course at CWC. For more information on NOLS offerings visit the NOLS website.
Students must choose seven (7) additional credits from the OEAC courses above or from the following list of approved courses:
| Course Number | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 1300 | Intro to Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 2022 | Petroglyphs & Primitive Art | 3 |
| ART 2145 | Digital Photography I | 3 |
| ASTR 1050 | Survey of Astronomy | 4 |
| ASTR 1070 | The Earth: Its Physical Environment | 4 |
| ATSC 2000 | Introduction to Meteorology | 4 |
| ATSC 2110 | Introduction to Climatology | 4 |
| BIOL 1010 | General Biology I | 4 |
| BIOL 1020 | Life Science | 4 |
| BIOL 2002 | Global Ecology | 3 |
| COMM 1005 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| COMM 2130 | Human Relations | 3 |
| COMM 4050 | Communication and Conflict | 3 |
| CNSL 1310 | Personal Growth Group | 1 |
| CNSL 2300 | Counseling for Helping Professional | 3 |
| CNSL 2310 | Introduction to Group Counseling | 3 |
| CNSL 2320 | Addictions Assessment | 3 |
| CNSL 2330 | Counseling Diverse Populations | 3 |
| CNSL 2340 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| EDFD 2020 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDFD 2450 | Human Life Span Development | 3 |
| EDUC 2015 | Outdoor Educator: | 1-5 |
| EDUC 2045 | Outdoor Leadership Instructor | 1-5 |
| EDUC 2050 | Outdoor Education & Leadership | 1-5 |
| ENR 1005 | Trailbuilding I | 1-3 |
| ENR 2005 | Trailbuilding 2 | 4 |
| ENR 2150 | NAI Certified Interpretive Guide | 3 |
| ENR 2425 | Mountain Environments | 4 |
| G&R 2032 | Winter Expedition: | 1-5 |
| G&R 2033 | Rock Climbing: | 1-5 |
| G&R 2034 | Water Expedition: | 1-5 |
| G&R 2050 | Environmental Ethics & Management: | 1-5 |
| GIST 2110 | Techniques in Cartography | 4 |
| GIST 2135 | Applied GPS for GIS | 3 |
| GIST 2310 | Intro to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| GEOL 1070 | The Earth: Its Physical Environment | 4 |
| GEOL 1100 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 1200 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 1470 | Environmental Geology | 4 |
| HIST 1270 | Indians of the Wind River | 3 |
| HLED 2015 | Wilderness EMT | 9 |
| NAIS 1005 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| NAIS 1350 | American Indians in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| NAIS 2000 | Indians of the Wind River | 3 |
| NAIS 2290 | History of North American Indians | 3 |
| OEAC 1400 | Avalanche Level 1 | 1 |
| OEAC 2020 | Mountaineering: | 1-5 |
| OEAC 2030 | Wilderness Backpacking: | 1-5 |
| OEAC 2031 | Combined Expeditions: | 1-5 |
| OEAC 2400 | Avalanche Level 2 | 2 |
| ORTM 1100 | Bicycle Mechanic | 3 |
| ORTM 2100 | Mountain Bike Skills Instructor 1 | 2 |
| PSYC 1250 | Human Potential Seminar | 1 |
| PSYC 2210 | Drugs and Behavior | 3 |
| ZOO 1200 | Human Biology | 3 |
| ZOO 2015 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
CWC Outdoor Education enjoys a truly world class location, adjoining the nation’s first national forest. We are a 2-hour drive to Jackson Hole, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone National Parks. Just out the back door, Sinks Canyon State Park is a stunning outdoor playground which serves as a gateway to the Wind River Mountains. Sinks is home to Limestone, Sandstone, and Granite rock climbing, a cave system, mountain bike and ski trails, and some of the best fly-fishing in the country.
Sinks Canyon conveniently borders both the sub-alpine and high desert ecosystems where elk, pronghorns, cougars, and coyotes can be spotted. At CWC our students develop leadership and outdoor adventure skills with wilderness as a key part of their college experience.
Outdoor Program Leadership
Take the next step in your outdoor leadership journey. This 8-semester program offers students an administrative perspective of the outdoor recreation service industry that includes learning, training, and assessment of leadership and program management skills. The program is especially appropriate for students wishing to: start their own outdoor-related small business, manage an outdoor recreation or education program, or build a career in leadership of parks, recreation, tourism, or natural resource management.
Darran Wells is passionate about all kinds of outdoor activities – hiking, climbing, caving, and skiing, but mountain biking is a sport he dedicates most of his free time to.
Stacy Tostrup Wells has been teaching professionally in the outdoors for more than 20 years.
Instructor of GIS and Expedition Science
Mara teaches GIS, environmental science and geography, and she helps facilitate and teach summer backcountry research expeditions.
2660 Peck Avenue
Riverton, WY 82501
(307) 855-2000
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120 Enterprise Blvd.
Lander, WY 82520
(307) 332-3394
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44 Central Wyoming College Way, Lander, WY 82520
(307) 332-3202
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Frank B. Wise Business Center, 3 Ethete Rd.
Fort Washakie, WY 83514
240 S. Glenwood St #124, P.O. Box 4795
Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 733-7425
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302 W. Ramshorn
P.O. Box 175
Dubois, WY 82513
(307) 455-2625
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