Wilderness Trips
Friendships. Adventure. Challenge. Course Credit.
Kick off your Calvin education with a Wilderness Trip! You'll be part of a small group of other new students, and explore your own limits, forge new friendships, and develop a new awareness of your Creator.
We welcome students of all experience, fitness, and skill levels!
- Navigate new outdoor challenges with the help of caring and well-trained leaders
- Set goals for your first year at Calvin
- Enjoy the emotional, physical, and spiritual rewards of completing a vigorous adventure
Why Sign Up for a Wilderness Trip?
Build new friendships
Seek adventure in the outdoors
Experience personal growth
Receive a credit exemption

Wilderness Trip Options
Register for a Wilderness Trip
Register soon! Space on these trips are on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Be admitted to Calvin and pay your enrollment deposit
- Sign up in Step 5 of the checklist in your New Student Portal
If the trip you want is full, please sign up for another trip and contact Jessica Stehouwer to ask about a waitlist.
Packing lists
For questions about Wilderness Trips, please contact Jessica Stehouwer: orientation@calvin.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wilderness Trips
It is a great idea to start moving your body regularly before your trip as you will be active throughout the week. We also encourage you to look at the packing list early and start gathering the gear you will need.
Packing lists linked above.
It’s true. We’ve found that without phones, students have better capacity to connect with nature and enjoy what we are doing together. Students have told us they enjoyed not having their phones for a week and were grateful being able to disconnect!
Note: Trip leaders will have phones and contact information in cases of emergency.
Yes, we can accommodate special diets. For us to be able to properly accommodate your dietary restrictions, we need to know what they are. It is important to indicate any food preferences/allergies/intolerances on the health form you will receive. If you have any other dietary concerns, please contact Jessica Stehouwer.
For your safety, any food allergies MUST be listed on your health form. Leaders and staff leave for training with all food packed up and ready to go one- to two-weeks before participants arrive. We need to know about any food allergies before this time so we can plan accordingly.
However, please do not let a food allergy alter your decision to participate in a trip. Cooking in the backcountry and adjusting for food allergies is quite easy. Every year, trip leaders accommodate participants with peanut allergies, tree nut allergies, gluten allergies, dairy allergies, lactose intolerance, etc.
Have More Questions? Contact Us.
