Winter Break Trip Updates 2025

Save the date! December 6 – December 13.

Location: Desert Southwest USA

Next update: Registration for Winter Break Trips opened on Wednesday October 29th at 9pm EST… Register Here

*Guide to Activity Levels

• Easygoing: Relaxed style of travel. May include day hikes of 2-8 miles on varying terrain carrying a light day pack. You’ll be on your feet for much of the day and will also have opportunities to rest. You’ll be cooking your meals as a group and stay at one campsite for most of the trip. Great for folks who are new to camping or the outdoors!
• Easy-to-Moderate: Active trips that are still welcoming to people of all sorts of experience levels (no experience to advanced). You don’t need previous camping, climbing, hiking, or other experience, but should be in generally good shape. Trips may include some moving between campsites during the trip. Trips will include short hikes with some elevation change, paddling in protected waters and/or top-rope rock climbing.
• Moderate-to-Challenging: These trips are still welcome to folks without camping and/or outdoor experience! Trips typically include 3-8 hours of physical activity per day, such as paddling, hiking with overnight packs, and/or wilderness camping. For paddling trips, this may include a mix of protected and some open-water paddling. You will be moving camp every 1-2 nights.
• Challenging: These trips are for folks seeking full days of activity and a higher level of physical challenge. You will be moving camp every 1-2 nights. Hiking/backpacking may be up to 12 miles in one day and/or with greater elevation changes. Paddling trips will be primarily open-water paddling. These trips require participants to be in fit condition. Participants do not need prior experience backpacking or camping, but it is recommended to participate in some Outdoor Programs events during the term prior to the trip if you’re new to the outdoors to get a feel for our trips and events.

Additional information:

• Trip Cost: $70, due by 5pm the business day after notification of being on a trip, by cash, check, or credit.
• Once the trip starts, all transportation, camping fees, permits, food, group gear, and personal equipment will be covered by the program.
• You will be responsible for transportation to Phoenix, AZ (these costs are not included in the trip cost).
• Students flying to the meeting locations are required to meet with the Outdoor Programs Directors prior to purchasing tickets in order to purchase flights to the correct airport and during a time and day where drivers can pick you up. Further information and guidelines will be provided for students who are registered for the trips.
• The program will provide all group equipment, including activity equipment (climbing shoes/harness/helmets, PFDs/boats/paddles, et cetera), tents, stoves, and cooking equipment. Personal items including a backpack, sleeping pad, sleeping bag and clothing items (such as rain gear, warm layers, and hiking boots) can be checked out from the Gear Room at no additional cost.
• Trip itineraries below are subject to change.

Registration Information

• Registration will open on Wednesday, October 29th at 9 pm. It is first come, first serve.
• You will receive confirmation from the Outdoor Programs office of what trip you are signed up for or your position on a waiting list within a day of submitting the registration form. Please note that due to high interest, you may not end up on your first-choice trip and you may end up on a waiting list for a trip.
• Filling out the registration form does not guarantee you a spot on a trip. You will receive confirmation if you are successfully placed on a trip or on a waiting list.
• If you receive confirmation that you are on a trip, you will have until 5 pm the next day to complete the $70 payment in order to confirm your spot on the trip.
• If a spot opens on a trip, it will be offered to people on the waiting list in the order that they have registered.

Trip Itinerary: Backpacking in Grand Canyon NP

Trip Itineraries: Sedona/Northern AZ Day Hiking

Trip Itineraries: Rock Climbing in Joshua Tree NP

Trip questions can be sent to OutdoorPrograms@kzoo.edu