Class of 2025 Returns to Lander for Winter Expedition and Spring Semester

The New Year has begun, which means that it is time for one of our favorite annual events here at Wyoming Catholic: the return of the Freshman class for their week-long Winter Trip.

This Wyoming season, dismissed by some as too bleak and austere for most outdoor activities, provides our students with the perfect opportunity to enjoy yet another chapter of God’s First Book. Winter brings a certain peace and stillness with it, revealing a landscape cleansed by the whiteness and quiet of the blanketing snow. It is the perfect setting to continue the development of the imagination that is the foundation of so much of the academic life here in Lander, as well as preparing these young men and women to plan and lead winter outdoor adventures of their own, and to participate in winter field science labs.

After several days of training and preparation, the Class of 2025 (and their instructors) hit the road for Jackson, where they will spend several days hiking, cross-country skiing, and camping in the backcountry (including building their own snow shelters and constructing the justly-famous snow altars). The end of the week will find them in Pinedale for some downhill skiing with members of the College community, before their return to Lander on Saturday. Once back, they will be joined by the rest of the classes, and all will embark on the Spring Semester, which begins on January 24th.

Like the three-week Freshman Expedition that launches their academic careers at the College, the week-long Winter Trip is a rite of passage for the first-year students. Immersed in the winter environment, they find ample opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for safely enjoying winter in the mountains.

“The snow and cold of the Rocky Mountains can be intimidating for many,” says Dr. Tom Zimmer, Director of the College’s Experiential Leadership Program, “but this trip is always a wonderful opportunity for our students to confront new challenges, and to grow in virtue through overcoming those challenges. Few people spend as much time in the backcountry as our students; fewer still can claim to have spent an entire week playing in one of our wonderful Wyoming winters!”