Wilderness Based Orientation Scholarship

Wilderness Based Orientation (WBO) is an opportunity for you to meet other new students, make meaningful connections, build friendships and get to know the incredible recreational opportunities that Gunnison has to offer before you begin your first semester at Western.

To be eligible for a WBO Scholarship, you must be an incoming freshman or a transfer student.

All WBO courses take place in August. To register, students must create an account using their personal email and a unique password through Fusion once registration opens on June 3, 2024 at 10am MST. Students must be registered for classes before they can register for WBO courses.

With WBO, you will be part of a group discovering what the great outdoors and the Colorado backcountry have to offer. Each WBO course is led by qualified student instructors who will give you instruction on both the adventurous activities and your upcoming college experience.

All WBO trips are five days long. Participants may move into on-campus housing a day before their trip departs. WBO trips are individually priced, ranging between $650 to $950. These prices are based on extra travel, permitting, equipment needs and working with outside companies, like Adrift Adventures, to coordinate the trips.

Financial assistance for students is available through the​ WBO Scholarship.
WBO Scholarship Applications will be rated on Content/Effort, Structure, Language such as Grammar and Mechanics, and Financial Need. Please take this into consideration before submitting your application.
All recipients will be notified by July 5th, 2024 and must accept their scholarship by July 12, 2024.

Questions?
Please feel free to contact the WBO office:
970.943.2290 | wbo@western.edu

Award
Varies
Deadline
06/18/2024
Supplemental Questions
  1. Are you registered to attend classes in the fall at Western?
  2. Phone Number
  3. What WBO course are you enrolled in?
  4. What is your intended or declared program of study or academic interest?
  5. Please describe your reason for participating in WBO and why you believe it will be an impactful experience. Please be as specific as possible.
  6. Please describe your academic goals here at Western and share activities you participate in and briefly describe your experience as a leader.
  7. Please describe your financial need for participation in WBO. You may also describe any challenges or barriers you have faced when trying to enter, grow and/or sustain participation in outdoor spaces.
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