Outdoorsy colleges!!!!!!

College Search & Lists
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  1. For most students, cross off June/July/August, since most won't be on campus.
    Consider the weather in autumn, winter, spring only, when looking at colleges.
  2. What are your favorite activities you just won't live without?
  3. How much time away from studies will you set aside for outdoor activities? Is it one hour during the day right beside campus, or will it be a full-day on Saturday, or both? On one hand, you have hiking, which may be very accessible and easy to do in an hour. On the other end is skiing, which would take up at least a morning or evening (even changing takes time) and probably a full Saturday, unless your campus is very close to the slopes. If your campus is very close to the slopes how good are the slopes?

Put the intersection of the above three items together. What 9 month climate/elevation/geography is most suitable for your favorite outdoor activities and how much time will you have to fit them in? That should quickly narrow down your choices.

At the 5 Cs, they do have a ski/beach day where they bus kids to accomplish both in the same day, but that is not going to happen at most colleges.

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The University of Utah also has an Outdoor Leadership Floor. I believe in one of the dorms. Great program. Just google it. Also, if considering the U of U, make sure you send in the housing application with the housing deposit (not much) a soon as you get it. It is first come, first serve, and they do run out of freshman dorm space early!

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UCSC: surfing, hiking, canoing, backpacking
CU Boulder
UVM
Montana State: an hour from Yellowstone!
University of Oregon

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UC Davis might be worth a look. You can go rafting on the American River or scoot up to Tahoe for skiing. Lots of rock climbing all over. The Trinity Alps are a few hours away. Desolation Wilderness is great for backpacking. So much to do and the students are outdoorsy. (Agreed that Santa Clara isn’t really in an outdoorsy spot.)