Outdoor Adventure Semester Application & Cost

No outdoor adventure experience is necessary to begin your journey! You need a passion to grow and learn.  

To apply for this experience, students must declare an Outdoor Leadership Major or Applied Minor with Academic Advising. 

Students also must contact Professor Friesen to sign the Letter of Agreement. The Letter of Agreement will be available December 10 of even years (e.g. 2022, 2024, etc.).  The Letter of Agreement is due by midnight on March 17 of odd years. The Outdoor Adventure Semester  is only offered in the fall of odd years (e.g. 2023, 2025 etc.)

All participants need to take Outdoor Leadership Theory and Practice (OL 205 & 206) and complete a Wilderness First Responder class (OL 107 or certification by NOLS, WMTC, WMA, or SOLO). 

Please see the Essential Eligibility Criteria here for more information about the requirements to participate. 

Selection Process 

Participant selection will be based on the following criteria:

  • Signed Letter of Commitment to Outdoor Adventure Semester, signed prior to March 17 of odd years
  • Declared Outdoor Leadership Major with Academic Advising or Applied Outdoor Leadership Minor
  • Completion of Outdoor Leadership Theory (OL 205 & OL 206) 
  • Completion of Wilderness First Responder Certification (WFR; OL 107) courses before registering for courses. Note: the Wilderness First Responder certification can be taken with National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Wilderness Medical Training Center (WMTC), Wilderness Medical Association (WMA) or Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities (SOLO). The certification cards must be valid prior to August 1 of the year the student is participating in the OAS. Students will not be able to participate without the WFR certification, but will still be charged the full amount if they have signed the commitment letter.
  • Meeting of Essential Eligibility Criteria

Priority will be given to students in this order:  

  • Academic class (e.g., seniors who have completed all requirements will receive first priority) 
  • The order of commitment letters signed by students who have completed all requirements. If you know you want to do this experience, it is important to sign the commitment letter early. The first commitment to payment is not due until March 1, 2023 and actual payment is not due until August 15, 2023. You can cancel your commitment with no fee by emailing phil@pacificu.edu prior to March 1, 2023.

Applicant Interviews

Applicant interviews will be held the first two weeks of February (odd years). Applicant interviews are a time to explain this experience in detail and answer questions. It is the students’ responsibility to schedule an hour with Professor Friesen. 

Next Steps

  • Applicants will be notified of their status via their Pacific University email on February 18, 2023 (of odd years). 
  • Payment will be made as part of their fall tuition payment on August 15, 2023. 
  • During Spring Advising Week, selected applicants will register for OAS courses.

canoers on Deschutes River

Outdoor Adventure Semester Cost and Payment

The cost of the Outdoor Adventure Semester is the regular tuition, plus an additional fee of $12,500. Students will not be required to pay for room and board at Pacific University during their OAS experience so approximately $8,000 can be used towards OAS. This makes the total additional cost of this experience approximately $4,500 above what the normal on-campus student would be paying. 

Contact the Office of Financial Aid about specific financial assistance, but all federal loans, scholarships, and financial aid should be available for this experience. The following expenses are included in the Outdoor Adventure Semester fee:

  • All meals, transportation between OAS locations, lodging, instruction, entry fees and permits during the 70-day experience
  • Technical and group equipment (e.g. tents, stoves, etc)
  • Professional Climbing Instructor Association Certifications for Top Rope Climbing and Sport Climbing
  • Pacific University Rafting Guide Training Certification
  • Transportation on day one from Pacific University to the starting base camp near Mazama, WA
  • Transportation from Odin Falls base camp in central Oregon back to Pacific University at the end of the experience

Payment Timeline

  • No payment is due until August 15 of the year you are participating.
  • Financial aid can be applied to the cost of the OAS (please communicate with the financial aid office early for details).
  • Your letter of commitment must be signed by February 15.
  • Once the following dates are reached you are responsible to pay the commitment amount no matter what happens on August 15th. [Note: We highly recommend that you take out travel insurance to cover this cost in case you are injured prior to the experience or some other life event occurs that does not allow you to participate.]
    • Commitment to the first payment of $2,500 is March 1.
    • Commitment to a second payment of $4,000 more occurs on May 1.
    • Commitment to the third payment of $6,000 more occurs on July 1.
    • Total payment is $12,500 due August 15.
    • Estimate out of pocket expenses for personal clothing and footwear costs estimated at an additional $800.

Essential Information for Participants

This section includes the essential information you need to know to prepare for your OAS.