Ethan Walker
Wyoming Catholic College (WCC) is a private Catholic college in Lander, Wyoming, United States. It is the only Catholic college or university in the state. The college is known for its extensive outdoor education program, which includes a mandatory 21-day backpacking trip for all first-year students, as well as various outdoor activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, and horseback riding. In addition to its academic curriculum, WCC places a strong emphasis on the 'mind, body, and spirit'. The college has a unique policy prohibiting students from using mobile devices on campus, which has received both positive and controversial responses. As of 2020, the college had approximately 171 students enrolled.
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What You'll Learn
Student body size: 171 students
Wyoming Catholic College (WCC) is a private Catholic college in Lander, Wyoming, United States. It is the only Catholic college or university in the state. The college has a total of 171 students enrolled.
The college places a strong emphasis on outdoor education and experiential learning. All freshmen are required to participate in a 21-day backpacking trip in the Rocky Mountains as part of the Outdoor Leadership Program (OLP). Throughout their time at WCC, students also take part in various outdoor activities such as backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, skiing, and equestrian programs. The college's unique approach to education extends beyond the classroom, fostering a "mind, body, and spirit" philosophy.
The student body at WCC is diverse, with students from 40 states and international students from Canada, Central America, Europe, and Africa. The average age of the students is 20.05 years, with 58.66% of the students falling in the 18-20 age group and 36.31% aged 21 and over. The student population primarily comprises those from homeschooling backgrounds (64.25%), followed by Catholic/private schools (24.58%), and public/charter schools (11.17%).
The college has a unique policy regarding the use of mobile devices and technology. Students are prohibited from using mobile phones on campus and must surrender them to the college. Laptops are not permitted in classrooms, and internet access in dorms is restricted to school email and approved websites for classwork. Despite the limitations on technology, students and educational establishments have generally positively viewed this rule as it helps "students destress and build community."
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Student demographics: 58.66% aged 18-20, 36.31% over 21, 64.25% homeschooled
Wyoming Catholic College (WCC) is a private Catholic college in Lander, Wyoming, United States. It is the only Catholic college or university in the state. The college has a unique focus on 'mind, body, and spirit' and is known for its extensive outdoor education program. All freshmen students are required to complete a 21-day backpacking trip in the Rocky Mountains and engage in other outdoor activities, such as outdoor leadership expeditions, while studying a rigorous academic curriculum.
The student demographics at Wyoming Catholic College reflect a diverse range of ages and educational backgrounds. As of 2024, the college had an average age of 20.05 years. The majority of students, 58.66%, were aged between 18 and 20, while 36.31% were 21 or older, and 5.03% were under 18.
In terms of prior education, 64.25% of the students were homeschooled, 24.58% attended Catholic or private schools, and 11.17% came from public or charter schools. The average high school GPA of the student body was 3.78. The college also attracts students from a wide geographical area, including 40 states, 1 Canadian province, 1 Central American country, 1 European country, and 1 African country.
The total number of students at Wyoming Catholic College has not been explicitly stated, but one source from 2020 mentions that the college has 171 students. The college has a small and tight-knit community, which contributes to its unique character and educational experience.
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Student life: no phones, laptops in class, and limited internet
Wyoming Catholic College (WCC) is a private Catholic college in Lander, Wyoming, United States. It is the only Catholic college or university in the state. The college is located in the Rocky Mountains and has two campuses in the downtown area. The college has a unique focus on the 'mind, body, and spirit', with an extensive outdoor education program alongside its liberal arts classroom program.
Freshmen at WCC begin their four-year educational journey with a three-week backpacking trip in the Rocky Mountains, which the college considers an "orientation program". Throughout their time at WCC, students participate in at least two separate "outdoor weeks" or short courses in outdoor skills held over spring and fall break. Courses include backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, horse packing, climbing, mountain biking, mountaineering, skiing, and whitewater rafting. All students also take part in the equestrian program and are certified in Wilderness First Aid.
Student life at WCC is notably different from that of other colleges. Students are prohibited from using mobile devices, including smartphones, on campus and must surrender them to the college. Laptops are also not permitted in class, and internet access in dorms is limited to school email and approved websites needed for classwork. These policies have been suspended at times, for example during the fall 2019 semester when the campus experienced problems with landline phone and internet connections. However, both students and educational establishments have often had positive things to say regarding the limitation of technology.
Despite the college's emphasis on the outdoors, most learning takes place in academic buildings in downtown Lander. The college has a unique educational approach, focusing on great books and the outdoors, with no textbooks. The college's founding and institutional vision, written by Dr. Robert Carlson, was officially adopted by the Board of Directors in 2005.
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Curriculum: classical western subjects, outdoor leadership
Wyoming Catholic College (WCC) is a private Catholic college in Lander, Wyoming, United States. It is the only Catholic college or university in the state. The college is located in the Rocky Mountains and is known for its extensive outdoor education program and classical Western curriculum. The college places a unique emphasis on the outdoors, with all freshmen required to complete a 21-day backpacking trip in the Rocky Mountains and participate in other outdoor activities throughout their four years. This program is known as the Outdoor Leadership Program (OLP).
The curriculum at WCC is designed to provide a general liberal arts education through the study of classical Western subjects. The college offers a great books curriculum, where students engage with the original works of influential thinkers and writers. This approach allows for a cohesive and structured learning experience, where each course builds upon the knowledge gained in previous years. The curriculum covers a range of subjects, including humanities, theology, philosophy, math/science, fine arts, Latin, trivium, and leadership.
The Outdoor Leadership Program at WCC complements the classical Western curriculum by providing students with experiential learning opportunities in the outdoors. In addition to the backpacking trip, students participate in at least two separate "outdoor weeks" or short courses in outdoor skills during the spring and fall breaks. These courses cover a variety of outdoor activities such as backpacking, canoeing, sea kayaking, canyoneering, fishing, horse packing, ice climbing, mountain biking, mountaineering, rock climbing, skiing, and whitewater rafting. All students also take part in the equestrian program and are certified in Wilderness First Aid, with the opportunity to become certified Wilderness First Responders.
The combination of classical Western studies and outdoor leadership in WCC's curriculum provides students with a well-rounded education that focuses on both intellectual growth and practical, hands-on experiences. The college's unique approach to education aims to develop students' leadership skills, resilience, and connection to the natural world, while also fostering a strong sense of community and shared values. With its emphasis on the outdoors and classical learning, WCC offers a distinctive educational experience that sets it apart from other institutions.
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Campus: two campuses, downtown Lander, Rocky Mountains
Wyoming Catholic College is located in Lander, Wyoming, in the Rocky Mountains. The college is made up of two campuses in the downtown area. The first campus consists of academic buildings, a coffee shop, a dining hall, and the outdoor program offices. The second campus, a 20-minute walk away, includes student dorms and the parish church. The college also has a Horse Barn, which is located several miles outside of Lander and hosts the college's horsemanship program.
The college's unique location in the Rocky Mountains is reflected in its curriculum, which includes a mandatory 21-day backpacking trip for all freshmen as part of their orientation program. Throughout their four years at WCC, students participate in at least two additional "outdoor weeks" or short courses in outdoor skills during spring and fall breaks. These courses cover a range of outdoor activities such as backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, skiing, and whitewater rafting.
The downtown campus of Wyoming Catholic College comprises several historic buildings in downtown Lander. The Baldwin Building, for example, houses the main reception, offices, and classrooms. The college occasionally uses the parish church for special occasions, such as graduation.
The college's second campus is located just past the end of Main Street, about a 20-minute walk from the downtown campus. This campus includes student dorms and the parish church. Students are not allowed to have cell phones on either campus and must surrender them to the college upon arrival. However, they are permitted to check out their phones when travelling out of town.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2020, 171 students are enrolled at Wyoming Catholic College.
Wyoming Catholic College is the only Catholic college in the state of Wyoming. It is known for its extensive outdoor education program, which includes a three-week backpacking trip in the Rocky Mountains for freshmen. The college also prohibits the use of mobile devices on campus.
Wyoming Catholic College is located in Lander, Wyoming, in the Rocky Mountains. The college campus consists of multiple facilities around downtown Lander, including academic buildings, a coffee shop, a dining hall, and the outdoor program offices.
