Signature Program
Chart your path, seek adventure, and expand your horison with our W.I.L.D. Outdoors Program
W.I.L.D. — Wilderness Instruction and Leadership Development — is Webb’s outdoor program that provides every student an opportunity to gain valuable leadership skills, build their self-reliance, and immerse themselves in nature through annual class trips, weekend adventures, and signature experiences.
Chart Your Path
The W.I.L.D. program is one of Webb’s longest standing programs guiding students towards self-reliance and personal discovery for over 50 years. Profound outdoor experiences among fellow students builds leadership skills, teamwork, and encourages community-based decision-making. W.I.L.D. provides an opportunity for students to break free from distraction and experience learning that extends beyond walls and screens.
Signature Trips
Each year W.I.L.D. takes a few signature trips which have become traditions at Webb. These trips include a Thanksgiving backpacking trip, Winter Freeze — a backpacking trip over winter break, and Senior Survival — a week-long experience for seniors just before graduation.
Annual Class Trips
At the beginning of each academic year classes take a grade-level trip that is focused on building relationships, team-building, and connection. These trips vary in length depending on the grade level and are required.
Weekend, Dorm, and Break Trips
W.I.L.D. offers around 25 trips each year that include day, weekend, and trips during Webb’s breaks. Trips are open to the whole student body, unless otherwise specified. Boarding students also have the opportunity to go on hikes and day trips with their dorm.
On-Campus Facilities
We maximize our 150-acre campus for skill-based learning. Our on-campus facilties include a high and low ropes course, climbing wall, and trail room.
Gear for Every Student
We are committed to W.I.L.D. being accessible for every student on our campus. Our trail room is stocked with all the outdoor gear student’s need, at no additional cost, to participate in any W.I.L.D. trip.
Gain Leadership and Wilderness Skills in W.I.L.D. Class
Students who want to deepen their knowledge with the outdoors have the opportunity to incorporate W.I.L.D. into their academic schedule.
This class focuses on teaching survival and leadership skills while also equipping students with knowledge in trip planning.
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Meet your guide,
Joe Griggs '05
Serving as Outdoor Program Director, Joe Griggs ’05 began his passion for outdoor activities as a Webb student. Building on what he learned through the program, he backpacked 1,450 miles of the Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Connecticut, the summer between his junior and senior year of Webb. His interest continued to increase, serving for four years as a member of the Mountaineering staff at Camp Mondamin in North Carolina during his summers as a student at Centre College, where he received his B.S. degree and earned his Wilderness First Responder certification. He would go on to complete the entire 2,158 miles of the Appalachian Trail and for the past ten years, he has lived on campus with his wife and three children, leading more than 150 trips for the program to date.
