The outdoors offers a great opportunity to explore the natural world, sometimes that means exploring it in less-than-ideal conditions. With few exceptions, WOC programs operate rain or shine. This gives us the opportunity to challenge ourselves to do hard things and advance our capacity to “survive” in the wilderness regardless of weather. Programs will be canceled if the weather makes it unsafe to recreate outside or if local ordinances limit access to trails or facilities. This can include seasonal considerations for tread impact on trails during the spring or lightning storms.

WOC programs are intended to be inclusive of all experience levels. Each program has the opportunity to “level up” based on your past experience and existing fitness levels. If you are unsure if you will be able to comfortably participate in a program due to your fitness level, we highly recommend reaching out to program staff at info@winonaoutdoorcollaborative.com to ask questions or to make requests for how the WOC can adapt the program to be inclusive of your needs.

For paddling events, the weight limit is 625 lbs. For climbing events, the weight limit is dependent upon the rope but is over 1,000 lbs, at a minimum, for the ropes the WOC utilizes.

There are no age limits for any WOC programs, however some adaptations may be necessary depending on the form of recreation. For example, school aged youth may not fit in small climbing harnesses and instead require a full body harness. For all WOC programs, any adaptations will be listed on the program event page on the website for younger participants.

Programs are always hosted in outdoor spaces, meaning bathroom availability may be limited. When a program is hosted at a City of Winona property, like Holzinger/Bluffside Trail or Sugarloaf, portable bathrooms are available at the trailhead. For programs hosted at non City of Winona properties, bathrooms may not be available. For these programs, we recommend that participants bring their favorite form of reusable toilet paper OR a ditty bag and toilet paper, and utilize the great outdoors for bathroom use following Leave No Trace practices. For more information about how to go in the woods, click here.

Cancellation policies vary depending on the program. Contracted Guiding, Retreat Guiding, Local Experience Guiding, and Workshops are all events that require a payment. (Click on the word to see the policy). Meet-ups do not have a cancellation policy, however we appreciate participants letting us know if they can no longer make it to a program that requires registration. The cancel registration for a meet-up, email the WOC at info@winonaoutdoorcollaborative.com

GREAT! Here at the WOC, we firmly believe that anyone can do something new and challenging in the outdoors, regardless of their experience. We provide the tools to try something new, including instruction, equipment, and support. We encourage everyone to participate in programs, regardless of their experience level. If you have concerns about your ability to participate in a program, we encourage you to reach out to the program coordinator at info@winonaoutdoorcollaborative.com.

WOC provides equipment for most programs, with few exceptions. For retreats or guided services (contracted or local), participants may be asked to bring specific personal items like headlamps, camp pillows, or camp chairs. These lists are provided to participants upon registration. At times, the WOC may be able to provide some of this equipment to select participants based on needs. When you register for a retreat or guided service, you will be put in contact with our retreat coordinator, who can discuss this with you in full. For all additional programs, including meet-ups and workshops, the WOC will provide all equipment needs unless otherwise noted on our website.