How WLV Facilitates Leadership:
Leadership Ventures are experiences that facilitate self-discovery, leadership, and character development. Participants are able to step out of their comfort zone, exceed personal limitations, and experience leadership firsthand. WLV programs provide a set of engaged, hands-on experiences for exploring and mastering the capabilities for effective individual and team leadership in business and beyond. Leadership Ventures that are offered consist of:
INTENSIVES
Intensives are consolidated and immersive group based experiences ranging from 1 – 2 days.
EXPEDITIONS
Expeditions are outdoor, experiential programs that span the globe and range from 6 – 10 days. Expeditions tend to be high in physical intensity.
The defining characteristics of a Venture include:
- Limited distractions
- Immersion event — limited opportunities to quit or exit
- Critical decision-making — the outcome is dependent on the decisions of the leader of the day and the team
- Authentic uncertainty —path/process to goal or outcome is not guaranteed, risk of failure is inherent
- Opportunities of stress — from ambiguity, risk of failure, conflict, and unfamiliar roles and responsibilities
- Expedition and goal-oriented with many opportunities for reflection
2021 – 2022 Registration and Dates
REGISTRATION – all registration occurs via Course Match
INTENSIVES:
Course Match opens on 9/8/21 and closes at NOON on 9/21/21.
Results Published: beginning 9/22/21.
EXPEDITIONS
Course Match opens on 9/23/21 and closes on 10/13/21 at 1:00 PM ET.
Expedition Payments Deadline: TBD
To learn more about using Course Match, please read this guide.
SCHOLARSHIPS – students can apply for a scholarship seat on expeditions by first filling out this inquiry form by October 4th at 5pm ET. On Friday, October 8th, WLV will notify students as to whether or not they qualify for a scholarship seat. Students who are permitted to apply will then sign into Course Match by October 13 at 5pm ET and request the specific scholarship they wish to attend, if awarded the scholarship.
Scholarships for Leadership Ventures are awarded annually for expedition-based Ventures. In order to be considered for a scholarship you will also need to apply through this Course Match application after the financial aid review stage, as noted above.
Please note the following prior to applying:
- All applicants will be determined eligible through Student Financial Services.
- Eligible students will be randomly selected through Course Match – the Leadership program does not select participants
- If you are not determined eligible through SFS, you can still apply through the general application pool after being notified by WLV
- There will likely be waitlists for all expeditions
Expeditions: All expedition registration will happen at once in the September-October time frame and all participants & waitlisted students will be notified by mid-October. There is an information session held every fall which provides additional information on expeditions & intensives and what is involved in each.
Intensives: Registration for an intensive will occur via CourseMatch in September for Fall 2021 (and again in the spring semester). All students will be emailed with a registration link. Students will be notified that by their Venture Fellow if they have been selected. Participant lists are randomly selected.
To view the slides from the September 8, 2021, info session, please click here.
| Venture | Dates | Focus |
| Southwest Backpacking | Winter Break | Backpacking, Navigation, Strategic Decision-Making |
| Patagonia Trekking | Winter Break | Backcountry Trekking, Natural Horsemanship |
| Utah Canyoneering | Spring Break | Backcountry Trekking, Canyoneering |
| Venture | Dates | Focus |
| Gunks Ridge Traverse: Mountain Bike Navigation | Fall and Spring | Mountain Biking, Navigation, Team Building, Decision-Making, Collaboration, Team Dynamics |
| Leadership in the Sky: High Ropes Challenge Course | Fall and Spring | Team Building, High Ropes Course, Leadership Strategy, Communication, Rapport Building |
| Leadership at Sea: Team Sailing | Fall and Spring | Team Sailing, Feedback, Communication, Decision-Making, Team Dynamics |
More Venture Resources
Financial Aid
Scholarships for the Leadership Ventures are awarded annually for expedition-based Ventures. Only initial Course Match registrants will be eligible for the Scholarship.
Policies and FAQs
In the CourseMatch system, students should input their true preferences for all ventures. There is no limit to the number of ventures that a student can select. For more information on Enrollment Policies, click here.
We are here to help.
We encourage you to speak to any Venture Fellow or Associate Director Erica Montemayor.
Apply for a Fellowship
Venture Fellows are comprised of Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors who serve as student leaders on expeditions and intensives. Prior participation in a Wharton Leadership Venture is not necessary to become a fellow.