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 Student Life and Recreation

 

Western is known as a welcoming and inclusive university, and it offers many organizations and facilities to promote the strong sense of campus community. There are more than 150 student clubs and organizations within Associated Students, including the Ethnic Student Center, which provides support for students from other cultures and also provides a way for all students at Western to learn about cultures other than their own.

 

The campus facilities include 15 residential buildings, housing nearly 4,000 students. A new student-funded recreation center offers many activities for students including: a rock climbing wall, three weight and cardio areas, a three-court gym, swimming pool and whirlpool, wellness room, locker room, and more. There are also numerous outdoor tennis courts and playing fields on the campus. Western also operates a 15-acre student-university facility at nearby Lake Whatcom where students can sail, canoe, kayak, and swim. The Outdoor Center offers access to nearby rock climbing, mountaineering, snowboarding, and mountain-biking. Western students enjoy seven miles of hiking trails, minutes away from classrooms, and views of islands, inland seas, and mountains from the student union. Mount Baker Ski Area, famous for snowboarding and record snowfalls, is only 1 hour away by car or bus. Outside Magazine rates Bellingham as one the top ten “Dream Towns” in the U.S. for outdoor enthusiasts.