Wild Rockies Field Institute

I'm incredibly honored to share that Wild Rockies Field Institute recently completed a strategic planning initiative and we've unveiled the roadmap for our next phase! In working with WRFI's incredible board and staff we analyzed community feedback and survey data, identified and prioritized strength and growth areas for the organization, and solidified a path that will take us from COVID recovery toward long-term sustainability and stability. Our next three years have a bright future and an awesome guiding framework! You can either see the PDF attached to this post, or check out a more robust History/Impact/Strategic Plan page on our website here: https://lnkd.in/gPEMYmzS We're super psyched to jump into the work this plan lays out--If you're interested in knowing more or helping out, please do reach out!

To wrap up our highlight series, we’d like to share more about the newest additions to the WRFI Course roster: our three Adult Courses! Fire Writing, Women on the Water, and River Ecology are week-long expeditions designed with curious adult learners in mind. They’re a chance to get off the grid and into nature to dive into ecological, social, and conservation questions that affect our lives. Led by WRFI instructors and guides, participants can rest assured they’ll be well taken care of all week and will leave the course with a new wealth of knowledge to take back to their everyday lives. Participants of all ages are welcome, and WRFI alumni automatically receive a 10% discount on their chosen course! Don’t miss this opportunity to break out of your routine - join us this fall! Visit our website for more info! https://lnkd.in/gC4VxYFV

???Calling all adventurous high schoolers (or anyone who knows one)! Have you heard about the University of Montana’s Summer Exploration program? Offering four unique two-week courses for high school juniors, seniors, and recent grads, this program allows students to get a taste of the college life by connecting them with university faculty and fellow college-bound peers while they take a 2-credit course in Missoula, MT. This year, WRFI is hosting two of these courses: Biking the Bitterroot and Environmental Ethics. Applications are now OPEN for these incomparable, transformative experiences. Visit UM’s website for more details! https://lnkd.in/gDpGu8sD

WRFI’s flagship course, Montana Afoot & Afloat, packs myriad experiences and lessons in its 63 field days. Students on this course will gain an integrated understanding of future, past, and present relationships between the human communities and landscapes that characterize Montana’s rich and diverse geography and is designed to give students the experiences and academic background to formulate a personal land ethic – that is, a vision of a wise and beneficial way to relate to the land. This fall’s semester of Montana Afoot & Afloat will be held August 29-October 30. Join us to see what we’re all about, and you just might have your whole perspective changed. Visit our website for more info! https://lnkd.in/gA4jjxUr

The full course name - Environmental Ethics: Climate Change and Visions of a Sustainable Future - reveals an important aspect of the curriculum: its focus on hope. While the course material and the backpacking route showcase the effects of climate change in Montana, students will also spend time imagining a better future for our land and people, drawing on insight gained from visits with local citizens and officials. WRFI recognizes that having an open and innovative mindset is vital to approaching climate action and take great care to foster that in our students. Choose from two sessions of Environmental Ethics this year: July 11-31 or August 3-23, with both courses starting and ending in Missoula, MT. Visit our website for more info! https://lnkd.in/gjjiR3dr

WRFI’s summer semester course, Conservation Across Boundaries, is focused on how humans across ecosystems, cultures, and countries choose to interact with the landscape and wildlife around them. Students visit with a variety of local citizens, land managers, biologists, elected officials, ranchers and more to gain an understanding of the diverse perspectives that contribute to the management of the northern Rockies and leave the course with a new depth of knowledge that would be nearly impossible to find in a traditional classroom. Conservation Across Boundaries 2025 launches from June 20-July 31. You won’t regret joining us in exploring this spectacular region of the continent. Visit our website for more info! https://lnkd.in/gbzbMZtE

Do you want to participate in a hands-on conservation project as part of your field course? Are you drawn to the natural beauty and cultural history of Yellowstone National Park? Then Restoration Ecology might be the best fit for you! On this course, students learn about the many species of plants and animals that call the greater Yellowstone region home and how they can be protected for generations to come. Section 1 of this year’s course is currently full, but there are seats left on Section 2 that runs from August 3-23! Join us! Visit our website for more info! https://lnkd.in/gvP_GXjF

When potential WRFI students share their hesitations about joining a course, the 700-mile bike journey on Cycle the Rockies tends to be at the top of the list. We know a number like that can sound scary - especially if you aren’t an experienced road biker - but we take great care to ensure every student who joins us is prepared and set up for success, regardless of previous experience. With that in mind, how incredible does biking through the Montanan landscape sound?? Along the way, you’ll learn about the state’s energy systems and its variety of players and stakeholders. There’s also an academic focus on the effects of climate change in the region. Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Join us for Cycle the Rockies this summer from June 13-July 8. Visit our website for more info! https://lnkd.in/gJG6RJS6

The WRFI team is feeling grateful today. Why? Because our incredible community (hey, that's you!) has shown us so much support as we embark on a variety of new adventures that all come back to us fulfilling our mission to the best of our ability. Check out our latest newsletter for more about what we're up to and how you can be involved. Oh, and thank you for being here ???? https://conta.cc/4iw6QsR

Southwest Climate Studio Art is a recent addition to the WRFI lineup. Taking place in the New Mexico frontcountry, students will visit a variety of agricultural and cultural sites to learn of the resilience of the people and landscapes there in the face of climate change. Along the way, they’ll build a portfolio of artwork inspired by their experience. Our 2025 Southwest Climate Studio Art course begins May 19th, so we recommend applying asap so we can help you prepare for the journey Visit our website for more info! https://lnkd.in/gm2tNiaV