A group of smiling hikers pose outdoors in a forest, wearing backpacks and outdoor gear. They appear happy and ready for an adventure, with greenery and trees in the background.

WRFI's 30th Anniversary Celebration

Celebrating 30 years of field education

Register for 30th Events Give to WRFI

Phase One

$0
$100000
$100000

Phase Two

$0
$232000
$200000

Phase Three

$0
$300000
$250000

Dear alumni, friends, and supporters of WRFI–

 

Can you believe that WRFI is turning 30?!?

And we plan to celebrate – with you! Whether you are a former (or current) instructor, staff, board member, donor, alum, parent of an alum, or an avid WRFI supporter of another ilk, you are invited to join us.

We’ll gather in beautiful Missoula, Montana the weekend of July 26-28, 2024. Come for the weekend, stay for a week. Summer in Missoula is chock full of adventurous and fun things to do. On Saturday, July 27th, you can explore Missoula on your own and in the afternoon we’ll gather for a float of the Clark Fork River, ending at Silver Park for a WRFI-hosted BBQ from 4-8pm.  On Sunday, you’ll have the option of joining other WRFI folks on private guided whitewater or flat water rafting trips, fishing opportunities, a cycling tour of downtown, and suggestions for self-guided hikes and scenic drives near town. Our anniversary celebration will culminate on the evening of Sunday, July 28th with student presentations from Conservation Across Boundaries and a party with food, drinks, and celebration.  We can’t wait to see you here!

Click here to register for our in-person celebration!

Click here to learn more about lodging, the weekend itinerary, and opportunities to connect with the WRFI community!

WRFI is also celebrating with the first ever Campaign for WRFI!  During the summer of 2023 we kicked off the Campaign for WRFI: Celebrating 30 Years of Field Education by completing our first phase, which raised $100,000 in under six weeks.  Since then, we’re well on our way to completing Phase Two (raising another $200,000 to invest in key organizational infrastructure), and collecting pledges for Phase Three (continued investment in WRFI over the next five years).  We’re excited to have you join us in this campaign as well!

Not able to make it, but want to share your memories? Below, you can share a quick story or add a photo from your course!  We’d love to hear from you, see your favorite moments, and share them out at the 30th celebration events.

Looking forward to an amazing 30th year of WRFI,

 

Gail Gutsche                                                    Matt Baker-White                                           Christy McCann

Development Manager                                 Executive Director                                           Board President

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    A bearded person in winter hiking gear stands in the snow at Yellowstone National Park, wearing a bright pink jacket, blue pants, and a green hat next to backpacks and a snow shovel, with snow-covered trees in the background. Nine people stand side by side, smiling by a rocky riverside with trees and a bridge in the background at Glacier National Park. Most wear casual summer clothes and sunglasses, enjoying a sunny day during their Environmental Science field course. A bearded man wearing glasses and casual clothes stands beside a blue pot on an outdoor stove at a Yellowstone National Park lakeside campsite, with a tent, trees, and mountains in the background. A bearded man wearing sunglasses, a light shirt, and red pants with suspenders stands on a rocky mountain in Glacier National Park with snowy peaks and a clear blue sky in the background. Six people stand smiling in front of “McLuLu’s,” a rustic food stand with a sign reading Mucho Tacos Sold Aqui. The group, casually dressed, includes a woman in an apron. Their visit follows an adventure in Glacier National Park.
    Three men stand arm-in-arm on a sandy beach, smiling at the camera. Dressed in casual summer clothes, they enjoy the clear sky and ocean backdrop during their Environmental Science Study Away Program.
    A hiker wearing a backpack and hat stands in a desert landscape with shrubs and distant mountains under a clear blue sky, reminiscent of terrain explored during a Study Away Program.
    A group of hikers with backpacks and trekking poles walk along a rocky mountain trail, surrounded by trees and overlooking snowy peaks under a clear sky. Five people are gathered outdoors in Glacier National Park, sitting and kneeling on grass, writing and drawing on a large sheet of paper with markers. The group appears to be collaborating on an Environmental Science field course activity. A person stands on a rocky lakeshore reading from a green notebook, while two others sit and listen. Tall pine trees and mountains with patches of snow rise in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

    As someone who has never been in the backcountry before this course, I can honestly say it is a life-changing experience. There's something about learning about the places you're surrounded by that can't be beat. WRFI provided the best course I've ever taken and I loved every minute of it!

    Kayla Behnke, University of Wisconsin-Madison