Wild Rockies Field Institute
Academics & Courses
Colorado Plateau: Desert Canyons & CulturesSouthwest Climate Studio Art: Change and Resilience in the American SouthwestRestoration Ecology in Greater YellowstoneWild Rockies: Conservation Across BoundariesCycle the Rockies: Energy and Climate Change in MontanaEnvironmental Ethics: Climate Change and Visions of a Sustainable FutureMontana Afoot and Afloat: Human/Land RelationsAdult CoursesAcademicsCompare Courses
About
Our ApproachMission, Vision & ValuesHistory, Impact, and Strategic PlanWRFI AdvantageWho We Are
Board of DirectorsStaffInstructorsCampus Ambassadors
Diversity, Equity & InclusionEmploymentContact Us
Admissions
ApplyVirtual Information SessionCollege CreditFinancial AssistanceWithdrawal & Cancellation PolicyHealth & SafetyFaculty & AdvisorsParents
Students
Prospective StudentsAccepted StudentsPlans & PreparationsAlumniUW Madison
Get Involved
30-Year CelebrationMatt Thomas Scholarship TributeScholarship FundsWays to GiveYour Gifts in ActionNewsletter Archive
Blog
Events
Store
Sign Up For More Info
Apply
Donate Now
Facebook Instagram YouTube Cart
Wild Rockies Field Institute
  • Sign Up For More Info
  • Apply
  • Donate Now
Academics & Courses
Colorado Plateau: Desert Canyons & Cultures
18 Credit Spring Semester
Southwest Climate Studio Art: Change and Resilience in the American Southwest
6 Credit Summer Course
Restoration Ecology in Greater Yellowstone
3 Credit Summer Course
Wild Rockies: Conservation Across Boundaries
12 Credit Summer Semester
Cycle the Rockies: Energy and Climate Change in Montana
6 Credit Summer Course
Environmental Ethics: Climate Change and Visions of a Sustainable Future
3 Credit Summer Course
Montana Afoot and Afloat: Human/Land Relations
15 Credit Fall Semester
Adult Courses
Week-long Fall Courses
Academics
Compare Courses
About
Our Approach
Mission, Vision & Values
History, Impact, and Strategic Plan
WRFI Advantage
Who We Are
Board of Directors
Staff
Instructors
Campus Ambassadors
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Employment
Contact Us
Admissions
Apply
Virtual Information Session
College Credit
Financial Assistance
Withdrawal & Cancellation Policy
Health & Safety
Faculty & Advisors
Parents
Students
Prospective Students
Accepted Students
Plans & Preparations
Alumni
UW Madison
Get Involved
30-Year Celebration
Matt Thomas Scholarship Tribute
Scholarship Funds
Ways to Give
Your Gifts in Action
Newsletter Archive
BlogEventsStore Facebook Instagram YouTube Cart
Search
Wild Rockies Field Institute

Resilient communities are better able to weather economic and climate change By Rachel French

July 9, 2021
  • Cycle the Rockies,
  • Fresh from the Field
The Cream of the West warehouse smelled like fresh breakfast cereal. In the sparsely furnished warehouse there were big metal bins and conveyer belts—the roaster, the cooler and the packaging
Read More

Regenerative ranching is “probably the only way to save the world” By Seneca Norvell

July 8, 2021
  • Cycle the Rockies,
  • Fresh from the Field
Shane Moe points with pride to a flexible water tank on wheels, a bag of water with a solar panel roof. A cautious black cow eyes a crowd of spectators,
Read More

Prairie renegades show energy independence is a values-driven choice By Lukas Keller

July 6, 2021
1
  • Cycle the Rockies,
  • Fresh from the Field
As we arrived at the Signal Peak Energy coal mine in the Bull Mountains, outside of Roundup, Montana, sunny skies and windblown conifers gave way to ominous mountains of coal.
Read More

Losing the whitebark is more than losing a species by Jayden Skelly

July 3, 2021
  • Fresh from the Field,
  • Wild Rockies: Conservation Across Boundaries
As we approached 9000 feet on the third day of our first backpacking trip, we entered a new ecosystem unknown to our group. Forests dominated by spruce and firs ceded
Read More

Leaning In By Leeland Gentry

July 2, 2021
  • Fresh from the Field,
  • Wild Rockies: Conservation Across Boundaries
On WRFI’s 2021 Conservation Across Boundaries course, our first section of backcountry travel started in the Snowcrest Mountains of southwest Montana. Our trip started by following the East Fork of
Read More

Under the Signal Peak Coal Mine By Ben Carlson

July 1, 2021
3
  • Cycle the Rockies,
  • Fresh from the Field
Standing on top of the Signal Peak coal mine tipple—the 10-story chute that loads coal into train cars—you could see almost the entire production area: the mouth of Montana’s only
Read More

Seeing the prairie as a system scented with sage By Dominic Corradino

June 30, 2021
  • Cycle the Rockies,
  • Fresh from the Field
Mounds of a low-growing, spike-leafed grass form a mat in front of prairie dog holes on a ranch just north of Billings. The grass is not native, the prairie dogs
Read More

A New Light on Agricultural Education By Silas Andrews

June 29, 2021
1
  • Cycle the Rockies,
  • Fresh from the Field
I’d never really noticed all the different types of grass. Standing in a field of grassland with our cycling crew and Steve Charter, Steve is talking about the forage kochia.
Read More

Coming Together, Against the Wind by Leila Gabrys

June 26, 2021
1
  • Cycle the Rockies,
  • Fresh from the Field
I was pedaling. Hard. Each gust of wind blasted my raw face, and I leaned into it, groaning. The wind groaned back, hitting me with gusts upwards of 35 miles
Read More

Biking with an eye for a more walkable/bikeable Billings By Tara Flood

June 25, 2021
  • Cycle the Rockies,
  • Fresh from the Field
The house at the corner of 7th Avenue and 23rd Street looks like a 2,400-square foot lunch box with a brilliant tin roof and desert-like landscaping. Mellow, yellow sunlight bounces
Read More
« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next »

Recent Posts

  • Honest Conversations in the Energy Crossroads by Andy Ramos
  • Our Place: Technology, Corn, and Water by Leslie Pagel
  • “Farming into the Apocalypse:” A Day at Jen Hart-Mann’s Farm in Anton Chico by Parker Friday
  • Controlled vs. Wild: A Creative Exploration of Ecosystem Struggle by Kate Tarrence
  • Trust Your Gut, Change Your Mind: Conversations with Community by Miles Foley

Categories

  • Alumni
  • Colorado Plateau
  • Cycle the Rockies
  • Environmental Ethics
  • Fresh from the Field
  • Montana Afoot & Afloat
  • Southwest Climate Studio Art
  • The WRFI Community
  • Wild Rockies: Conservation Across Boundaries

Archives

  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • November 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • May 2020
  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • February 2015
  • December 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • November 2013
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012

As someone who had never gone on a backpacking trip, I enjoyed the new perspectives, skill and relationships that I gained. I have an immense feeling of pride in myself and my classmates.

Allison Mongan, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Academics
OverviewSouthwest Climate Studio ArtColorado PlateauMontana Afoot & AfloatWild Rockies: Conservation Across BoundariesCycle the RockiesRestoration EcologyEnvironmental EthicsAdult CoursesCompare Courses
About
Our ApproachMission, Vision & ValuesHistory, Impact, and Strategic PlanWRFI AdvantageWho We Are
Board of DirectorsStaffInstructorsCampus Ambassadors
Diversity, Equity & InclusionEmployment
Admissions
ApplyVirtual Information SessionHealth & SafetyCollege CreditFinancial AssistanceWithdrawal & Cancellation PolicyFaculty & AdvisorsParents
Students
Prospective Students
How Is WRFI Different?Day In The Life of a WRFI StudentAsk An Alum
Accepted Students
Plans & PreparationsAsk An Alum
AlumniUW Madison
Get Involved
30-Year CelebrationWays to GiveScholarship FundsYour Gifts in ActionNewsletter Archive
Contact
(406) 549-4336
wrfi@wrfi.net
Physical Address:
155 N. California St. Suite 101
Missoula, MT 59801
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 7071
Missoula, MT 59807
Share
Know someone who would be interested in taking a WRFI course?
Email Facebook Twitter
Sign up for WRFI emails
The latest WRFI info, delivered straight to your inbox
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright ©2025 Wild Rockies Field Institute. All rights reserved.
Website design & development by Gecko Designs