WILD ROCKIES

September 2024 Newsletter

WRFI Joins National Student Exchange!

The Study Away Program Welcomes Their Newest Member - Us!

National Student Exchange is amongst the country's top intercollegiate study away programs, providing experiential opportunities for college students throughout the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands!

WRFI is excited to join NSE as a member institute, which allows more students from around the country to earn credits towards their degrees when they take our courses!

We appreciate NSE for adding us to their roster and all the hard work they do to provide incredible experiences to our college students!

BOGO WRFI Courses

Save Big on a 2025 WRFI Course!

Students who enroll in either Colorado Plateau or Montana Afoot and Afloat '25 by October 31st are eligible to take a second WRFI course for free! These seats are available on Southwest Climate Studio Art, Cycle the Rockies, Environmental Ethics, and Restoration Ecology. Make sure to enroll before the deadline to take advantage of this incredible offer!

Also, returning WRFI students who took a course in 2023 or 2024 can automatically receive a 30% discount on the course of their choice in 2025! Enroll by September 30th to claim this offer.

If you have questions about the application process or about these promotions, please reach out to kelsey.wellington@wrfi.net.

WRFI Impact Stories

Fresh From the Field: Benjamin Evans

Balance and Burn: Fire in an Ecosystem

Ben was not expecting to learn about controlled burns while visiting a wool mill in New Mexico during his Southwest Climate Studio Art course. That's what he found himself doing, however, when he realized the owner of the mill was not a fan of this now-common practice.

After speaking with the mill owner, a forest guild director, and studying the practice on course, Ben realized it was a more complicated issue than he had initially thought.

“I have seen the ponderosa pines and aspen groves that rely on fire as part of their life cycles. I have met with people who fear controlled burns, and those who start them. On a local level, these aren’t just abstract political problems, but practical ones.”

Read Benjamin's blog post, “Balance and Burn: Fire in an Ecosystem” for the full story of SCSA's exploration of what controlled burns mean to different community members in New Mexico. Follow the link below!

Back on the Road: Fall Recruiting Starts

Montana and Colorado Campuses Are First Up

It's that time of year - now that summer courses have wrapped up, WRFI is once again preparing to hit the road to meet our new students for 2025 and beyond! To kick things off, we'll be visiting campuses in Montana (University of Montana and Montana State University) and Colorado (Colorado State University, CU Boulder, CU Denver, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and Western Colorado University). Stay tuned for specific dates and details about the information sessions!

If you have any questions, or would like to connect while WRFI is on your campus, please reach out to our Student Experience Manager, Kelsey!

For MSU students and faculty:

WRFI's Info Session at MSU will be in Gaines Hall 110 on September 12th from 5:30-6:30pm. Pizza and refreshments are being provided courtesy of the Liberal Studies Program!

WRFI Testimonial: Restoration Ecology

Special Announcement:

NWF Virtual EcoCareers Event

The National Wildlife Federation's annual EcoCareers event is coming up in just a couple of weeks!

The NWF will be hosting the eighth annual EcoCareers virtual event on September 18 for college and high school students and educators to learn about and prepare to thrive as a part of the green workforce of tomorrow. 

This year’s summit series will feature keynote addresses from leaders in wildlife conservation, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant and Peter Gros, co-hosts of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild series.   

The summit will also feature panels of early career and senior professionals representing a variety of fields, including naturalism and environmental education, wildlife biology, environmental law and policy, coastal restoration, habitat conservation and rehabilitation, and more!

Join the event to learn about careers in wildlife and habitat conservation from consultants and business leaders, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and successful entrepreneurs who will be sharing their insights, advice, and inspirational stories.