WILD ROCKIES

May 2024 Newsletter

Fresh From the Field: New Blog Post by Kate Antone

Finding Solitude and Self-Discovery: A Journey Through

the Canyons of the Dirty Devil

Desert landscapes are often met with skepticism by visitors who don't see the diversity of life and beauty that exists amongst the arid surface, but that can quickly change when you immerse yourself in this special land.

This was definitely the case for Colorado Plateau student Kate, who shared a beautifully written blog post with us about what she's discovered in the desert as she and her classmates travel through it for their course. We won't spoil it for you - follow the link below to read the full story.

"The more time I spend in this arid desert bursting with life, the more I can conceptualize that the land is its own entity, with its own bustling cities and peoples and the stories it tells are far greater than any movie, TV show, or book that can be seen or read. The canyons and the plants of the Dirty Devil have shaped my mind, heart, and soul in which I can only repay them by sharing the intrinsic knowledge that they were ever so kind to share with me."

-Kate Antone, Colorado Plateau '24

Southwest Climate Studio Art

Our Newest Course Kicks Off This Weekend

Our newest course, Southwest Climate Studio Art, launches this weekend! The theme of this course is "Community Resilience in a Changing Climate." WRFI students will spend one month in Northern and Western New Mexico exploring agricultural systems, Spanish and Indigenous cultural resilience, and both biophysical and societal adaptations to climate change. As part of this course, students will develop and express their own relationships with climate change through a daily art practice.

Curious about how our students will be asked to think about community climate resilience? Below is an excerpt from one of the course readings, from a book chapter titled "Native Science and Sustaining Indigenous Communities" by Gregory Cajete, followed by a discussion question that we ask students to reflect on:

"Native Science is born of a lived and storied participation with a natural landscape and reality. To gain a sense for the essence of Native Science one must also participate with the natural world; to understand the foundations of Native Science one must become open to the roles of sensation, perception, imagination, emotion, symbols, and spirit as well as concepts, logic, and rational empiricism. Much of the essence of Native Science is beyond words and literal description. It is the authentic and holistic experience of nature as a direct participatory act around which Native Science has evolved...[At] its core experience Native Science is based on the natural perceptive knowledge gained from using the whole body/mind of our senses in direct participation with the natural world."

How does the Native Science climate science perspective differ from that of Western science, and how do these perspectives shape community responses to climate change?

If this subject matter piques your interest, we encourage you to look into this course for next summer! Learn more about Southwest Climate Studio Art at the link below.

Colorado Plateau Final Presentations

Join Our Facebook Live Event on June 1st

If you can believe it, our Colorado Plateau students and instructors are getting ready to wrap up their Spring semester course that has seen them through this stunning region of the American Southwest on successive explorations of Horseshoe Canyon, Dirty Devil Canyon, Hopi Reservation, Navajo Reservation, Dark Canyon, and Labyrinth Canyon along the Green River. These students visited a variety of communities, met with guest speakers, and toured sites relevant to the course curriculum. Their semester began and will end in Green River, Utah. It would be an honor to have you join these students as they present their final course projects. You can join us virtually or in person at the John Wesley Powell Museum in Green River, UT on June 1st at 10:30am MDT. Follow the link below for the Facebook event. Thank you for supporting them on their journey!

Featured Course: Montana Afoot and Afloat

🚨 Scholarship Opportunity 🚨

Any student who enrolls and pays their deposit for Montana Afoot and Afloat by May 31st automatically receives a $2,000 scholarship! Share this amazing opportunity with your network!

Gain a holistic picture of Montana’s landscapes, ecosystems, and geography by tracing the path of water in Montana’s dramatic landscape from headwaters high up in the mountains to flood plains in valleys that host important wildlife and communities alike. 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.

WRFI is Hiring: Administrative Coordinator

Part-Time ・Missoula, MT ・20-25hrs/week ・$18-20/hr

Come join the WRFI team!

We’re searching for our next Administrative Coordinator! This part-time, in-person team member will be responsible for business functions ranging from financial and data management to administrative duties. The ideal candidate will be proficient in QuickBooks Online + Payroll, Microsoft Office, and Google platforms.

Find the full job description at the link below, or send this to someone you think would be a great fit! Questions can be directed to matt@wrfi.net. When you're ready to apply, submit a resume and cover letter (not to exceed 3 pages total) to WRFI Executive Director Matt Baker-White as a single PDF file. Applications received by May 17th will be given the highest priority, with an anticipated start date in June. Position will be open until filled.