WILD ROCKIES

November 2024 Newsletter

Thanks for Joining Us!

WRFI's Campaign Celebration and Trivia Party Recap

It was great to see everyone who was able to join us at Imagine Nation Brewing Co. in Missoula to celebrate the ongoing success of The Campaign for WRFI. Among the attendees were WRFI founders, former and our current Executive Director, former and current board members, WRFI instructors, alumni, community partners, UM professors, and more! What an honor it was to share the evening with you all who have made such an impact on WRFI students and our broader community.

If you weren't able to join us, keep an eye out for future WRFI community events. We plan to host a couple of pint nights in Missoula this spring, along with meetups in WRFI hub cities, virtual happy hours, and of course our 2025 adult courses!

One highlight of the evening was announcing that Native Root Coffee, Imagine Nation Brewing Company, and WRFI are partnering to brew a coffee stout, which will be released on February 5th. We’re already looking forward to our first WRFI community gathering of 2025 to celebrate this collaboration!

In the spirit of our recent trivia night, let's test your WRFI knowledge!

Which two National Parks does WRFI visit on course each year? *

*The correct answer will take you to our LinkedIn profile - be sure to follow us there!

A Note of Gratitude

Correction Notice:

In our mailed annual appeal letter, we mis-attributed WRFI's largest gift to our 30th year campaign. This summer, a gift of $150,000 was given to WRFI from the Terrell Erickson and Christopher Puttock Conservation Fund, which pushed our Phase 2 fundraising above our goal to a total of $232,000. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Terrell and Christopher for this transformational gift to WRFI!

Featured Course: Colorado Plateau

63 Field Days | 15 Semester Credits | $11,996 - $14,995

March 30 - May 31, 2025

The Colorado Plateau semester entails a combination of backcountry expeditions, meetings with guest speakers, and site visits. The course is split into five sections, each lasting between 10-12 days. Approximately two-thirds of the course is spent in the backcountry, traveling across the iconic landscapes of the American Southwest. The remaining one-third of the course duration is spent engaging with community members in the region. The 2025 installment of Colorado Plateau is set to depart on March 30th and only three seats remain! Don't miss your chance for a semester spent outside of the classroom and immersed in the land you're learning about!

Scholarships and other discounts are available for this course, saving you up to 20% on tuition. Visit the link below for more info or respond to this email with any questions!

WRFI Impact Stories

Fresh from the Field: Matthias Goscha

A Muse Around Every Corner

Science and art are often seen as separate worlds, but what if they’re more connected than we think? Dive into this thought-provoking blog by Conservation Across Boundaries student Matthias Goscha on the powerful intersection of creativity and discovery. From sparking innovation to fostering deeper understanding, art can truly transform science. Read the full post here:

Montana Beaver Working Group

Virtual Meeting: December 11th

This virtual event will include a presentation from FWP with the latest from a statewide beaver dam census for Montana, and progress updates on the four goals of our Montana Beaver Action Plan.

This is a great opportunity to learn from our diverse range of members working in beaver restoration, conflict resolution, education, monitoring, and research, and also to see how you can contribute, too.

*Trivia Answer: Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks!