WILD ROCKIES

October 2023 Newsletter

Campaign for WRFI Update

Looking Forward to the Future

Our 30th year Campaign for WRFI has so far been incredibly successful - this past summer, we raised $100,000 in urgently needed bridge funding as we recovered from COVID, and we are now well into Phase 2 of our campaign, building a stronger foundation for WRFI's future! A group of generous donors has stepped forward and to date we have raised $39,500 towards our Phase 2 goal of $200,000. This fundraising effort is unlike anything WRFI has ever embarked on and we could not be more grateful to our supporters thus far. Join us in supporting field-based academic courses by making a gift today!

“This was really the first time I had the chance to go beyond a classroom and see how what I am studying applies to real people, and real problems, not just ones written in a PowerPoint. What could be more valuable than that?”

-Nieset LeFevre, Cycle the Rockies '23

Thank you to everyone who has made moments like this possible!

Alumni Update:

Taylor Ferguson, Restoration Ecology '23

Dance on Location photo by Max Hill

As a Wildlife Biology major and 2023 WRFI Restoration Ecology alum, Taylor Ferguson is obviously passionate about the natural world. On top of that, she is a dedicated Dance major. This October, Taylor performed in UM's event Dance on Location: wherein student choreographers develop dances in conversation with place. The performance was a testament to the way that the arts and sciences can intertwine in conversation with the natural world. There is never merely one way to encounter, interact with, and learn about nature - sometimes we make slow, careful observations, sometimes we build beaver dam analogs, sometimes we climb mountains, sometimes we dance! Or if you're like Taylor on a WRFI course, you may do all of these things in one day. WRFI students are multifaceted and bring such a wealth of experience and skills to our courses. Taylor, thanks for being the resident bear expert on our course this summer and for reminding us all that you don't always have to let go of one dream to pursue another. 

"My WRFI course showed me how to truly be observant and how impactful observing nature can be. I am very passionate about using dance as an art form and universal communicator to make people aware of the natural world around them so that they

can deepen their relationship to the land. Dance on Location is wonderful because it

bridges the gap between my art form and the outdoors, letting nature inspire and be a

part of our dancing."

Remembering Ron Erickson, 1933-2023

It is with reverence and gratitude for his decades of selfless service that WRFI announces the passing of Ron Erickson, a long time environmental, arts, WRFI, and Missoula community stalwart. 

Ron tirelessly served the Missoula community through his various roles as a University of Montana professor of chemistry; the co-founder and first head of the Environmental Studies Program; a legislator (House and Senate); chair of the Open Space Advisory Committee; and treasurer of the UM Teacher’s Union. Ron was gentle, kind, determined, visionary, passionate, wise, and brilliant; a force to be reckoned with. He enjoyed a good legislative debate (woe be to his hapless opponent!), hot chocolate in the morning, a microbrew most evenings, a competitive game of chess, and a Pittsburgh Pirates game.  Ron's early support of WRFI encouraged our founders to bring students into the field for academic, credit bearing courses in the early 1990s; just this year, Ron's cornerstone gift towards our 30 Year Campaign for WRFI kicked off an incredible fundraiser. Throughout the decades, Ron's support of WRFI has been steadfast; we are forever appreciative.

WRFI extends its condolences to his daughters Chris (granddaughter Avery) and Terrell, all of whom Ron cherished and adored to his last day. For more on Ron’s accomplishments and passions please see his obituary here.

From the Recruiting Desk

Campus Visits Going Strong!