WILD ROCKIES
April 2022 Newsletter
COMING SOON: MISSOULA GIVES!
Missoula Gives is a May tradition for nonprofits based in Western Montana that is a peer-to-peer fundraising opportunity. This year WRFI has a goal of raising $13,500 during the Missoula Gives event, and we need your help! We’re looking to add some volunteer WRFI champions to our team who are willing to send out our Missoula Gives information to your networks. 

If you’re willing to help us out this year, we’ll add you to our Missoula Gives page and set you up with an account to add your WRFI story to send out to folks you know. The best news for you? If you sign up to be one of our fundraising champions by April 20th, we’ll send you some super secret WRFI swag in the mail! A Nalgene? A hat? Some sweet WRFI stickers? You’ll only know if you sign up!

If you’re ready to help us out, send an email to matt@wrfi.net and he’ll get you set up on the Missoula Gives platform.
WRFI IS HIRING!
WRFI is now hiring for a brand new position, an Administrative Coordinator. The Administrative Coordinator will work with WRFI staff on a variety of administrative duties necessary to maintain and further our mission from financial management, general administrative duties and donor data management to program support, insurance management, human resources management and more. The position will closely support our Executive Director, Outreach Manager, and Field Education Coordinator and as it's a new position to WRFI, strong candidates will be willing to co-create and adapt as this role evolves.

Find more out more about this opportunity here!
COURSE HIGHLIGHT: COLORADO PLATEAU
Fall Semester | September 13 - November 14, 2022
This month, we're highlighting our Colorado Plateau: Desert Canyons and Cultures course. This semester course is offered both spring and fall semesters. Through this course, students gain an academic and experience-based understanding of the issues faced by the cultures and landscapes of the Colorado Plateau.The course takes place in the Colorado Plateau 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. Students will get to know the landscape intimately as they spend two months hiking, backpacking, canoeing and camping across the Colorado Plateau region.

“Resilience and Revolution in a Region on the Edge” is the unifying theme of the course and one students return to throughout the weeks. The curriculum explores how these concepts apply to various biophysical and social systems experiencing disturbance – either by rebounding to a previous state (resilience) or with substantial shifts in structure and function (revolution). Throughout the semester, students and instructors visit a variety of communities, meet with guest speakers, and tour sites relevant to the course curriculum. The semester begins and ends in Green River, Utah, and upon completion, students gain 15 upper division college credits.

If you want to read a firsthand account of this course, check out Allie Bierman's entry on the WRFI blog entitled, The Marks We Make.
ENROLL TODAY FOR THE 2022 FIELD SEASON!
Energy & Climate Change in Montana | June 14 - July 11, 2022

CONSERVATION ACROSS BOUNDARIES *2 spaces remaining!
Summer Semester | June 16 - July 27, 2022

RESTORATION ECOLOGY *currently full. Accepting waitlist applications.
In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem | June 20 - July 10, 2022

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS*currently full. Accepting waitlist applications.
Climate Change & Visions of a Sustainable Future | July 20 - Aug 9, 2022

Human/Land Relations | Aug 24 - Oct 25, 2022

Desert Canyons & Cultures | Sept 13 - Nov 14, 2022
Apply now for WRFI's High School Program!


There is still time to apply to the University of Montana's Summer Explorations program with WRFI! The course will take place from July 16-29, 2022, and will allow students to earn two University of Montana credits in Environmental Studies.

This program will be open to high school students who are at least sixteen years old, and who will be entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year starting in the fall of 2022. Cost is $2,800 and will include lodging, meals, and programs fees. There is no application fee and scholarships will be available. The application deadline is April 24, 2022. Visit this link to apply online.
SCHOLARSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE!

We're highlighting two extra special scholarship opportunities this month: the Beth Morris Scholarship and the Matt Thomas scholarship.

The Beth Morris Scholarship offers up to $1500 of funding for one student in 2022's Cycle the Rockies course. This funding is given in honor of Beth Morris, a joyful lifelong learner and teacher who could always find something worth exploring in a companion, a forest trail, a wild river, or a long bike tour.

The Matt Thomas Scholarship offers $500 - $3000 of funding for students to attend WRFI's 2022 Montana Afoot and Afloat course. Matt Thomas was a key member of the Wild Rockies Field Institute’s board and staff from the organization’s inception – he was our founding vice-president, an extremely dedicated instructor, a leader, and an inspiration for many of us.

Find out more info on both scholarships and how to apply HERE!
Wild Rockies Field Institute is a 501(c)3 organization. Your gift is fully tax deductible. Our Federal Identification Number is 81-0487425.