Description:
WRFI courses are designed to take students into the arenas where the subject matter they are studying – from ecology to contemporary resource management policy – unfolds before their eyes. By integrating traditional academics with field studies, service projects, and meetings with government officials and community members, we encourage creative and critical thinking, thoughtful dialog, and exploration of diverse perspectives. And by connecting students with human communities and the natural environments in which they are embedded, our courses help students develop a personal land ethic and a powerful sense of place.
It’s not all cerebral, either. All of our courses are taught while traveling under our own power – backpacking, canoeing, kayaking – in wilderness settings from Alaska to Mexico. Depending on the course, students might kayak among icebergs and glaciers off the Alaska coast or hike in the footsteps of Yellowstone’s grizzlies. Students sleep in tents, more... beneath the stars and in the wind; there are no cushy field stations or dormitories. Which means developing outdoor and leadership skills is part of the program too.
WRFI students have ranged in age from 18 to 72, though the average is around 21 years old. Most people who take WRFI courses are students enrolled at a college or university and take our courses for academic credit. But we also welcome aspiring college students who want to learn the WRFI way before entering university, as well as recent college graduates and graduate students returning to school. Non-students who wish to learn outside of formal academia are also welcome. Many WRFI participants enroll in our courses simply to have an enriching personal experience.
Since 1993, WRFI courses have provided meaningful academic experiences to more than 700 students, helping to fulfill society’s need for engaged, informed citizens capable of addressing complex social and environmental issues.
Wild Rockies Field Institute www.wrfi.net
*Academic Field Courses for Credit--2009
SRING TERM, 2009
Colorado Plateau: Desert Canyons & Cultures
EVST 311, SCI 395, GEOG 35: 12 semester credits
March 26-May26, 2009
Spend your spring in the beauty of the desert southwest. Study natural history; learn from ranchers, conservationists, Native Americans and land managers. Explore issues of ecological and cultural sustainability while backpacking and canoeing in Utah’s red rock country.
SUMMER 2009
Cycle the Rockies: Energy and Climate Change in Montana
FOR 311, RSCN 321: 6 semester credits
May 21-June 15, 2009
Explore the present and future of energy production and climate change on a bike tour through Montana. We visit sites using coal, solar, wind, biomass, and hydroelectricity while we ride through Big Sky country and Glacier National Park studying climate change impacts.
Wild Rockies Summer Semester
NAS 395, EVST 311, FOR 395: 12 semester credits
June 19-August 19, 2009
Want adventure? Backpack the Rockies from Montana to Canada this summer. Earn 12 semester credits studying restoration ecology, traditional ecological knowledge, and community-based conservation in this expansive and rugged bioregion that spans two countries.
Restoration Ecology in Greater Yellowstone
FOR 311: 3 semester credits
June 22-July 9, 2009
Backpack in the famous wildands of the Yellowstone Ecosystem and participate in restoration projects in this vital wildlife habitat. This is a rare opportunity to study the science and philosophy of restoration ecology in a place that still supports it major native species.
The Alaskan Rainforest: Ecology & Policy of the Tongass
EVST 311, FOR 311: 6 semester credits
July 11-August 13, 2009
Ever dream of going to Alaska? Sea kayak the magical waters of the Inside Passage among temperate rain forest and tidewater glaciers. Explore issues that affect local residents- from loggers, fishermen, and land managers to salmon, trees, and bears.
FALL TERM, 2009
Montana Afoot and Afloat: Human/Land Relations
EVST 311, GEOG 351, NAS 395: 12 semester credits
September1-October 30, 2009
Be a member of an expedition this fall! Kayak the Wild and Scenic Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers. Backpack in the seldom-visited island ranges of Montana’s Rockies. Learn firsthand about human cultures and their interactions with this rugged landscape as you develop your own sense of place and personal land ethic.
Responsible Action:
The Wild Rockies Field Institute (WRFI) is a unique organization offering extraordinary experiences for university students and non-students interested in an educational adventure. WRFI courses explore the complex cultural, political and natural histories of some of the most interesting and beautiful landscapes in North America.
Website:
www.wrfi.net
Telephone:
406.549.4336
