EP 36: (WRFI Stories One) Lightbulb Moments, Environmental Education, and WRFI’s Future with Matt Baker-White

Hello, and welcome back to the Shadows Run Podcast! I am your host, Eva Happy.

Today’s episode is really exciting. In format and content it is really no different than what you are used to hearing on the show, but it marks the start of a new partnership on the podcast! 

Today’s guest is Matt Baker-White, who is the current Executive Director at the Wild Rockies Field Institute. The Wild Rockies Field Institute is a nonprofit organization that offers college level field courses accredited through the University of Montana. I took part in a 2 month course during the fall of 2021, backpacking and kayaking around the state of Montana. Their mission statement reads: "The Wild Rockies Field Institute offers academically rigorous, place-based field courses that develop engaged, informed citizens and strong leaders capable of addressing complex social and environmental issues."

What you are listening to today is episode 1 of what will be a 6-episode series rolling out with one episode a month over the next 6 months, the objective being to tell a variety of stories from the organization's history, and of the impact WRFI has had and is continuing to have on countless lives. You will be hearing from folks like Matt, who currently oversees the operation as a whole as it stands today; you will hear from field instructors with experience on the ground with students in wild places; you will be hearing from one of the founders of the Wild Rockies Field Institute back in 1993; and a whole lot more. It is our hope that these stories inspire you to think beyond traditional binaries, push your limits, and get out there into the world to explore and connect meaningfully with the people and landscapes around you. 

With that, I am so excited to bring you this first episode in the WRFI Stories series, an engaging and wide-ranging conversation with father, partner, adventure enthusiast, and executive director of the Wild Rockies Field Institute, Matt Baker-White!

Wild Rockies Field Institute: The most beautiful classrooms in the world - Wild Rockies Field Institute (WRFI)

Ways To Support WRFI: Ways to Give - Wild Rockies Field Institute 

WRFI's Instagram: (4) Instagram 

Things Mentioned In The Episode: 

Overland Summers: Summer Adventure Camp for Kids & Teens | Overland Summers

Responder Alliance: Responder Alliance | Resources for the responder community

Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions: Home - Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions

An Ethic of Excellence Book: An Ethic of Excellence: Building a Culture of Craftsmanship with Students by Ron Berger | Goodreads

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