EP 38: (WRFI Stories Two) Hiking The CDT In 1990, Embracing Complexity, And Founding The Wild Rockies Field Institute with Dave Havlick

Hello, and welcome back to the Shadows Run Podcast!

Today’s episode is the second installment of the six-part WRFI Stories series rolling out on the podcast from July to December, where I am partnering with the Wild Rockies Field Institute to help tell some of the stories of WRFI’s history and impact on the world over time. The Wild Rockies Field Institute is a nonprofit organization that offers college level field courses accredited through the University of Montana, and their mission is to "offer academically rigorous, place-based field courses that develop engaged, informed citizens and strong leaders capable of addressing complex social and environmental issues."

This episode features one of the three original founders of the organization back in 1993, Dave Havlick. Dave holds a Masters in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, as well as a PhD in Geography from the University of North Carolina. He has taught at the college level at multiple institutions for over 30 years, and currently works as a professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. He has written multiple books, and has made contributions to countless publications over his career.

Dave and I share in a engaging conversation includes...:

• stories of his 1990 adventure on the Continental Divide Trail
• the origin story of WRFI
• some wild early stories on field courses
• his philosophy on life and teaching
• Dave's unusual PhD research
• ...and so much more.

 If you, like me, are interested in how great ideas are born, this is the episode for you.

Thank you for joining us! 

Wild Rockies Field Institute website: https://www.wrfi.net/

Ways to Support WRFI: https://www.wrfi.net/support/ways-to-give/

WRFI's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wild_rockies/

I love to hear from you! Get in touch with me via: 

• Email: [email protected]   • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadowsrunpodcast/   • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/shadowsrunpodcast.bsky.social