Wilderness Inquiry with Julie Storck

Our program on September 29th was a talk by Julie Storck in which she described the firm she works for, Wilderness Inquiry.

Wilderness Inquiry is a non-profit that was organized in 1978 with the purpose of providing wilderness experiences to people who would otherwise not have one. Over 350,000 people have been served since the founding of the organization, and many of them have physical, emotional or economical challenges. The company, based in Minneapolis, offers trips and experiences worldwide.

 

Their portfolio of activities all fall within one of five categories. The first is Share the adventure, where groups go on trips to experience the wilderness. Second is Families Integrating Together, where families participate in local adventures to help them bond. Third, Urban Wilderness Canoe Adventures, which connects Minnesota youth with the natural world through hands-on outdoor learning. The fourth program, Canoemobile, is an extension of the third, and provides canoeing experiences worldwide to connect the youth to waterways. The final program, Gateway to Adventure, provides life-training in the outdoors for those with cognitive disabilities.

 

With an annual budget of about 2-1/2 million dollars, they are able to accomplish a lot.