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Welcome to the Wilderness Institute website

Furthering the understanding of wilderness and
its stewardship through education, research, and service.


Explore wildland conservation and the human-nature relationship through an undergraduate field and campus program at the University of Montana.

“Wilderness and Civilization has done more to equip me for “real world” conservation than any regular class could have. I have learned more about myself, my community, and the land around me in one year than I had previously in my lifetime.”
~former student

Wilderness and Civilization is an inspiring and demanding campus- and field-based academic program. Each year, a small group of students from around the country are immersed for two semesters in the study of wildland conservation and the human-nature relationship. Coursework is interdisciplinary, and the program combines the strengths of classroom and field learning, small class size, dedicated faculty, and internship experience.

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This Summer Volunteer for Wilderness!

Wilderness managers have invited the Wilderness Institute and community volunteers to complete weed and recreation monitoring and restoration work in the Gospel Hump Wilderness this summer. The Wilderness Institute will work with volunteers to map, pull, and reseed weed infestations in the Gospel Hump Wilderness and release weed biocontrols where appropriate. Field leaders and volunteers will also inventory campsites and track recreation impacts. This is the fourth year of an ongoing restoration project by the Wilderness Institute, supported by the National Forest Foundation and the Forest Service. In the past three season we’ve completed work in the Selway-Bitterroot, Anaconda-Pintler, Cabinet Mountains, Rattlesnake, Welcome Creek, and Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Areas. For more info and to volunteer>>

For more info and to volunteer>>

Wilderness Institute
College of Forestry & Conservation
The University of Montana,
Missoula, Montana 59812
Tel: (406)243-5361; E-mail: wi@forestry.umt.edu