Wilderness Inquiry

Earlier this month, we partnered with Pomeroy Recreation & Rehabilitation Center for an unforgettable adventure in Yellowstone National Park — demonstrating once again that our national parks are for everyone. 🦬  July is Disability Pride Month and also marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), celebrated each year on July 26. Signed into law in 1990, this landmark civil rights legislation is central to Wilderness Inquiry’s mission because it:   ✅ Protects the civil rights of people with disabilities, affirming that equal access to public life — including outdoor spaces — is a right, not a privilege.   ✅ Requires public spaces and facilities that support outdoor experiences (like visitor centers, lodging, and transportation hubs) to be physically accessible, with ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms.  Those same principles of access and inclusion are at the heart of trips like this one. With the help of adaptive equipment, Wilderness Inquiry Outdoor Leaders, and The Pomeroy Center's incredible team, participants had the chance to watch geysers erupt, roll and walk across boardwalks above bubbling thermal pools, share stories around the campfire, and explore Yellowstone with confidence.  #WildernessInquiry #PomeroyRecreation #DisabilityPrideMonth #Yellowstone #AccessibleAdventure #AllAbilitiesWelcome #InclusiveOutdoors #OutdoorEquity 📸- Pomeroy Recreation & Rehabilitation Center

If the Boundary Waters or Apostle Islands have your heart, this is your reminder to grab one of our tees from the Ursa Minor Outfitters store! Pair with the Wilderness Inquiry dad hat as the perfect trip (and everyday) companion. ☀️ Shop here: https://lnkd.in/gSaChNHM Already paddled with us this summer? Throw on your merch and tag us in your photos! #WildernessInquiry #ApostleIslands #BoundaryWaters #UrsaMinorOutfitters #OutdoorStyle #CampComfort #InclusiveOutdoors #EveryoneBelongsOutdoors

🛶 Summer days are best spent on the water! We recently teamed up with our friends at GiGi's Playhouse Twin Cities for an incredible day program at Bush Lake Park. GiGi’s Playhouse is an amazing nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals with Down syndrome and their families. We got to hit the lake with a fantastic group of teens, young adults, and their support systems – and for many of them, this was their very first time paddling a canoe! We’ve been proudly partnering with GiGi’s Playhouse since 2022 to break down barriers and get people of all abilities outdoors. Seeing everyone master the paddles and enjoy the sunshine made for an unforgettable summer day. ☀️✨

Join our team! We're hiring a Leadership Giving Officer to join our Development team. If you are a: • Relationship builder • Data-oriented fundraiser • Warm, friendly communicator • Organized project manager ...we encourage you to apply! Click here to read the full job description: https://lnkd.in/g4z242rN

This week, wildfires in northern Minnesota have led to the temporary closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), and conditions—including air quality—are worsening day by day. For nearly 50 years, Wilderness Inquiry has been connected to the BWCAW and the people who call this region home. Our thoughts are with the communities, our partners, the firefighters and land managers, and all of those being impacted by the wildfires in and around the BWCAW, and we are deeply grateful for their work and resilience. Because of the wildfires, we have canceled several Wilderness Inquiry trips this week and may need to cancel additional trips next week. These decisions are based on one priority: the safety of our participants, guides, and partner communities, including the risks posed by hazardous air quality. Here’s what we’re doing: • Monitoring U.S. Forest Service, air quality, and local fire authority updates in real time • Canceling, rerouting, or rescheduling trips when there is any question about safety or access • Communicating directly with affected participants about their options Here’s what we’re asking from you: • Please respect all BWCAW closures, fire restrictions, and air quality advisories • If you are scheduled for an upcoming Wilderness Inquiry trip, watch for direct communication from our team The BWCAW will reopen when conditions allow. We will resume trips as soon as it is safe and permitted to do so. For the latest information about your Wilderness Inquiry trip, contact us at (612) 676-9400 or info@wildernessinquiry.org. If you’re looking for ways to support Ely and other wilderness‑edge communities right now, consider donating to local nonprofits providing essential services and fire‑response support and supporting local businesses by purchasing gift cards, shopping online, and planning a future visit or guided trip when conditions improve. These communities are resilient, and your support helps ensure they can continue to thrive.

This summer, America turns 250. For military families, that connection to this country runs deep—through its history, its landscapes, and the places where both come together. From Civil War battlefields to ancient canyons to wide‑open prairies, our national parks and public lands hold those stories. This summer is a beautiful time to go explore them. Find your route at https://lnkd.in/gi6Kxw5k. Blue Star Families National Park Service #MilitaryFamiliesOutdoors #MilFam #America250

In late June, we teamed up with Bolder Options Youth Mentoring and headed into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness—and watched confidence grow with every paddle stroke. 🛶 With support from Wilderness Inquiry Outdoor Leaders and Bolder Options mentors, campers learned how to set up tents, cook outside, portage canoes, and work as a team. They didn’t just visit the Boundary Waters—they belonged there. #WildernessInquiry #BolderOptions #EveryoneBelongsOutdoors #BoundaryWaters #YouthOutdoors #OutdoorEquity #CanoeCountry #GetOutsideTogether 📸- Tyler Sanders

What happens when you give Minneapolis Girl Scouts a sunny June day at Bde Maka Ska? Canoes, campfires, and a whole lot of “I did it!” moments. Troops joined Wilderness Inquiry guides for a full day on land and water — paddling, a nature hike, and fire building with s’mores — laughing and learning side by side. For many, it was their first time in a canoe or their first time seeing their own city from the lake. With our canoes and calm, steady support from guides, every scout had a real role to play and a safe way to take part. Days like this are why we do what we do: helping youth feel that the outdoors is for them, right where they live. 📍 Bde Maka Ska, Minneapolis 👧🏽👧🏿👧🏼 Minneapolis Girl Scouts 🛶 Wilderness Inquiry – everyone belongs outdoors Want a day like this for your school, youth group, or organization? Drop us a message or visit https://lnkd.in/gS7rxqdB to plan an inclusive day on the water close to home.

We’re honored to be featured in Access Press for our work welcoming people of all abilities into shared outdoor adventures — from paddling the Mississippi to hiking trails with adaptive gear and support. “One of the things that we really feel is important is that we don’t change the wilderness, we just change how we interact with it,” says Wilderness Inquiry Participant and Volunteer Engagement Manager Anne Strootman. Want to see what an inclusive summer outside can look like? 📖 Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gend63rp #WildernessInquiry #AccessibleAdventure #InclusiveTravel #AllAbilitiesWelcome #DisabilityPrideMonth 📸- Caleb Birklid, Corrina Stadler, Nora West, and Zach Damond

What if your next group trip actually felt easy to plan? With Wilderness Inquiry private group trips, you choose your destination, and we handle the permits, logistics, gear, and guides. Perfect for friend groups, family reunions, youth groups, women's groups, or coworkers who want to kayak, canoe, or hike in incredible places without DIY stress. Customize dates, activities, and comfort level, then just show up ready for adventure together. Learn more at the link here: https://lnkd.in/g_4k__d6 #WildernessInquiry #PrivateGroupTrips #GroupTravel #FriendsTrip #FamilyReunion #TeamRetreat #GuidedTrips #EveryoneBelongsOutdoors 📸- Callianne Jones, Matthew Przeslicke, Peter MacMillan, Corrina Stadler, and Claire Hassler