Wilderness Science Education, Inc. (WSE) is a non-profit organization committed to offering river-based science courses that involve hands-on learning. WSE particularly tries to serve low income youth who would not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in these types of activities.
WSE was established in 2000 by two teachers at an alternative junior high. Ex-river guide Brian Reynolds and Ralf Provant had seen the positive academic and social benefits that overnight field trips had on their students.
Using the Lower Salmon River in Idaho as a classroom, WSE participants paddle 3-6 days down the Salmon and Snake Rivers, studying fisheries, noxious weeds, stream ecology, fire ecology, water quality, geology, and botany.
At every available opportunity, WSE engages our students in natural resource monitoring and service projects. Students not only gain the investigative tools necessary to make sense of the natural world, but also understand the competing interests that surround natural resource decision making.
Our staff is made up of teachers and river guides. The student:staff ratio is 4:1. The total number of students on each trip ranges from 12-16. 84 participants are anticipated in Summer 2009. On the trips, college bound high school students act as mentors to low income junior high school students.