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.  Brian Reynolds and Ralf Provant saw firsthand 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 students in natural resource monitoring and service projects.   Students not only gain the investigative tools necessary to make sense of the natural world, but they also understand the competing interests that surround natural resource decision making.
 
Our staff is made up of teachers and experienced river guides.  The student to staff ratio is 4:1.  The total number of students on each trip ranges from 12-16. On the trips, college bound high school students act as mentors to low income junior high school students. 


Board of Directors
Leslie Freeman
Dick Jordan
Luanne Ostrow
Ralf Provant
Brian Reynolds

WSE Partners
Boise Parks & Recreation
Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute
Salmon Surfers & BLM
TREE, Inc.

Guides
Leslie Freeman
Dick Jordan
Ralf Provant
Brian Reynolds
Pat Rose