Wilderness Inquiry
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Wilderness Inquiry Scholarship Program Overview

Wilderness Inquiry’s mission is to make the outdoors accessible to everyone regardless of background, ability, or socio-economic status. Thanks to generous donations from trip alumni, parents, foundations, corporations, and others we are able to provide scholarships to thousands of individuals and families each year. For information on how to support our scholarship fund click here.

Wilderness Inquiry provides two types of scholarships:

1. Financial Need-Based Scholarships – To find out if you are eligible for assistance, please complete our financial aid application form www.wildernessinquiry.org/financialaid.

2. Population Focused Scholarships – Donors have targeted scholarship funds to serve the following populations. If you or someone you know qualifies for one of these scholarships, please contact Cory Dahlat 612-676-9428 or cory@wildernessinquiry.org for more information on how to register for a trip.

  • Individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries – With a grant from the Craig H. Nielsen Foundation, people with spinal cord injuries are eligible for a scholarship of up to $500 toward Wilderness Inquiry trip and ground transportation fees for WI multi-day trips. Trip information is available at http://www.wildernessinquiry.org/destinations/activities.php
  • Individuals with Blindness and Visual Impairments from Minnesota – People with blindness or vision loss who live in Minnesota are eligible for scholarships of up to $625 toward Wilderness Inquiry trip and ground transportation fees for WI multi-day trips or a combination of a day trip and a multi-day trip. Funding is provided by grant from the Jane McCarthy Fund for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Multi-day trip information is available at http://www.wildernessinquiry.org/destinations/activities.php and day trip information is available at http://www.wildernessinquiry.org/tripinfo/daytrips.php
  • Wisconsin Residents – A grant from the Lux Foundation provides scholarships for low-income Wisconsin residents toward Wilderness Inquiry trip and ground transportation fees for WI multi-day trips.  Scholarship applications and a list of trips are available at http://www.wildernessinquiry.org/financialaid

Jennifer Simmons on Horse

Jennifer S. - Scholarship Recipient

Ten years ago I made a list of things I wanted to do before I die. That list was short and very general but included "visit the Apostle Islands, see Lake Superior."  Then I became spinal cord injured and my physical condition, or so I thought, limited me from adventuring.

Then a friend told me about Wilderness Inquiry. The program and its more than capable staff enabled me to make my long held dream come true more fully than I ever imaged possible.

I am so appreciative of the support I received to make my dream of kayaking the Apostles a reality!