Virtual Wilderness Trips, Tours, and Learning Sessions
Wilderness Inquiry developed virtual adventures to advance our mission of connecting everyone to the outdoors, regardless of age, ability, or background. Each Virtual Adventure is led by outdoor professionals and partners including biologists, historians, and rangers from the National Park Service. Explore destinations near and far, and learn about topics such as history, culture, and ecology. Our virtual adventures are a great fit for armchair travelers looking to explore from home, program coordinators looking for new learning opportunities, or anyone interested in learning more about the natural world.
Upcoming Sessions
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We currently have no dates scheduled for this itinerary. If you have a group of people interested, we can set up a customized experience just for you! Please contact us or request a trip quote below if you are interested in learning more.
National Park Virtual Adventures
Glacier National Park
(photo by Greg Lais)
Encompassing the Rocky Mountains with glacier-carved peaks, crystal blue waters, and acres of alpine flora and fauna, Glacier National Park is a gem of rugged wilderness. Whether a new visitor or a seasoned traveler within its borders, there is something for everyone in this virtual session with a Glacier National Park specialist guest speaker.
Yellowstone National Park
(photo by Jean Baptiste)
From steaming geysers, grizzly bears, bison, and miles of rivers, mountains, and forest, Yellowstone never fails to dazzle visitors of all ages every single year. Join Yellowstone National Park specialists for this virtual session to learn more about America’s favorite National Park.
Everglades National Park
(photo by Aldric Rivat)
Alligators, manatees, and dolphins, oh my! Learn how the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. uses its varied ecosystems to provide habitat to the myriad of animals and more. Discover how mangroves, sawgrass marshes, pine flatwoods, and other ecosystems are intertwined as part of the freshwater flow from Lake Okeechobee. Join us for this jam-packed wildlife session with experts from the park!
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
(photo by Cedric Letsch)
Aloha! Get ready to travel across the Pacific for an adventure in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on the island of Hawai’i. We’ll learn about the active volcanoes within the park, as well as the geology, history, and culture of the island.
Voyageurs National Park
(photo by M. Zonderling)
Explore the world's newest dark sky park located in northern Minnesota! Adventure along the Canadian border that straddles Rainy, Kabetogama and Namakan lakes. Learn from Park Rangers about this iconic area that can be only accessed by boat, and chat with University of Minnesota researchers who discuss their work with the Voyageurs Wolf Project.
Biology & Natural History Virtual Adventures
All About Bees
(photo by Jamie Street)
Spring is a-buzz! Time to shake off that cabin fever and get ready to learn about the little insects who help make the spring more beautiful by playing a crucial role in pollination: bees! While many species are important pollinators, bees hold a special place in our hearts... perhaps it’s that delicious honey? For today’s session we are joined by a bee specialist to teach you all you’ve ever wanted to know about bees.
A Year in the Life of a Bear
(photo by Spencer Rettler)
Sometimes there is more to life than eating honey and stealing picnic baskets! Join University of Minnesota researcher Spencer Rettler as he discusses a year in the life of a bear including hibernation, raising cubs, finding food, and preparing for winter. You will learn how black bears use their sense of smell to navigate through the forest, what type of wild berries they like to eat, and where they build a den for hibernation.
Natural History of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
(photo by Angela Banks)
Situated along the Canadian border in northern Minnesota, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) encompasses over 1 million acres within the Superior National Forest. In this session learn about the unique mixture of forests, glacial lakes, and streams that are the cornerstone of this popular canoeing, hiking, and fishing destination.
Canoe History: An Engineering Masterpiece
(photo by Peter MacMillan)
This course is a four-part series exploring sites along the Mississippi River in Minnesota. During each 90-minute session, learners will solve a mystery about a given site while exploring material connected to science and social studies academic standards.
Guest Presentation Virtual Adventures
The Bird Chick - Sharon Stiteler
(photo by St. Paul Visitor's Bureau)
Have you ever wondered what is making all that racket in your backyard? Join Sharon Stiteler, National Park Service ranger, author and self described “Bird Chick” as she shares her knowledge of how birds communicate. Find out who is flying and chirping in your backyard.
Dave & Amy Freeman Year in the BWCA
(photo by Nate Ptacek)
In September 2015, Dave and Amy Freeman embarked on a yearlong adventure in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness along the Canadian border in northern Minnesota. During their 366 days in the Wilderness, they traveled more than 2,000 miles by canoe and dog team and visited more than 500 lakes and streams. Join us on this virtual presentation to learn why they embarked on this adventure!
Outdoor Cooking with Beth Dooley
(photo by Claire Hassler)
Join James Beard award winning cookbook author, Beth Dooley, as she guides you through how to shake off that cabin fever, get outside, and cook a delicious meal out in the fresh air! She'll cover the basics of the best healthy foods to pack for an adventure, and share how to prepare them over a camp cookstove.
Greta Smith, USFS District Ranger
(photo provided by Greta Smith)
Join deaf US Forest Service District Ranger Greta Smith as she shares what inspired her to pursue an outdoor career, the barriers she's faced, and the myriad of positions she's held that helped get her to where she is today.
Recreation Virtual Adventures
Traditional Snowshoe Construction
(photo by Molly Street)
Join snowshoe artisans Eric and Shelley Larson as they guide you through the traditional origins of snowshoeing. We will walk through various types of snowshoes and how they are made for different types of terrain and explore the significance of this tradition among native peoples.
Dogsledding Basics
(photo by Kate Heppner)
Based out of Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge in Ely, MN, we’ll be joined by renowned explorer and co-founder of Wilderness Inquiry, Paul Schurke, as he shares all you’ve ever wanted to know about dog sledding. In this program session, learn the ins-and-outs of the canine-powered mode of travel humans have used for over 1000 years, and listen from the warm comforts of your own home as Paul shares stories of his arctic dogsled adventures.
Inside the Manufacturing of a Canoe
(photo by Greg Lais)
As you paddle your canoe downriver or across the lake have you ever wondered “How’d they make that?” This virtual session will answer that question as we delve into the workshop of a Midwestern canoe manufacturer - Wenonah Canoes. Join us for a tour of the entire process - starting with the design and ending with the final layer of paint.
Our group did a virtual tour of the Everglades with Wilderness Inquiry. We had such a great time. Probably the highlight of our virtual tour was seeing an alligator! - Maggie D.