Our Mission: Getting You Outside

Wilderness Inquiry’s mission is to connect people from all walks of life to the natural world through shared outdoor adventures. Through the medium of outdoor adventure travel, we inspire personal growth, enhanced awareness of the environment and community integration. Our adventures encourage people to open themselves to new possibilities and opportunities.

In addition to our many great adventures for adults, we facilitate opportunities for urban youth, individuals with disabilities, and other nontraditional users of public lands and waterways via programs such as Canoemobile, Gateway to Adventure, and Outdoor Career Academy. Since 1978, we’ve directly served more than half a million individuals.

Our programs facilitate fundamental changes in perceptions and beliefs, breaking down barriers between people. During a Wilderness Inquiry experience, participants begin to realize that perceived differences, such as ability level, ethnicity, or economic status, are less significant than their common humanity. One participant shared, “It was good to be a part of a group of people from various backgrounds and physical abilities. We focused on people’s strengths rather than the weaknesses.”

For 41 years, Wilderness Inquiry has created a replicable, scalable, and customizable model of inclusive outdoor experience. Long before “Social Enterprises” became mainstream, Wilderness Inquiry’s innovative model provided an opportunity for participants to explore the natural world while making outdoor spaces accessible to individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Revenue from our public adventures is used to support our programs.