Partner Organizations

WI partners with organizations all over the country and the world. Here are links to some of our partners and to some other organizations that might help you find what you are looking for.

Premier Partners
		CommonBond Communities CommonBond Communities is the Upper Midwest's largest nonprofit provider of affordable housing with onsite services. Wilderness Inquiry is proud to be a partner with CommonBond Communities.

		Friends of the Chicago River The Friends of the Chicago River are dedicated to restoring and protecting the Chicago River. Every year we do a BIG event with them--races on the river with our 24\' Voyageur Canoes.

		Insulindependence Founded by WI trail staff Peter Nerothin, Insulin Dependence is a non-profit organization that works to change diabetic lives through adventure travel, education, and outreach. WI is proud to be a part of Insulindependence trips.

		Minnesota Environmental Fund Wilderness Inquiry is proud to be a member of the Minnesota Environmental Fund.

		Minnesota Life College Minnesota Life College (MLC), located in Richfield, Minnesota, is a not-for-profit, vocational and life skills training program for young adults with learning disabilities. Since 1996, MLC has been dedicated to helping students make a successful transition to independent living and financial self-sufficiency.

		MN Council of Nonprofits The MN Council of Nonprofits is the trade association for non-profit organizations throughout Minnesota. Wilderness Inquiry is proud to be a member.

		Project for Pride in Living PPL’s mission is to work with lower-income individuals and families to achieve greater self-sufficiency through housing, employment training, support services, and education.

		REI REI has long supported the efforts of Wilderness Inquiry.

		The Friends of Ngong Road The mission of Friends of Ngong Road is to provide education and support for Nairobi children living in poverty whose families are affected by HIV/AIDS so they can transform their lives. Friends of Ngong Road pairs each sponsor with a specific child allowing a mutually beneficial relationship to develop. WI Partners with FNR to host volunteers and run a summer camp for kids in Kenya.

		Wintergreen Clothing and Designs Wintergreen makes the best winter and outdoor clothing, including Wilderness Inquiry fleece jackets. They are owned and operated by Sue and Paul Schurke, in Ely, MN. Wilderness Inquiry has been partners with them since the beginning!


Other Partners

Environmental Organizations Friends of the Apostle Islands -- Join the organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the Apostle Islands. Friends of the BWCA -- Wilderness Inquiry has long supported the Friends of the Boundary Waters. The struggle to preserve the BWCA is how we were started. Friends of the Mississippi River -- The Friends of the Mississippi work to protect and enhance the upper Mississippi River. If you care about the Mississippi, join this group. Go Green Travel Green -- This is a great blog on traveling green,written by our friends Elizabeth and Kimberly. Check it out to learn some interesting ways you can travel green. Sierra Club -- The Sierra Club and Wilderness Inquiry have cooperated for years--we used to share office space with the North Star Chapter. The Nature Conservancy -- Wilderness Inquiry has been a long-time partner with The Nature Conservancy, conducting trips and other activities for various chapters. The Wilderness Society -- Wilderness Inquiry is a long-time partner with The Wilderness Society.
Outdoor Organizations America Outdoors -- America Outdoors is the Trade Association of America's Outfitters & Guides. Wilderness Inquiry has been involved with America Outdoors since 1994. Canoecountry.com -- Canoecountry.com has a listing of Wilderness Inquiry and Boundary Water outfitters. Directory 4 Travel -- A great site for various travel organizations, including Wilderness Inquiry. Girl Scouts of the USA -- Wilderness Inquiry is pleased to partner with Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and Girl Scout Councils throughout the United States. WI has formed an official cooperative alliance with GSUSA that includes trip opportunities, training, and resource sharing for participants. WI is also an official provider of Outdoor Getaways as part of GSUSA's destinations program. You can learn more at http://www.studio2b.org/escape/destinations/destinations_411.asp To learn more about WI and our inclusive wilderness adventures, please visit http://www.wildernessinquiry.org/about_us/whatiswi.php Wabikimi Wilderness Adventures -- Our friends in Wabikimi who help with all sorts of things--shuttles, outfitting, local knowledge.
Disability Related Sites Access Anything -- Great website with links for persons with disabilities who want to get out there. Brain Injury Association of Minnesota -- The only statewide nonprofit organization in Minnesota devoted solely to serving the needs of the estimated 100,000 Minnesotans (12,000 children and young adults) who live with disability due to brain injury, their families and the professionals who work with them. Courage Center -- Courage Center provides long-term care services. Family Support Center on Disabilities -- The Family Support Center on Disabilities: Knowledge & Involvement Network (call us KIN for short!) offers you a centralized resource on the full range of options available to individuals with disabilities and their families. Independent Living - Links to Disability Resources -- Links to various organizations and services for persons with disabilities. Institute on Community Integration -- The University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration is just down the street from Wilderness Inquiry. We partner with them on many projects. They also help us evaluate the effectiveness of our programs. Life is Full Magazine -- Former Wilderness Inquiry staffer Jenny Carlton is the editor of this on-line magazine. Life on Wheels Minnesota Assoc. of Centers for Independent Living -- Our friends who run the Centers for Independent Living National Ability Center National Center on Accessibility National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities National MS Society -- Wilderness Inquiry has enjoyed a long partnership with the National MS Society. Mary Waring, sister of WI founder Greg Lais, has MS. National Spinal Cord Injury Association PACER -- Wilderness Inquiry partnered with PACER Center to start our family programs in 1996. Special Olympics Minnesota -- Wilderness Inquiry is proud to be partners with Special Olympics Minnesota! Click on the link above to learn more about this partnership from the Summer 2009 edition of the Special Olympics Minnesota Forerunner newsletter. the National Council on Independent Living -- The National Council on Independent Living is the longest-running national cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. Founded in 1982, NCIL represents thousands of organizations and individuals including: Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), individuals with disabilities, and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States. The Nth Degree -- This is Dan Wilkins site in Ohio. It is one of the BEST sources of T-shirts, bumper stickers and more for inclusion and disability issues. We regularly buy stuff here, and we have one of his bumper stickers on every WI van. Cool site!
Government Agencies Marine Corps Association MN Department of Natural Resources National Council on Disability National Park Service US Bureau of Reclamation US Department of the Interior USDA Forest Service
Nature & Wildlife Sites North American Assoc. for Environmental Education Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota Voyageurs National Park Association Wilderness Information Network -- Managed by the Interagency Carhart Center and the University of Montana, Missoula, this website features many wilderness areas and programs, including Wilderness Inquiry.
Sport & Recreation Sites Northwest Canoe Company, Inc. Outdoor Explorations The Outdoor Directory The Outdoor Store Voyageur Ventures
Other Links St. Thomas Teams with WI to offer CE Credit -- Teachers and other professionals can get continuing education units through St. Thomas University.