Larry Raineri

One of our goals is to stretch across as many different years of Wilderness Inquiry staff on our team.  I started along with a few other staff members in 2016. This will be my 10th season at WI. And, although I am not running 4-5 trips a week like other years, I am still able to help out in different ways. Whether its operating the safety boat, or helping lead a stern assessment in staff training. It's hard to describe the many places and people I have interacted with because of WI. Past trips have included places like:

The Chippewa and Superior National Forest teaching youth about careers in the outdoor world.

BWCA

Namekagon River and St. Croix River

Other paddling and programming locations include the Mississippi, Minnesota, Zumbro, and Chicago rivers. Trail Creek, Gary IN lagoons, Lake George- Hobart IN, and the Kankakee River were part of my first canoemobile tour. More spots are the Potomac, Chattahoochee, Jamaica bay NY, Delaware River next to the USS New Jersey.  

I made the jump from formal teaching to being an outdoor educator and guide. Cottonwoods and drainage creeks became the classroom.  The phrase "floating classroom" that we tried to get into as many news interviews as possible, as was tradition, really is accurate. It's such a  fantastic tool to have youth and adults learn of water quality or stewardship but then actually go paddle on the water they just learned about. If you would like to donate, I appreciate any support you would like to give. All of our donations go towards helping everyone of all ages and abilities experience the outdoors. Because, everyone belongs in the outdoors.