Wild Society is a small outdoor education nonprofit based in western Washington dedicated to connecting youth with the natural world through backpacking trips in the Olympic Mountains. We cultivate lasting relationships between young people and the wild through adventure, scientific inquiry, storytelling, and hands-on outdoor skills.
Our Story
Founded in 2015, Wild Society creates opportunities for young people to fall in love with the natural world. Our programs provide inspiring wilderness experiences that set youth up for a lifelong enjoyment of the outdoors. Operating entirely on public lands, we help young people discover they belong in these spaces available to us all.
As a teenager on my first backpacking trip across the Olympics, I found a refuge I didn’t know existed. That presence and feeling of acceptance has never left me. Every hour spent in the backcountry reinforces my basic sense of belonging in the world. I share these wild places because they sustain me, and because the wild needs more people to love it.
– Myrna Keliher, Founder
When I look back on my life, the moments that stand out the brightest are the times where I was in a wild and beautiful place with people I cared about. My inspiration comes from those moments. For
– Forrest Nichols, Founder
those of us who love the natural world, it is imperative that we share that love with others. When people find a connection to nature, not only are their lives enriched, but they are more likely to contribute to the preservation and stewardship of those places. The sharing of a love of nature supports both the people and the places that we care about.
How We’re Funded
Wild Society is supported through donations, program tuition, and grants. We keep tuition fees low to maximize accessibility, covering only basic program costs. Core operations and program growth depend on grants, donations, and volunteer hours. We’re grateful for contributions of any size and for the community that makes this work possible, including these incredibly generous partners:
