ALPINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE

Imagine not just studying, but truly living in the breathtaking foothills of the Wind River Mountains! At the ASI, the student housing experience transcends the ordinary. Here, students come together as a close-knit cohort, embracing the beauty of reflective solitude and thrilling outdoor adventures—all right at their doorstep.

At ASI, students can choose between staying in cabins or our 24-bed residence hall, The Lodge. Meals are a hands-on experience, with students cooking their meals in the spacious kitchen located in Fremont Hall, fully stocked with all the necessary cookware and utensils.  Both Fremont Hall and The Lodge offer inviting common areas, featuring large-screen TVs, comfortable couches, a pool table, and ample space to unwind and socialize. And yes—laundry is free!     

Students can also take advantage of our extensive outdoor gear collection, including cross-country and backcountry skis, split boards, mountain bikes, and much more. Dedicated storage is also provided for students’ personal equipment, so they can fully immerse themselves in the great outdoors. 

Experiential Learning

At the ASI, our students’ classroom experience extends onto the trails and the farm, into our national forests, local farmer’s markets, into the backcountry, and beyond.  Experiential learning is an integral part of all of the programs. Students can expect a variety of classes to take place outside where they actively engage in hands-on work and projects as part of their daily coursework.  This includes everything from mountain biking and rock climbing, to water quality sampling, to seed starting, transplanting, and produce harvesting.    

Additionally, students have the opportunity to participate in fieldwork, internships, and practicums courses.  These classes allow students to take skills and knowledge they gain in the classroom and apply them to real-world settings.  Students work in internships in a variety of fields, including governmental and nonprofit agencies, guiding services, and youth recreation camps.  Fieldwork includes projects related to our GeoBridges program in a variety of backcountry settings and practicum courses include work experience in outdoor education and recreation, as well as our Beginning Farm Training and Farm Incubator.

Research

Students at CWC Lander and the Alpine Science Institute have the opportunity to engage in undergraduate research across diverse fields such as geospatial science, environmental science, outdoor recreation, glaciology, climate science, and high-altitude archaeology. During the summer semester, students gather data through expedition and field school courses, which they then analyze throughout the academic year. These research projects culminate in poster presentations at the University of Wyoming’s Undergraduate Research Day.

Expeditions

ASI partners with institutions and agencies across the region, nation and beyond to provide opportunities for students to explore the backcountry while honing their outdoor, leadership and research skills.  Our expeditions take students to the summit of Wyoming’s highest mountain, Gannett Peak and throughout the Wind River Range, into Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and along the Continental Divide Trail.