Wallowa Mountain Institute Youth Programs

Wallowa Mountain Institute Youth Programs includes WREN Explorers, WREN Summer Hikes, Friday WREN, and the OWL Program. WREN Explorers includes hikes, games, art, play, catching frogs and insects at a pond, and exploring a forest. WREN Summer Hikes includes hiking and team building games, Friday WREN includes outdoor exploration and natural science activities, and the OWL Program is a 4-day, week-long outdoor school program.

Programs

• WREN Explorers — 2nd to 4th graders; kids entering 2nd to 4th grade in the fall · Week-long summer day camp; Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:00 PM · Registration opens March 13th, 2026. Registration closes March 27th. Capacity: 15 students per week.
• WREN Summer Hikes — Kids entering 5th and 6th grade in the fall · Summer hikes; June 30th, 2026 and July 7th, 2026 · Capacity: 15 students per hike. Intro to WREN registration opens March 13th, 2026 at 8:00 AM. Spots are first-come, first-served.
• Friday WREN — 5th to 8th graders · Every spring and fall; Fridays · Registration opens September 11th, 2026 at 8:00 AM. Registration closes September 26th. Capacity: 15 students per class.
• OWL Program — 4th-6th graders; Wallowa County 4-6th graders · 4-day, week-long outdoor school program

At a glance

• Ages: 7–14 years old
• Current session: Friday WREN Fall 2026 (Oct 2–Nov 6, 2026)
• General schedule: WREN programs provide expanded learning opportunities for K-12 youth. The OWL program is a 4-day, week-long outdoor school program each year.

About the provider

WMI works to educate and engage with young people through place-based, hands-on programs. Its mission includes increasing knowledge on rural issues, growing leadership capacity, building workforce development, and encouraging community and land stewardship. The programs seek to educate and inspire the next generation of land, water, and community stewards, build leadership capacity, and increase K-12 STEM learning opportunities and science literacy. The leadership team includes Emily Bratcher, Lily Rhoades, Jacob Losby, and Aaron Maxwell.

WMI says making youth programs completely free of charge is important to equity and accessibility. WREN Explorers registration is lottery-based. Friday WREN spots are first-come, first-served. OWL works with schools to develop curriculum that meets state and national standards.

What families say

“Rain or shine, our son looked forward to every Friday WREN class. He always came home with stories to tell and knowledge to share. The programs have taught him about the geography and ecology of his home, and have helped him build confidence with his peers and in the outdoors.” — WREN Parent

Last updated September 5, 2026.