Snapshots: Into the Great Outdoors

 

UW’s Outdoor Program gave Ingrid Hofmeister experiences and skills she never expected.

 

By Micaela Myers

 

Ingrid Hofmeister grew up in Hoehne, Colo., riding horses, hiking, fishing and mountain biking, so when her Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources course brought her to the University of Wyoming’s Outdoor Program in her freshman year, she immediately wanted to get involved. She is now a senior studying wildlife and fisheries biology and management with minors in rangeland ecology and zoology, and she has been working for the Outdoor Program for three years and also completed its Outdoor Leadership Development Series. 

“We live between some amazing public lands and spaces, so getting outside and just meeting others who enjoy these pursuits is huge,” Hofmeister says. “I want to make sure that students, staff and faculty know that the Outdoor Program is a great resource for just about anything outdoor related. We have tents, hammocks, kayaks, skis, snowshoes and all that, and we also have guided trips and clinics if you don’t know where to go or have anyone to go with, or you don’t know what you’re doing.”

In addition to helping with the rentals and clinics, Hofmeister is in charge of the Outdoor Program’s social media and marketing, which opened her eyes to new job possibilities that combine her passion for conservation with her newfound marketing skills. Her participation in the Outdoor Leadership Development Series also expanded her horizons.  

“I came to college with some things in my wheelhouse, but I wasn’t a big skier, and I hadn’t done backpacking or anything,” Hofmeister says. “I wouldn’t have been able to have those experiences without the leadership series. It tested my personal boundaries of what I’m comfortable with, and I was able to do stuff that was super cool.” 

The yearlong program is open to undergraduate and graduate students and provides a foundation for leading others in a wilderness environment. It helps participants improve outdoor technical skills, apply leadership methods and group management skills, and obtain wilderness medicine training. Students leave with a certificate of completion plus nationally recognized first responder and first aid certifications.  

The program includes classroom learning and three trips. Hofmeister started the series with an introductory trip to Glendo State Park, where the participants mountain biked, rock climbed and bonded as a group. 

“After that, we did a backcountry ski trip in the Snowies, and we winter camped,” she says. “We built snow pits to have a fire and everything, which was really fun.” 

The third trip, the participants planned and led themselves. 

“The last trip was backpacking near Grand Staircase-Escalante, Utah, over spring break,” Hofmeister says. “We had to plan our route and pack all of the food and gear. It was a really great trip. I had never been backpacking before or spent time in Utah. I wouldn’t have experienced that or tested my personal boundaries without the leadership program.”

After graduation in December, Hofmeister plans to use her degrees and experiences in the Outdoor Program to work in the conservation field.