Wild Idaho: Coming Home
Wild Idaho!, ICL’s annual meeting at Redfish Lake Lodge, is coming up right around the corner on May 15, 16, and 17. We’re looking forward to being together in one of Idaho’s most beautiful places for a weekend of conversation, connection, and shared commitment to the places we love.
If you’re already planning to attend, we can’t wait to see you there. And if you know someone who might be inspired by this gathering – a friend, family member, colleague, young conservationist, or someone who cares deeply about Idaho’s public lands, clean water, wildlife, and communities – we’d love your help spreading the word.
While we have a fantastic program and speakers planned, the real magic of Wild Idaho is in the conversations sparked by these sessions.
Some organizations rely on corporate-style retreats or dedicated “think tanks” to develop policy recommendations. At Wild Idaho, our conservation think tank is the front porch of the Redfish Lake Lodge, looking out onto Redfish Lake and Mount Heyburn. It’s the kind of place where big ideas feel grounded in the landscape itself. This porch is where Governor Cecil Andrus and Congressman Mike Simpson once visited to discuss ways to protect the Boulder-White Clouds. And Wild Idaho has long been a place where ICL supporters, students, community leaders, and staff have gathered to strategize around protecting our open space, the Owyhee Canyonlands, old growth forests, Idaho’s Dark Skies, and more.
ICL Board Member Matt Benjamin gives a talk about dark skies. When the sun sets and stars come out at Wild Idaho, Matt leads attendees outside for a night of stargazing. Peter Lovera photo.
These conversations have been happening at Wild Idaho for decades. Past keynote speakers have ranged from Earth First! founder Dave Foreman to Idaho senators and members of Congress. Wild Idaho brings people together to talk about what makes their hearts beat faster, how we can best work together to protect what we love, and why it matters to pause long enough to celebrate our successes.
Wild Idaho is all about savoring what you want to save.
The theme for this year’s gathering is “Resilient by Nature.” In turbulent times like these, Wild Idaho can feel a bit like catching an eddy in the middle of a Class V rapid – a place to catch your breath, reflect, reconnect, scout the rest of the rapid, and gather yourself for the next stretch of water..
Our keynote speaker is Bruce Reichert, the longtime host for the award-winning “Outdoor Idaho” series. Bruce brings a unique perspective on how Idaho’s public lands serve as common ground, and on the many different ways people have come together to protect them. We’ll also hear from experts on the future of public lands, salmon, mining, and the many conservation issues in the Idaho legislature.
Wild Idaho is also about coming home. ICL supporters reconnect with friends they may not have seen in years and build new friendships that last well beyond the weekend. We hope to see you there – for the panels, the meals, the “Jump-in-the-Lake” paddle raise, and the memories that will last for years to come.
Every year, brave ICL staff jump in Redfish Lake in gratitude of our members, donors, and wild Idaho!
Wild Idaho 2018. Matt Wordell photo.