Wild Society is a small outdoor education nonprofit based in western Washington that provides backpacking trips for youth and adults in the Olympic mountains, as well as community events centered around love for the natural world. We work to establish relationships between human hearts and the everyday wild through adventure, scientific inquiry, storytelling, and hands-on skills.
Our Story
Wild Society was formed in 2015 to create opportunities for people to fall in love with the natural world. From the beginning, Wild Society acknowledged that everybody has a different way in which they relate with the world around them, offering diverse and varied programming. The priority of our programs has always been to facilitate experiences that are inspiring and exciting for people to continue their own journey and build relationships with the natural world. Offered fully on public lands, Wild Society strives to create a sense of belonging in the spaces and places 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 the wild places I love with people who have yet to love them because they help me live; and I know that for the wild to continue to live more humans must love and feel a part of it.
Founder, Myrna Keliher
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
Founder, Forrest Nichols
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.
Learn more about the programs we offer and join us!
How We’re Funded
Wild Society is supported through a combination of direct public support, program tuition, and grants. In the interest of maximizing access and affordability, our tuition fees are structured to cover only basic program costs. Core operations, program development, and new partnerships are largely dependent on grants, donations, and volunteer hours. We welcome donations of any size and are grateful to be able to do this work with a supportive community.
