Badlands:
Our Place in the Wild(er)ness

Summer 2018
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Quest Badlands takes you into the heart of a beautiful and wild landscape of the North Dakota Badlands. Together we will explore in-depth this awe-inspiring landscape, questioning what it means to be human and to have a space in this ecosystem and in our world. With Quest you will learn to slow down- to hear the sound of the wind, to spot the birds and insects flitting between the trees, to identify the plants which fill the landscape, and to appreciate the challenges and joys of the small town life which characterizes this part of North Dakota, and which has gone through considerable change in the past decade with the influx of labor, social and political instability and industrial development following the boom of the domestic hydraulic fracking industry. Together with your team you will camp and work with the US National Park Service, learning your place in the wild(er)ness! 

Our host is John Heiser, a cattle rancher and national park ranger, and one of the region's premier wilderness advocates and naturalists. With him, we will help with a backcountry project in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, while learning about wildlife and discussing our lives and world. We will also talk with a variety of people--ranchers, government agents, environmentalists, and Native American leaders-- along the way to hear their stories about local land politics and the future of their home landscape. 

Quest Badlands is rooted in a sense of place—what it means to know the land and to love one’s home. You'll get your hands dirty, see some of our country’s most marvelous wildlife, and learn about the most pressing environmental issues facing our world.  Apply today!
Applications Currently Closed 
Cost: approximately $450, Includes transportation, lodging, meals, and program fees.

Guide: TBA

Who can apply?: UW-Madison students and well-qualified folks from nearby schools

Group size: 8-12 total

Application Deadline: TBA

Want to know more? Check out reflections from past Quest Badlands students!
"Everything about the trip surprised me! I had an incredible time swimming in quicksand, working with livestock and meeting people I truly connected with. I would go back again in a heartbeat!"
“This trip taught me about togetherness-about working and being together in a group, being within myself, and connecting to nature.  This trip provided a perspective check in a way other experiences do not.” 
In the past, students have...
- Worked fixing fences, restoring trails, installing posts, and improving infrastructure at Theodore Roosevelt National Park 
- Camped and hiked along the beautiful backcountry trails at Theodore Roosevelt National Park 
- Visited and cared for animals at a ranger's cattle ranch
- Learned about the geologic, environmental, and human history of the region at the North Dakota Heritage Center
- Met with community leaders and discussed the impact of the oil industry in the region at the Fort Berthold Reservation
- Toured reconstructed Mandan Native-American village at Ft. Lincoln State Park
- Met with the US Forest Service and discussed the purpose and value of public land
- Camped at Custer State Park, visited Mt. Rushmore 
“QUEST Badlands was more than I ever dreamed it would be when I first replied to The Crossing’s email.  The trip challenged me to connect with the wilderness, myself, and people that are different than me.  QUEST Badlands was bigger and badder than I expected- reply to that email and apply.”