Wildlands Studies offers participants first hand experience about the issues facing our wildlands.  Started 30 years ago by Crandall and Marcee Bay, in 2008 Wildlands Studies moved under the direction of Leslie Arutunian, a long-time Wildlands Studies colleague, and Wildlands Studies alumni of the Hawai'i and Baja, Mexico programs. 

Wildlands Studies is an affiliate of California State University Monterey Bay Extended Education.  We have been providing environmental field programs to undergraduates for over 30 years, and can transfer credit to your home institution.

Participants of Wildlands Studies field study projects come from all over the US and Canada.  Generally our participants are undergraduate students or recent college graduates.  We often have participants who graduated and are looking to build their resume with field research experience or intend to apply for graduate school.  More and more, we are excited to welcome international students.

Faculty of Wildlands Studies programs come from around the world, and hold either a PhD or Masters of Science.  Many are professors and enjoy field study work, others are researchers who want to help broaden students' exposure to wildlife and environmental issues.  All are concerned about the impact of development and growth on our natural environment. 

Safety is an important factor in Wildlands Studies projects. We take great pride in our excellent safety record. All our instructors are experienced backcountry guides, and are certified in First Aid and CPR. Learning to identify and avoid potential risks is one of the most valuable skills that participants can learn in the field. While generally quite safe, wilderness travel does come with inherent risks. Injuries and accidents can happen. Participants should be aware of the potential for dangerous situations to arise, and feel confident that Wildlands Studies has established procedures to help protect both students and the environment.

We love our wildlands. Wherever we go, we strive seriously to minimize our impact on the land. We believe that to know its beauty and feel its inner music is a human need, a need important to our hearts as well as our heritage.

As concerned citizens, we invite you to join one of our teams, and help in the effort to solve critical problems facing our wildlands and wildlife populations.

We’re eager to hear about your interest in our programs. Please contact us at:

Wildlands Studies
PO Box 3403
Santa Cruz, CA  95063
(831) 477-9955
E-mail: wildlands@wildlandsstudies.com

Sincerely,

Leslie Arutunian
Director, Wildlands Studies