Wilderness Inquiry
Wilderness Inquiry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 that operates guided outdoor adventure trips across 20+ U.S. and 7 international destinations for adults, families, youth, people with disabilities, and military families, reaching nearly 40,000 participants annually through trip fees, donations, and a Canoemobile floating-classroom program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Wilderness Inquiry firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wilderness Inquiry
- Legal name
- Wilderness Inquiry
- Website
- https://wildernessinquiry.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wilderness Inquiry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 that operates guided outdoor adventure trips across 20+ U.S. and 7 international destinations for adults, families, youth, people with disabilities, and military families, reaching nearly 40,000 participants annually through trip fees, donations, and a Canoemobile floating-classroom program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wilderness Inquiry industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Adventure Services
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (56152), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Eco-Adventure Multi-Day Expeditions (Trekking, Hut-to-Hut, Pack Trips) (THAAAEAJ), Instructor-Led Skills Academies (Climbing, Paddling, Mountaineering Schools) (THAAAOAI), Guided Tours & Interpretive Services (Ranger-Led, Naturalist, Cultural Interpretation) (THAAAGAB)
Keywords
Where Wilderness Inquiry is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Wilderness Inquiry business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Trip Fees: Primary revenue from guided outdoor adventure trip fees covering equipment, food, guides, and permits. Pricing varies by trip type and duration from day trips ($55) to extended international adventures ($10,150).
- Donations and Contributions: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization generating revenue through charitable donations, endowment funds, and supporter contributions. Tax-deductible giving with EIN 93-0708637.
- Gift Cards: Gift cards sold for use toward any Wilderness Inquiry trip. Never expire.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Day Trips |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Family Adventures (3-6 days) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Extended Trips |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Women's Adventures |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lodge-Based Adventures |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | International Adventures |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Financial Aid Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Wilderness Inquiry product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wilderness Inquiry provides guided, all-inclusive outdoor adventure trips—paddling, hiking, camping, and lodge-based experiences—across 20+ U.S. destinations and seven international destinations, with full equipment, food, guides, and permits included. The organization also operates the Canoemobile floating classroom program serving youth, custom private group trips for organizations, and accessibility-focused trips for people with disabilities. Pricing ranges from $55 day trips to $10,150 international expeditions, with financial aid and scholarships available.
Product overview
Wilderness Inquiry is a nonprofit outdoor adventure organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of guided outdoor experiences. The core offering consists of outdoor adventure trips organized by group type (Adult, Family, Women's, Private Groups) and activity type (Hiking, Paddling, Camping, Lodge-Based, Specialty). Key destinations include the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Apostle Islands Base Camp in the USA, plus international locations. The company also operates the Canoemobile mobile classroom program, provides scholarships and financial aid, and sells gift cards. The products work together to fulfill the mission of connecting people of all backgrounds and abilities to nature through shared outdoor adventures.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Canoemobile: A floating classroom program that brings students out on local waterways in 10-person canoes to learn about science, history, geography, and culture. Engages youth in immersive curriculum that helps improve school performance, cultivate stewardship ethic, and create lifelong social-emotional skills.
Products and services
- Guided Outdoor Adventure Trips All-inclusive guided trips covering paddling, hiking, camping, and lodge-based experiences across 20+ U.S. destinations and seven international destinations, with equipment, food, professional guides, and permits bundled in. Offered to individuals, families, women, and pre-formed private groups; pricing ranges from $55 day trips to $10,150 international expeditions.
- Canoemobile Floating Classroom Program A mobile floating classroom that brings students out on local waterways in 10-person canoes to learn about science, history, geography, and culture, designed to improve school performance, cultivate stewardship ethic, and create lifelong social-emotional skills. Reached 38,312 youth, families, and communities in 2025.
- Boundary Waters Adventures Guided canoe, lodge-based, and winter adventures within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota, operated under permit with the USDA Forest Service.
- Apostle Islands Base Camp Adventures State-of-the-art, highly accessible base camp on Lake Superior's South Shore in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, offering kayaking, hiking, and camping experiences with adaptive equipment and inclusive design; recognized with the 2016 NPS Accessibility Excellence Award.
- Private Group Trips Custom-designed private outdoor adventures for pre-formed groups, including corporate team-building, school and college groups, board retreats, and service organizations, with logistics fully handled.
- Wilderness Inquiry Gift Cards Non-expiring gift cards that can be applied toward the cost of any Wilderness Inquiry trip, available for purchase on the website.
- International Adventure Trips Guided overseas adventure trips to Belize & Tikal, Costa Rica, Kenya, Morocco, Patagonia, New Zealand, and Tanzania, with full equipment, guides, and logistics bundled into the per-person trip price.
Quantifiable outcome
- 38,312 youth, families, and communities reached through Canoemobile and day programs annually
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Wilderness Inquiry
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Wilderness Inquiry technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Wilderness Inquiry partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Educators and School AdministratorscorePartnership with educators and school administrators to deliver Canoemobile floating classroom programs and youth outdoor education experiences.
- National Park ServicecoreCollaboration with National Park Service for access to public lands, permits, and joint programming at national park destinations including Apostle Islands, Boundary Waters, and Isle Royale.
- USDA Forest ServicecorePartnership for access to Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, including permit coordination for guided trips.
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR)coreState agency partnership for programming on Minnesota waterways and public lands, including Mississippi River and state parks.
- Bureau of Land ManagementminorFederal agency partnership for access to public lands managed by BLM.
- Social Service OrganizationscorePartnerships with social service organizations to provide outdoor programming access for underserved youth and families.
- KISTERSminorPartnership featured in Smart Water Magazine story on Canoemobile program and waterway education.
- Minnesota Star TribuneminorMedia partnership celebrating shared commitment to outdoor access and community engagement.
- Ursamajor OutfittersminorMerchandise store partnership for Wilderness Inquiry branded merchandise.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wilderness Inquiry competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- REI Adventures: REI's guided outdoor adventure trip division offering multi-day hiking, paddling, and international itineraries. Most directly comparable to Wilderness Inquiry on product (guided small-group outdoor trips) and target customer (active outdoor travelers), though it operates as a for-profit.
- National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): Nonprofit wilderness education school offering expedition-based courses in paddling, hiking, and backcountry skills. Closely mirrors Wilderness Inquiry's instructional/adventure expedition model, leadership training, and nonprofit structure.
- Outward Bound USA: Nonprofit experiential outdoor education provider offering multi-day wilderness expeditions for youth, adults, and groups. Comparable to Wilderness Inquiry on mission-driven outdoor education, group programming, and use of public lands.
- Appalachian Mountain Club: Nonprofit outdoor recreation and education organization running guided trips, huts, and skills programs in the Northeast. Comparable on guided adventure programming, member-supported nonprofit model, and educational mission.
- Backroads: Active adventure travel company offering guided small-group hiking, paddling, and family trips domestically and internationally. Closely comparable to Wilderness Inquiry's extended adventure trips and family trip segments.
- Adventure Women: For-profit tour operator specializing in women-only guided outdoor adventure trips worldwide. Directly comparable to Wilderness Inquiry's Women's Adventures segment in both product and target segment.
Broad incumbents
- Girl Scouts of the USA (Outdoor Programs): National nonprofit operating outdoor camps, troop trips, and adventure programs for youth. Comparable to Wilderness Inquiry's Canoemobile and youth programming in terms of mission and audience, but at much larger scale and scope.
- Sierra Club (Outings): Large environmental nonprofit that operates member-led outdoor trips, including international and domestic adventures. Comparable on nonprofit trip offerings and access to public lands, though much broader in advocacy scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Wilderness Inquiry social profiles
Digital presenceWilderness Inquiry financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wilderness Inquiry leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Wilderness Inquiry funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wilderness Inquiry M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wilderness Inquiry
What does Wilderness Inquiry do?
Wilderness Inquiry provides guided, all-inclusive outdoor adventure trips—paddling, hiking, camping, and lodge-based experiences—across 20+ U.S. destinations and seven international destinations, with full equipment, food, guides, and permits included. The organization also operates the Canoemobile floating classroom program serving youth, custom private group trips for organizations, and accessibility-focused trips for people with disabilities. Pricing ranges from $55 day trips to $10,150 international expeditions, with financial aid and scholarships available.
Is Wilderness Inquiry a public or private company?
Wilderness Inquiry is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Wilderness Inquiry founded?
Wilderness Inquiry was founded in 1978. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wilderness Inquiry based?
Wilderness Inquiry is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wilderness Inquiry make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Trip Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Contributions and gift Cards.
Who are Wilderness Inquiry's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are REI Adventures, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Outward Bound USA, Appalachian Mountain Club, Backroads and Adventure Women. Broad incumbents are Girl Scouts of the USA (Outdoor Programs) and Sierra Club (Outings).
Does Wilderness Inquiry have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wilderness Inquiry.
What industry is Wilderness Inquiry in?
Wilderness Inquiry's product category is Outdoor Adventure Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAGAF, Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized), with a secondary code of THAAAEAJ, Eco-Adventure Multi-Day Expeditions (Trekking, Hut-to-Hut, Pack Trips). Its NAICS code is 56152 and its SIC code is 7900.