91´ÎÔª

1 class, 3 weeks, 3 credits

Register for UM Summer in February 2026.

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Course Description

PSCI 360 / 591 – Wild Stories: Wilderness Policy, Horse & Mule Packing, and Writing

• Dates: June 1 – June 19, Summer 2026 (pack trip: June 14-19)

• Credits: 3 credits

• Location: The Barn (Rattlesnake, north of Missoula) // Pack trip: Bob Marshall Wilderness

Open registration (CRN undergrad #50601 & grad#50600)

This three-week intensive course for ALL MAJORS offers a unique interdisciplinary blend of wilderness policy, backcountry skills, and creative writing. Students will:

• Learn the fundamentals of horse and mule packing, wilderness first aid, and Leave-No-Trace/backcountry camping and trail-maintenance practices.
• Study the history, theory, and contemporary challenges of U.S. wilderness policy — including land management, recreation, wildfire, wildlife, and tribal wilderness issues.
• Develop reflective and narrative writing skills, producing a policy- or wilderness-themed paper.

The course culminates in a fully outfitted five-day horse-packing trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness with in Seeley Lake, MT. This immersive backcountry experience puts wilderness policy and packing skills into practice, offering a powerful opportunity to reflect, write, and engage with wild landscapes. 

Instructor Information

Eva-Maria Maggi, PhD, Department of Political Science
LA 411
eva.maggi@umontana.edu