Comments from Recent Participants
"Before covid a friend and I went to the Study Course. I already was a fan of the bears, and my friend went home telling all her friends about her experience. My daughter wanted to go this year, so we went. It was wonderful! We had many bears come by, we learned a lot about bears thru talks and videos. It was so much fun watching the delight and awe of my daughter and others with the bears in the yard, on the porch, even on the picnic table! They were asking questions of all the volunteers who work there, who knew which bear was which and how they recognized them, and even their habits. The food was excellent, and the talk around the table was inspiring for all of us. Don't put this off if it is something you thought you would do someday!"
Joyce - MD 2025
"I went to this event. I have shown people the pictures. They tell me they would never get close to a wild black bear. The bears are so calm. If you can learn about black bears you can learn to respect them I have learned so much about them. I am not afraid! I look forward to seeing my favorite bear again! I will be back!"
Polly - MN 2025
"I highly recommend booking a black bear field course at the Wildlife Research Institute (WRI), and I am so glad I could finally attend. Not only did I learn from Dr. Rogers and the amazing, kind, and experienced volunteers how to interact with wild black bears, but I now also know how to dispel common myths about bears often shared by the media and others. I have personally evolved from a curious, somewhat fearful observer to an active advocate for bears because of this life-changing educational experience. I am forever grateful to the human volunteers and the bears who helped during my time at the WRI. Additionally, the food and the other study participants were wonderful. Thank you all! I hope to return one day."
Caroline - WI 2025
"To say I enjoyed the Black Bear Field Study Course would be a huge understatement. My love and interest in bears escalated as I learned and witnessed first-hand their intelligence and curiosity. It was an unbelievably emotional experience for me to observe the beauty and deeply social behavior of the black bears at WRI. Dr. Lynn Rogers and his team were amazing in sharing their knowledge and experience. I'm so thankful I was able to attend and plan to return as a participant, but also as a future volunteer."
Suzanne - MI 2025
"Being at the Black Bear Field Study Course was absolutely the most memorable and rewarding time of my entire life! For four days I experienced a true Peaceable Kingdom, with animals and humans living in harmony. It was magical! It was a privilege to learn from Dr. Lynn Rogers and his associates. Most of all it was a joy to learn from the bears themselves."
Judy - CO 2025
"Just wanted to say that this week was the most profoundly meaningful experience of my life. As I was driving back to the hotel on Wed evening, I thought of 3 phrases to express how I was feeling:
Life changing; life affirming; life giving.
I will be forever grateful to everyone who shared their experiences, knowledge and stories; both teachers (animal and human) and participants, but mostly to the bears and the other wildlife who gave us the privilege of "being" with them in such a gentle and spiritual way; in such a beautiful, peaceful and welcoming space.
Saying thanks just isn't enough to express the heartfelt gratitude and joy of this adventure."
Shelly - Canada 2025
"This was my first visit to the WRI and what a magical place it is. It was a great honor to spend time with and get to know Dr. Lynn Rogers. The fact that he spent his whole life living with and studying black bears is a beautiful gift to all humanity. I was already in love with black bears. I see them regularly here in Western NC. I never feared them but have always had a healthy respect for their space. To be physically right next to the black bears at the WRI gave me the privilege to observe their gentle nature while at the same time knowing they deserve respect. I came away with a deeper love for black bears and am extremely grateful for the experience I had at the WRI."
Jo Ann - NC 2025
"All my life, I was haunted by nightmares of a bear chasing me, always waking before it caught me. As an animal lover, the fear felt irrational yet deeply unsettling. By chance—or perhaps destiny—I discovered a bear study program. Determined to understand the unknown, I joined. Arriving first, I parked up the long rural driveway and walked alone back through the woods. The thought echoed: I’m walking alone in bear country. I couldn’t have imagined how profoundly this journey would transform me. Through the study and the extraordinary people, I met, I fell in love with bears—their power, beauty, and spirit. On the final day, walking back alone again, I was calm, connected, and free of fear. Tears streamed during the drive to my hotel. I left forever changed, carrying a bear heart within. A beyond priceless, sacred gift I will always treasure."
Brandy - NV 2025
"Full bear immersion. If you want to learn everything bear from the kindest, most knowledgeable bear experts on the planet, this is the trip for you. The team at WRI did a phenomenal job of creating an unforgettable experience. Not only are they great educators, but they also provided space for us to commune with the bears and get to know their individual behaviors and personalities. The highlight was spending time with Dr. Lynn Rogers and absorbing his wisdom, insight and stories. Truly a trip of a lifetime."
Cyndi - MT 2025
"It is not overstating it to say that the Black Bear Field course was transformative. We have always loved bears, and now we understand just a little bit more about what truly amazing animals they are. By feeding them, observing them, and listening to experts who know them, Aspen and the other bears changed us. We now feel a huge responsibility to educate and advocate on behalf of black bears. The chance to learn from Doc Rogers and his extraordinary team of volunteers was the opportunity of a lifetime."
Amy and Zoe - MA 2025