Greg Lais has been teaching the popular REC 2151 Outdoor and Camp Leadership in the Recreation Administration program in the School of Kinesiology for nine years. He has introduced countless students to the beauty and challenges of the wilderness. His course culminates in a sea-kayaking excursion to the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. Lais’ story about his life-long love for the outdoors is featured in The Wild Side, published in current issue of the magazine Minnesota Good Age.

Lais comes by his passion–and compassion–for nature and its mystery and magic honestly, as the founder and executive director of Minnesota’s Wilderness Inquiry, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The mission of the nonprofit organization is to connect people from all walks of life and with all abilities–and disabilities–to the natural world through shared outdoor adventures.

Connie Magnuson, Ph.D., Recreation Administration program coordinator, says:

“Greg has been an integral part of the Outdoor Recreation and Education program. His strong passion for teaching students about leadership and the outdoors is evident in every course he teaches. His vision for inclusion for everyone in the outdoors is legendary. Students in his courses not only learn about leadership but also are faced with challenges, adversity, success, failure, teamwork, and personal growth during their field experience in the Apostle Islands. It is a phenomenal learning opportunity. Greg has a way of setting the stage and then watching the magic happen.”