GLEI History

During the spring and summer of 2003, five Southeastern Wisconsin (USA) environmental organizations, including the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, Riveredge Nature Center, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, Urban Ecology Center, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Field Station, formed the Great Lakes Earth Institute (GLEI) as a cooperative effort. Our main activities are to propagate self-governed, adult group-study discussion courses published by the Portland, OR-based Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI) while developing additional courses for use by our members and by other sister earth institutes throughout the U.S. and Canada.

To date, over 600 individuals have enrolled in courses offered through the GLEI, and we have broadened our base of organizational membership as well. Our reach has expanded beyond Southeastern Wisconsin to diverse locations in the Western Great Lakes Region.

During February of 2004 the GLEI hosted the first-ever Sister Institute gathering outside of Portland, OR, including thirty representatives from five states.

To learn more about the GLEI, the courses we offer, and how we are here to help you reach your environmental goals, click the buttons on the left side of the page.