About

Science in the field.
Wonder on purpose.

"Spend a day off the beaten path, digging beneath the surface with scientists and educators who refuse to stop noticing things."

Unbounded Adventures was built around a simple observation: the most interesting questions about a place are never answered next to the road. We are constantly surrounded by learning opportunities, if we just take the time and embrace the humility required to seek them out. The shape of a valley, the color of a hot spring, the placement of a boulder, or the behavior of an animal all have deeper connections if we simply choose to inquire.

We design experiences that change that. Not by lecturing, but by slowing down, asking better questions, and letting the environment teach us something. Expect real conversations, hands-on field experiments, and ideas that translate science from textbooks into something you can touch, test, and debate over lunch.

By the end of the day, you'll be seeing your world a little differently — noticing things you might have walked right past that morning.

Scientists. Guides. Obsessives.

Chris Pierce and Christine Hodges on a mountain summit

Dr. Chris Pierce

Research scientist, mountain guide, and educator. His fieldwork has taken him from the backcountry of Yellowstone to the remote icy regions of Antarctica and the Canadian Arctic — combining polar glaciology, professional guiding, and over a decade of search and rescue experience.

He is an Assistant Research Professor at Montana State University, where his research focuses on subglacial hydrology and ice-penetrating radar. At Unbounded Adventures, Chris leads field operations, scientific programming, and expedition design.

Check out Chris' blog for more connections between people, science, and the outdoors, with a little self-deprecating humor: The Mediocre Scientist.

Christine Hodges

Educator, curriculum designer, and outdoor athlete with a decade of experience building learning programs that actually stick. She spent seven years teaching and developing curricula for schools across South America before shifting her focus to adult education and leadership development. She brings a multicultural, internationally grounded perspective to everything she designs.

Christine is currently pursuing her PhD in Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University. At Unbounded Adventures, she leads learning design, ensuring every experience is as pedagogically rigorous as it is memorable.

Highlights

  • PhD in Engineering, Montana State University
  • Led multiple geophysics research field seasons in Antarctica and the Arctic
  • AMGA Member · Backcountry Ski Guide · Glacier Certified
  • 12+ years mountain search & rescue
  • 5+ years as hiking & wildlife guide, Yellowstone

Highlights

  • PhD Student, Leadership Studies — Gonzaga University
  • 10 years teaching & curriculum development
  • Experienced multicultural & bilingual (Spanish) educator
  • Active research in leadership development & conflict resolution through dialogue
  • Avid climber, hiker, and marathon runner

Why We're Different

The gap nobody else is filling.

Scientist and Educator at the Helm

Most operations have scientists who can't teach, or teachers who aren't scientists. We have a research scientist with a PhD, polar field seasons, and AMGA glacier certification — who also designs curriculum for how people actually learn in the field.

Intentional Learning Design

Field experiences that are rigorous and pedagogically sound require someone who understands how people learn, not just someone who knows the science. Our curriculum is designed so that learning transfers and sticks — not just impresses in the moment.

Outdoor Skills Woven In

We teach participants to inhabit the outdoors competently, not just observe it. Navigation, terrain awareness, group decision-making — these are part of the curriculum, not bolt-ons. You'll leave more capable in the field than when you arrived.

Genuinely Accessible

Academically rigorous field education is typically locked behind university enrollment. We're scientist and educator-led, curriculum-driven, and outdoor skills-integrated — and we're designed to be accessible to curious travelers, university groups, and youth programs alike.

Ready to design a day around your curiosity?

Tell us what you want to understand more deeply. We'll build the itinerary around it.

Get in Touch Browse Experiences