Events
The American West Institute organizes biennial events to gather scholars for the exchange of information. We understand that the role of the academic scholar can be a lonely one, and to combat this we offer our celebratory get-together: the Roundup. This is a daylong wood-fired natural game animal barbecue where we collectively experience old-time fun before stargazing and learning some frontier astronomy.
In past years, activities have included:
- Bow and Arrow
- Horseback Riding
- Canoeing
- Basket Weaving
- Pottery
- Fire-Making
- Game Skinning
- Animal Husbandry
- Leathercraft
- Jerking Meat
All are welcome to participate in these haptic craft skills that keep the spirit of the frontier alive.
The Institute takes the isolating nature of scholarly work seriously, and we are not alone in our concern. The APA's 2025 Stress in America survey found that 54% of U.S. adults felt isolated often or sometimes, 50% felt left out, and 50% lacked companionship — while 69% said they had needed more emotional support in the past year than they received.
“This year's findings show that people across the nation are not just feeling divided, they're feeling disconnected,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., Ph.D., the APA's chief executive officer. “Loneliness and isolation may increase the risk of premature mortality and are also linked with depression, poor sleep and cognitive decline.”
The remedy, Dr. Evans noted, is not complicated: “Social support is one of the strongest predictors of people's well-being, reinforcing that connection is vital to our health.”
Source: American Psychological Association, 2025 Stress in America survey. The Roundup exists, in no small part, because we listened.