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The mission of the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance is to develop a growing network of volunteer-based organizations to provide stewardship for America's enduring resource of wilderness.

Our vision is to see each wilderness area within the National Wilderness Preservation System adopted by a wilderness stewardship organization dedicated to protecting and nurturing the area’s wilderness. We envision effective partnerships between community-based, non-profit wilderness stewardship organizations and all government agencies charged with the management of our national wilderness areas.

USFS National Wilderness Award nominations are now being accepted for accomplishments from calendar year 2011.  This is our opportunity to showcase exemplary leadership in stewardship of the wilderness resource and recognize outstanding endeavors toward our goal of meeting the 10-Year Wilderness Stewardship Challenge.

The deadline for nominating outstanding wilderness accomplishments from the 2011 calendar year for 2011 National Wilderness Awards is May 11, 2012.  Please submit nominations electronically, to the attention of: Elwood York, Wilderness Program Leader at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance is the only national organization dedicated to connecting wilderness stewardship groups and developing new volunteer groups to provide "boots on the ground" volunteers for all 757 federally designated Wilderness Areas in the United States.  In the last 18 months, NWSA has gone from the concept of a national organization to incorporation as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit with a dedicated board of directors, a growing numnber of active volunteers, and an initial successful record of assisting groups and agencies.

We have a challenging goal to help protect our Wilderness Areas for future generations, but together we can do it!   Click join now to see the membership levels and please JOIN NOW.

With your involvement, The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance will identify and connect established wilderness volunteer organizations, help them grow and provide tools and advice for wilderness stewardship groups just starting. We will strengthen partnerships with the Bureau of Land Management, Fish & Wildlife Service, Forest Service and the National Park Service. 
To ensure NWSA's continued growth we are now launching a membership program and we are counting on your organization to join us. Read on to learn about the many benefits to your organization. Together we can truly make America's Wilderness an enduring treasure for future generations.  JOIN NOW.

The 2012 NWSA Conference will be November 1st-4th. The conference will be held at the Montreat Conference Center near Asheville, NC. A committee is being put together to work on this conference. Let us know if you have ideas!

With your help, this site will become a vital center for wilderness stewardship groups to support each other and help foster new groups. To register Click "Login" in the upper right-hand corner, then click "Create an Account," fill in the form, and submit it.  We'll email you as soon as we have you signed in.  Troubles?  Please contact us.