Over 40 boots-on-the-ground wilderness organizations came together in March 2011, as a national community to support each other and share ideas and resources. 120 National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance conference attendees filled the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas to address issues such as agency partnership and best practices for stewardship organizations. With representatives from Alaska to Arizona and the Pacific Crest Trail to the Appalachian Trail, stewards were able to connect and brainstorm with others from across the country.
“The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance is an organization whose time has come – we’re needed, and we’re getting organized at the right time,” said Elaine Dermody, vice-chair of the NWSA board. “We need to encourage everyone we know to be involved. We have 757 wilderness areas and many of them do not have volunteers.”
Attendees were treated to a variety of speakers and panelists covering fundraising, wilderness character monitoring, and the future of wilderness. Breakout sessions allowed them to brainstorm with other stewards from around the country and exchange ideas on what works and what doesn’t when it comes to wilderness stewardship.
Frank Simpson, executive director of the newly formed Mojave Family Experience, came to the conference looking to exchange ideas and learn from groups that had seen years of success. As a fledgling organization, Frank was thrilled with what he learned at the NWSA conference.
“I got some great information on how to grow my organization,” he said, “Including Funding and how to build the organization and put it together. I got to talk with professionals across the country on wilderness conservation.”
With a mix of veterans and greenhorns, attendees were able to network with expert stewards like Todd Vogel and Paul McFarland, who founded the stewardship program Friends of the Inyo in 2005, and Dave Pacheco, who began leading on-the-ground trips 13 years ago with the Wilderness Volunteers.
The NWSA and the Wilburforce Foundation arranged scholarships for 11 attendees, ranging from registration fees to transportation and lodging, to ensure the maximum amount of geographical representation.
Kip Beckwith, a scholarship recipient and student from Montana, was energized by the experience. “As a young person in the wilderness community I wanted to see what possibilities exist for working in wilderness. Partnering organizations continue to play an important role in caring for the wilds we all love, and the conference seemed like a great opportunity to learn more.”
Along with wilderness stewards, agency personnel from the Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Park Service joined in and offered their ideas as well. Taking care of wilderness is like a marriage, and the volunteer and agency partners need to find the best ways to work together.
Panelist Chris Brown, Forest Service Director for Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers, was amazed at the diverse gathering. “I’m really taken by having groups all the way from Alaska to the southeast and the Sierras to the Appalachian Mountains and from Montana all the way down to Mexico. What they bring together and bring to each other and the total amount of energy that comes exceeds the total of just the individual groups that are there.”
At the end of the conference, vice-chair for the NWSA board Elaine Dermody reminded the wilderness community there’s still a lot to do. “I hope people take away from the conference the idea we have a major job to do.”
“The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance is going to be a major voice for the wilderness stewards across the country,” said Shaaron Netherton, treasurer of the NWSA board and conference chairperson as well as Executive Director for Friends of Nevada Wilderness. “We’re looking forward to being in Washington, DC, for the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act in 2014!”
The NWSA would like to extend a big THANK YOU to our comference sponsors and the organizations that donated items for the orientation bags and the silent auction. They made the conference possible. Please see seperate thank you posting.
The NWSA would also like to extend a special THANK YOU to Friends of Nevada Wilderness for serving as local host and organizing the Sunday service project in Mountain Springs in partnership with the Forest Service. The NWSA is also looking for volunteer hosts for the 2012 get-together. Any volunteers?
Conference photos & videos
Facebook Photo Gallery - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=196788347021491&id=181053351928324&aid=47108
Working with Government Agencies: The Elements of Cooperation - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjteZHq-xnY
The keys to Success: Best Practices for Stewardship Organizations - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrN0WnPkug4
Wilderness Character Monitoring: The Nuts and Bolts - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRbb1kjsh3M
Here is a link to the powerpoint for the Wilderness Character Monitoring Presentation: Powerpoint Presentation 8.63 Mb