There is a delight in the hardy life of the open.  There are no words that can tell the hidden spirt of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, and its charm.  Theodore Roosevelt

 

The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance exists to bring together the wilderness stewardship community into a growing network of volunteer-based non-profit organizations that provide stewardship for America's enduring resource of wilderness. Read More

 

What's Happening -


Meet our new Executive Director

Hello NWSA Community!

First I’d like to say how honored and happy I am to be following the impressive tenure of Randy Welsh as I join NWSA and this stewardship community as NWSAs next Executive Director. I look forward to connecting with all of you in the coming months as we work together to steward our Wilderness resource and engage new partners in our community. Our Chair, Randy Rasmussen, did a great job of outlining my qualifications in his announcement, so I won’t repeat too many more of those details, but I would like to share some of the things that drive me to do this work.

Headshot

Professionally, I have worn a variety of hats in the land conservation sphere with Wilderness being central to many of my roles. Having had the privilege to work for or directly with all of the Federal land management agencies in addition to many NGOs, private partners, and others I feel we all have an important niche to occupy when it comes to Wilderness. The work we each do ties directly to the work we all do, whether in stewardship, advocacy, management, or education. I hope to carry this perspective through all of my work with NWSA.

Personally, wilderness (both big and little “w”) is where I recharge, find adventure and challenge, and tap into the things I find most important in life. The wild feeds my soul and drives me to strive for a present and, more importantly, a future where the wild and wild things endure. Sharing this passion with others energizes me and stewardship is integral to facilitating these connections. With new and old challenges on the horizon for Wilderness, NWSAs work is more important than ever to keep wilderness wild, accessible, and relevant amidst an ever-changing population. Continuing in the well laid footsteps of Randy Welsh, I am excited to work with all of you in building a positive future for the Wild.

Please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] to say hello – I’d love to hear from you! If you’d like more specific information about me and my background, visit our website to check out my bio HERE.

For all things Wild,

Joelle Marier

Executive Director

National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance

NOTE New NWSA Address:

National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance

PO Box 185

Del Norte, CO 81132


WEBINARS

2023 NWSA Webinar Series 

May Webinar to Introduce Joelle

May 9th, 1:00 PM MT
Meet the New Executive Director of NWSA - Joelle Marier
Retiring Executive Director Randy Welsh will introduce the new Executive Director of NWSA, Joelle Marier to our NWSA audiences.  This conversational interview will introduce you to Joelle and the vision she has for expanding the wilderness stewardship community.  Come join us as we learn of Joelle's past wilderness experiences and the route she has taken to this new position.  

NWSA BOARD Completes new Strategic Plan Visioning

During 2022 the NWSA Board has been busy updating our guiding documents and creating a new strategic plan for NWSA.  You can read about the new Strategic Vision here.  We hope you will take the time to familiarize yourself with it and then join us in its implementation.  Our overriding mission is still to promote and encourage volunteer stewardship in all wilderness areas as well as ensure there is a stewardship group available for all units of the National Wilderness Preservation System.  Look for more exciting news in the days ahead.


National Wilderness Stewardship Awards - Nominations closed till Fall 2023.

2022 National Stewardship Awards will be announced at the National Wilderness Workshop, on Wednesday April 19th.

Check out all the details on our Awards Page.


NWSA FUNDING PROGRAMS - 2023 Funding Program Information Available!  New Program Allowances and Criteria in Effect.  Read Below for Details.  Deadline for Trail Funding Proposals is APRIL 15.  WSP Funding Proposal Deadline has been Extended to May 5th.

Both the National Forest Wilderness Stewardship Performance Funding and the National Forest System Trail Stewardship Partner Funding programs are currently soliciting project proposals for 2023 field season.  Details are on our Funding Programs Page.

After meeting with the Forest Service at Hike the Hill in Washington DC this week, we are excited to announce new changes to both funding programs.  Go to the Funding Programs Page to read all about them.


Wilderness Stewardship Advocacy Series

NWSA sponsored a 4 month webinar series that will assist wilderness stewardship groups in their wilderness stewardship advocacy efforts locally and nationally.  Starting with an Introduction to Wilderness Stewardship Advocacy, experts from the world of stewardship advocacy will share their experience, tips, and practical techniques for you to apply.  The series is now complete and can be viewed below.
Introduction to Wilderness Stewardship Advocacy
Wilderness Stewardship Advocacy 101
Wilderness Stewardship Advocacy 201
The ASK - Developing Your Requests Workshop
For complete information about the Wilderness Stewardship Advocacy Webinar Series  CLICK HERE

NEWSLETTERS


NWSA FUND

The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance Fund is dedicated to the support and help of new wilderness stewardship groups.

To read more about this new Fund to support wilderness stewardship CLICK HERE


MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FOR 2023

October - December is the Time to JOIN or RENEW your NWSA Membership.  Don't miss out on NWSA Funding Programs for 2023.

Remember to renew your NWSA Membership for 2023.  Click here for details.

It is now time to renew membership in NWSA for the 2023 Fiscal Year.  We are changing our membership year to match the Calendar Year which better aligns with the National Wilderness Workshop and other membership programs.   Participate in webinars, apply for funding programs, get discounts at workshops and conferences.  Be kept advised of news and events affecting the wilderness stewardship community.  Join the community today!

In 2023, only Member Organizations will be able to apply for WSP Funding programs.

 

Have you read our latest Newsletter?  Click to Download the Newsletter

  • From the blog

    Member Profile

    Your Profile HERE.

    We are trying a new addition to our home page with periodic member profiles.  This month:  Poudre Wilderness Volunteers

    Poudre Wilderness Volunteers help protect four designated wilderness areas — Rawah, Comanche Peak, Neota, and Cache la Poudre — and many multi-use wild areas along the northern end of the Colorado Front Range.  We patrol primarily on the watersheds of the Cache la Poudre (Wild and Scenic) River and the Big Thompson River, extending a protected region from the northern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park nearly to the Wyoming border.

     

    Read more

    Heart of the Gila

    NWSA plans to use this space to profile many of the wilderness stewardship groups around the country.  This month we start with Heart of the Gila.

    Read more