Wilderness Skills Institute

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NWSI 2025 Sessions

The 2025 National Wilderness Skills Institute will have 4 “streams”:

  • Combined – shared sessions for all participants
  • Wilderness – learn more about wilderness character and minimum requirement analysis
  • Wild & Scenic Rivers – sessions focus on history, river rangering, and restoration
  • Backcountry Skills – learn new ways to sharpen your backcountry skills and tools

View recorded session from all years (2021-2024): https://wildernessskillsinstitute.org/nwsi/recordings/ 

  • Welcome: Tuesday, June 3rd, 12:00 pm ET
    • Description:
      NWSI Core Team welcome message to kick off this year’s event
  • Keynote: Tuesday, June 3rd, 12:00-12:50 pm ET
    • Description:
      more details coming
    •  Panelists:
      • Meryl Harrell, Former Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, United States Department of Agriculture
      • Lisa Jennings, Chair of Chief’s Wilderness Advisory Group and Recreation & Trails Program Manager, Grandfather Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest
  • Federal Agency Leadership Breakouts: Tuesday, June 3rd, 1:00-1:50 pm ET
    • Not recorded
    • Description:
      Hear from your agency leadership on current priorities, challenges, and opportunities at the national level. Some will be available for an open discussion to collect feedback and listening to learn.
    • Facilitators:
      • Bureau of Land Management:
        • Tentative: James Sippel, Wilderness Specialist, BLM representative to Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Center
      • National Park Service:
        • Tentative: Rob Burrows, Wilderness Training Manager, NPS representative to Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Center
      • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:
        • Nick Kaczor, National Wilderness Program Manager
        • Tentative: Michelle Reilly, National Wildlife Refuge System Wilderness Liaison, FWS representative to Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Center
      • U.S. Forest Service:
        • Steve Chesterton, Acting Director, Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Program
        • Peter Mali, National Wilderness Program Manager
        • Dusty Vaughn, National Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Specialist
  • Role of Ranger Associations in Strengthening Ranger Workforce: Tuesday, June 3rd, 5:00-6:00 pm ET
    • Description:
      The International Ranger Federation (IRF) is a worldwide, non-profit membership-based organization, established to develop, advance, and promote the ranger profession. The IRF recognizes rangers and protected and conserved area workers whether state, regional, communal, indigenous, or private, as essential on-the-ground planetary health professionals. IRF recognizes their critical responsibility for safeguarding nature, cultural and historical heritage, and for protecting the rights and well-being of present and future generations. The IRF is the standard bearer for the ranger profession globally and the voice of ranger associations and rangers.Ranger associations can be vehicles for the provision of legitimacy and credibility to the ranger profession, and the creation and promotion of a shared global vision of the profession, supply of thought leadership on professional development, and networking, sharing knowledge, and promoting good practices among the world’s rangers. On this regard, establishing an International Ranger Federation (IRF) and regional ranger associations has been key to strengthen the sense of community of rangers in geographical regions and to support national and local ranger associations to deliver their objectives. Successful examples of regional associations are the Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA), the European Ranger Federation (ERF), the Asian Ranger Federation and the Latin American Ranger Federation. Through this session, participants will learn through practical examples on the role regional ranger associations play in different regions of the globe supporting the ranger profession.
    • Presenters:
      • Mónica Alvarez Malvido, Development Officer, International Ranger Federation
      • Mark Caughlan, IRF North America Regional Representative, Wyoming State Parks Chief Ranger, and on the Board of Directors for the Park Law Enforcement Association
      • Dusty Vaughn, National Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Specialist, U.S. Forest Service
  • Coffee Hour: Wednesday, June 4th, 11:00-11:50 am ET
    • not recorded
    • Description:
      more details coming
    • Facilitators:
      more details coming
  • Paradigm Shift Roundtable; Building Community, Sharing Knowledge, Supporting Each Other in Times of Change – Showcasing What is Possible with Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship: Wednesday, June 4th, 12:00-1:20 pm ET
    • Description:
      You are the manager/administrator of a river or wilderness with limited resources and people, but lots of visitors. You are re-thinking how to care for the designated area that requires special management and is important to your community with a fraction of the resources available to invest a year or two ago.
      Five panelists will describe their approach to initiating paradigm shifts in response to dramatic change, then provide an example of actions or programs they are involved with to help steward Wilderness and Wild and Scenic (and other) Rivers. They will present relevant, timely case studies to spark discussion and encourage connection between participants and session leaders.
    • Panelists:
      • David Cernicek, Wild and Scenic Rivers Coordinator, Bridger Teton National Forest
      • Joelle Marier, Executive Director, National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance
      • John Marunowski, Partnership and Volunteer Coordinator, White Mountain National Forest
      • Mat Lyons, Executive Director, TREAD (Trails, Recreation, Education, Advocacy and Development)
      • Stephanie Weber, Executive Director, San Juan Mountains Association
  • Tenacity on the Cuyahoga: A River Program That Inspires: Wednesday, June 4th, 4:30-4:55 pm ET
    • Description:
      Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a midsized national park, situated between Akron and Cleveland Ohio, first designated as a National Park Service site in 1974. Since its creation, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is unique in that it serves millions in the Northeast Ohio area while also being seen as an international symbol of ecosystem renewal. Today the Cuyahoga River is a dynamic water trail that offers a variety of on and off river experiences, but this river was once known for the series of fires along its downstream stretch, earning infamy as the “”river that burned.”” While it was the poster child for the passing of the Clean Water Act in 1972, the Cuyahoga River now boasts spawning fish and clean water indicator species. In 2016, Cuyahoga Valley National Park developed a new Strategic Action Plan to align park priorities into a more focused effort. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park team chose to focus on the Cuyahoga River and identified “”tenacity”” as one of its fundamental values, reflective of a staff’s belief in the importance of persistence and determination. Examples of the park staff’s tenacity are deep seeded throughout its history, but recent projects that highlight this essential trait include developing a reliable, confident volunteer team of skilled kayakers who are its eyes and ears on the river and a series of murals that add personality through a unique community partnership.
    • Presenter: Ryan Ainger, River Ranger and River Program Manager, Cuyahoga Valley National Park
  • Prequel: Using the Force (+ Management Direction, Know-how, and Partnerships) to Protect Lands and Waters for Future Designation: Wednesday, June 4th, 5:00-5:50 pm ET
    • Description:
      The seeds of an idea for this “prequel” came from our NWSI 2024 presentation on similarities and differences between designated Wilderness and WSR protections. This year’s session aims to provide participants with a nuanced understanding of the protections afforded rivers and lands that may become Wild & Scenic or Wilderness designations in the future. We invite you to join us for a creative and interactive session that explores what happens before rivers or lands receive the highest levels of protection by Congress. What does this mean for you, for your community, what are the processes and protections along the way?
    • Presenters:
      • N. (Taylor) Taylor, Pacific Northwest Wilderness, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and Congressionally Designated Areas Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service
      • Becky Blanchard, Pacific Southwest Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Specialist (retired), U.S. Forest Service
  • Happy Hour: Wednesday, June 4th, 6:00-7:00 pm ET
    • not recorded
    • Description:
      more details coming
    • Facilitator:
      more details coming

  • The Who What and Why of the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center: Tuesday, June 3rd, 2:00-2:50 pm ET
    • Description:
      ACNWTC staff will share information about the history of Carhart and what we do. This will include a summary of opportunities available to field staff to attend training, participate in education events, and explore resources and support for the work they do. The topic will be presented as a round table discussion with Carhart Interagency Staff sharing their work and expertise with the audience. This may also include time to solicit feedback on what the field needs most for ACNWTC in the months and years ahead.
    •  Presenters:
      • Jimmy Gaudry, Director, Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center
      • Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center Agency Representatives:
        • Bureau of Land Management: James Sippel
        • National Park Service: Rob Burrows
        • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Michelle Reilly
      • Kelsey Phillips, Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Resource Assistant, U.S. Forest Service
      • Heidi Blair, Wildlands Communications Coordinator, Wilderness Institute, University of Montana
  • How to Inspect Outfitter and Guide Operations in the Backcountry: Tuesday, June 3rd, 3:00-3:25 pm ET
    • Description:
      Wilderness and river rangers, trail crews, and savvy partner staff often cross paths in national forests with permitted outfitters and guides offering services to visitors. This is an opportunity to monitor the quality of the operation and then share feedback with the permit administrators. In this presentation, learn key terms to better understand the basics of outfitter and guide permits, how to prepare for monitoring, what to look for and what to ask on site, and how to report your observations afterwards. This presentation will increase the ability of field staff to help implement the first 6 steps of the Wilderness Stewardship Performance Outfitter and Guide element.
    • Presenter: Colter Pence, Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers, and Trails Program Manager, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District, Flathead National Forest
  • Tentative – Ways to Use Your Wilderness Character Narratives and Baselines: Tuesday, June 3rd, 3:30-3:55 pm ET
    • Description:
      You have done the good work of developing your wilderness’s Wilderness Character Narrative and/or Wilderness Character Monitoring Baseline. Now, what are ways to use those documents for the forces of good for your wilderness? Join us in developing and swapping idea to put your work into action.
    • Presenters:
      • Christina Boston, National Wilderness Character Monitoring Program Manager (retired), U.S. Forest Service
      • Colter Pence, Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers, and Trails Program Manager, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District, Flathead National Forest
  • Global Voices for the WILD: International Initiatives for Wilderness: Tuesday, June 3rd, 4:00-4:50 pm ET
    • Description:
      Around the world, wilderness areas are under increasing pressure from changing climate, habitat loss, and human activity. Yet, impactful initiatives are emerging to protect, restore, and steward these vital land, water, and seascapes. This panel brings together experts, conservationists, and advocates from diverse international backgrounds to share compelling vignettes of wilderness protection efforts across the globe. Through inspiring stories and strategic insights, panelists will explore conservation programs, stewardship models, and collaborations that are influencing the future of wild places.
    • Presenter: Adam Hanson, Senior Principal of Conservation Networks, WILD Foundation
  • Tentative – Wilderness Character Monitoring Data Collection and Data Management: Best Practices and Planning Tools to Ensure Meaningful Trend Assessments: Wednesday, June 4th, 1:30-2:20 pm ET
    • Description:
      This session will cover best practices and introduce planning tools for successful and meaningful outcomes from wilderness character monitoring (WCM). Learn strategies for planning for each five-year cycle of WCM including prioritizing and planning for resource monitoring and data collection needed for wilderness character monitoring measures. Learn about best practices for data management and the cycle of activities each year that will improve wilderness character monitoring data quality and completeness. Learn how taking time to plan for monitoring, data collection, and data management will make reporting easier and will ensure that there are good, new data for each five-year cycle to inform WCM trend assessments and trend analysis and interpretation that can be used to inform wilderness management decisions and preserve wilderness character.
    • Presenter: Christina Boston, National Wilderness Character Monitoring Program Manager (retired), U.S. Forest Service
  • Wilderness Character Monitoring Trend Reports: From the Author’s Perspective: Wednesday, June 4th, 2:30-3:20 pm
    • Description:
      Collectively, the co-presenters have written 11 Forest Service WCM Trend Reports to date. They are offering a session geared towards future and current Trend Report authors as well as wilderness managers. In this session, they will describe their approach, identify potential obstacles and ways to work around them, and host a Q&A.
    • Recommended Prequisites:
    • Presenters:
      • Kristy Ealdwine, Southern Region Senior Wilderness Specialist, and Northern Region WCM Central Team Lead, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
      • Michelle Tanz, Program Coordinator, Society for Wilderness Stewardship
  • Bureau of Land Management Wilderness Character Monitoring: Wednesday, June 4th, 3:30-4:20 pm ET
    • Description:
      The presentation outlines the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wilderness Character Monitoring (WCM) process, guided by the Wilderness Act of 1964 and the interagency “Keeping It Wild II”” implementation framework. It focuses on tracking and preserving five key qualities of wilderness character: Untrammeled, Natural, Undeveloped, Solitude/Primitive Recreation, and Other Features of Value. The WCM process follows the BLM Implementation Guideline (Version 3.0), which includes specific templates and data management protocols. There are 22 required monitoring measures, with eight reported annually and fourteen every five years. These measures assess factors such as human interventions, ecological changes, infrastructure development, visitor impacts, and disturbances to cultural or natural features. The presentation also details the use of SharePoint and interagency databases for data management and provides step-by-step guidance on completing monitoring templates.
    • Presenter: Cody Moran, BLM Coordinator, Society for Wilderness Stewardship

 

  • Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 101 Training: Tuesday, June 3rd, 2:00-2:50 pm ET
    • Description:
      This RMS River Training Center and Interagency Wild & Scenic Rivers Coordinating Council session will provide an introductory overview training on the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
    • Presenters:
      • Steve Chesterton, Acting Director, Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers, U.S. Forest Service
      • Nicole Gustine, Conservation Planner, Water Resources Branch, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
      • Corita Waters, Wild and Scenic Rivers System and Community River Partnerships, National Park Service
  • Tools for Your recently designated Wild & Scenic River: Introducing a new wild and scenic river video series: Tuesday, June 3rd, 3:00-3:25 pm ET
    • Description:
      An idea that was sparked by the possibility of new Wild & Scenic Rivers being designated in the Pacific Northwest several years ago has taken shape as a 9-part video series geared to managers of newly designated wild and scenic rivers. Because many people in this area had no experience with wild and scenic river management, there were a lot of questions about their responsibilities for a new designation. Over time the idea of a video series that was accessible to everyone, fun to watch, and informative grew into a reality. This series is now available to all who want to learn more about the required steps involved in planning for long-term protection, stewardship, and management of a newly designated wild and scenic river. While the videos focus on tasks required for managers in federal agencies responsible for administering the rivers, the content of each video offers information that will help everyone understand what happens when a new river is designated.
    •  Presenters:
      • Risa Shimoda, Executive Director, River Management Society
      • Steve Chesterton, Acting Director, Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers, U.S. Forest Service
      • N. (Taylor) Taylor, Pacific Northwest Wilderness, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and Congressionally Designated Areas Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service
      • Nicole Gustine, Conservation Planner, Water Resources Branch, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
      • Corita Waters, National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, Community River Partnerships, National Park Service
  • The Reluctant Family Liaison Officer: Tuesday, June 3rd, 3:30-4:20 pm ET
    • Description:
      An accelerated class to help manage the human aspect of incidents with compassionate objectivity. This is an introduction to managing those associated with an incident but not necessarily the focus.
    • Presenter: Moose Mutlow, Family Liaison Officer Trainer, Yosemite Search and Rescue
  • Sharing River Condition and Resource Information with Visitors: Tuesday, June 3rd, 4:30-4:55 pm ET
    • Description:
      Visitors planning a trip to the 3 Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River often seek out real time river condition information from the Forest Service offices and river rangers. They are interested in what to expect for float times, hazards, flow levels, etc. They are also in need of information on applicable rules and regulations, closures that affect access to the river, and how to recreation responsibly. The presenters will share how they share this information in an efficient, on-demand method via the forest’s webpage, and the framework used to ensure consistent, thoughtful information is shared.
    • Presenter: Colter Pence, Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers, and Trails Program Manager, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District, Flathead National Forest
  • How can we achieve compatibility between forest management activities and river protections?: Wednesday, June 4th, 1:30-2:20 pm ET
    • Description:
      This session will present the initial results of a pilot project on Montana’s Flathead National Forest as well as facilitate dialogue among attendees regarding what defines a “successful” forest management project conducted within a designated, eligible, or suitable wild and scenic river corridor. American Rivers is conducting a pilot project looking at past vegetative management activities on the Flathead National Forest that have occurred in designated and eligible wild and scenic river corridors, including along the Flathead River. Conversations with the Flathead National Forest, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Coalition, and River Management Symposium attendees will inform the what criteria determine success for vegetative management activities. This community defined success criteria can then be adapted to different geographies, ecotypes, and issues, such as fire mitigation and road reconstruction in river corridors, in additional phases of the project beyond the Flathead National Forest.
    • Presenter: Lisa Ronald, Northern Rockies Associate Conservation Director, American Rivers
  • Unions in the Federal Government: Wednesday, June 4th, 2:30-3:20 pm ET
    • not recorded
    • Description:
      History of unions in the federal government. Why do federal agency employees need to consider forming unions? How do you get started in forming a union? What is the process in forming a union? What can unions do for you as an employee? What are your rights as federal employees?
    • Presenter: Connie Jacobs
  • Riparian Chainsaws: Special Considerations for saw work in boat-in-only restoration sites: Wednesday, June 4th, 3:30-4:20 pm ET
    • Description:
      The chainsaw is a ubiquitous – and notorious – tool in landscape restoration. When riparian restoration projects need saw work done in boat-in-only sites a special set of considerations must be made to keep Rangers and the environment safe. We will discuss ways that supervisors and lead rangers can plan, equip, and organize their work for the best possible outcomes.
    • Presenter: Tony Mancuso, Green & Colorado River Program Manager, State of Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands

 

  • The Recreational Ecology of Managing Sustainable Trails: Tuesday, June 3rd, 2:00-3:20 pm ET
    • Description:
      Recreation ecology trail science research can inform the design and management of sustainable trails that accommodate their intended uses with minimal resource impact and maintenance. Trail science findings describing the most influential factors for trail soil loss, widening, and muddiness will be briefly reviewed, followed by a comprehensive focus on the range of effective trail maintenance solutions to these problems. These will be illustrated by more than 100 photos of trail problems and alternative trail maintenance solutions from diverse wildland settings across the U.S. and other countries. The substantial benefits of side-hill trail alignments in steeper terrain (>10%) are emphasized, along with the perils of fall-aligned trails, and challenges of flat-terrain alignments. The goal of developing “hydrologically invisible” trails with sustainable tread drainage is also stressed, along with the long-term benefits of hardening drainage features and treads with rock (tread armoring, rock steps, stepping stones, trailside rock, cribbing, stream crossings). Warning: this presentation will ruin your blissful enjoyment of all future hikes.
    • Presenter: Jeffrey L. Marion, U.S. Geological Service (Retired), Adjunct Professor, Virginia Tech University
  • An Introduction to Crosscut Saw Filing: Tuesday, June 3rd, 3:30-3:55 pm ET
    • Description:
      An introduction to crosscut saw maintenance and sharpening and a crosscut’s place in wilderness trail work.
    • Presenter: Erik Rademacher Fleitz, Wilderness & Trails Crew, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
  • Wild Spotter: Empowering Stewards to Protect America’s Wild Places: Tuesday, June 3rd, 4:00-4:50 pm ET
    • Description:
      Wild Spotter is a nationwide invasive species detection campaign designed for anyone committed to protecting America’s wilderness areas and wild rivers. Built on the EDDMapS framework, the user-friendly Wild Spotter app empowers land managers, agency staff, volunteers, and citizen scientists to identify, map, and report invasive species in real-time. By harnessing modern mapping technology while integrating traditional wilderness skills and time-tested land stewardship methods, Wild Spotter ensures today’s conservation strategies are both scientifically sound and culturally informed.
      This presentation will introduce the four core elements of the Wild Spotter Detection Campaign—Products, Places, Promotion, and People—and highlight how the Invasive Species Ambassador Program equips participants with tools and training to lead practical conservation efforts. Attendees will learn how to incorporate Wild Spotter into their work, engage their communities, and collaborate with other wilderness stewards. By utilizing the data-sharing capabilities of EDDMapS, they will also discover how Wild Spotter enhances national and regional conservation planning.
      Ultimately, Wild Spotter empowers individuals and organizations to take action against invasive species while respecting traditional conservation practices. By combining digital mapping technology with hands-on stewardship, we can preserve America’s Wild Places for future generations. Attendees will leave with the knowledge and tools needed to implement Wild Spotter, engage their communities, and become leaders in invasive species management.
    • Presenter: Debby Monfort, Communications Director, University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
  • Pack Stock Techniques: Safety and Low-impact in the Backcountry​: Wednesday, June 4th, 1:30-2:20 pm ET
    • Description:
      This pre-recorded webinar will be hosted by the U.S. Forest Service National Technology & Development Program staff interviewing and highlighting two Forest Service staff members (Laura Johnson-Boudreaux [Laura] and Robin Connell [Robin]) from the Lolo National Forest, Ninemile Ranger Station’s Ninemile Wilderness Training Center. Both Laura and Robin starred in some of the filming that took place at Ninemile for the Pack Stock Low Impact in the Backcountry film series. The webinar would be a live interview with Laura about pack stock low impact in the backcountry techniques, some shots of Robin tying some specialty knots or showing how to maximize safety when tying the knots and the ease of using an in-line rope D-Ring for highlining stock and then we would show some clips from the 20 existing Low Impact in the Backcountry films. A live mule or horse will also star in the webinar with Robin Connell attaching a side hobble, or something similar.
    • Host: Thomas Sabol, Biological Scientist Project Manager, National Technology & Development Program, U.S. Forest Service
  • The Recreation Ecology Science behind Leave No Trace Practices: Wednesday, June 4th, 2:30-3:50 pm ET
    • Description:
      A review of recreation ecology science relevant to selecting and applying the best Leave No Trace practice. How to select the most durable surfaces for travel and camping, understanding vegetation resistance and resilience, the asymptotic use-impact relationship and when and how to practice dispersed natural site camping vs. established or designated site camping, low impact hammock camping, when and how to reduce off-trail travel impacts, human waste impacts and disposal options (including TP and feminine hygiene products), practices to avoid introducing and dispersing non-native species, campfire-related impacts and low impact practices, and the benefits and impacts of large groups and how to minimize them.
    • Presenter: Jeffrey L. Marion, U.S. Geological Service (Retired), Adjunct Professor, Virginia Tech University
  • New Research-Based Methods for Managing Poop in the Backcountry: Wednesday, June 4th, 4:00-4:25 pm ET
    • Description:
      In 2024, PACT Outdoors partnered with Leave No Trace, Penn State University and Colorado Fourteeners Initiative to study whether users would pack out their poop in high-use, sensitive ecosystems like Colorado’s 14K foot peaks. They installed a “wag bag” kiosk and disposal station at the trailhead of Mt. Elbert and surveyed hikers as they returned. The data from the study was surprising on multiple fronts. Only 30% of the 1,650 hikers who pooped on Mt. Elbert used the vault toilet, while the other 70% were going somewhere on their hike. Following the installation of the kiosk, 30% of hikers began packing out their poop immediately, using complimentary wag bags, while also reporting a strong willingness to do so in the future. The study showed that while awareness of wag bags is high, few have tried the practice. During a time when public lands resources are limited this research suggests that users are willing and capable of taking on greater responsibility in managing their waste. This talk with share the extensive data about attitudes and beliefs around packing out as well as best practices for implementing a successful pack out kiosk strategy in high use areas.
    • Presenter: Jake Thomas, Co-Founder, PACT Outdoors, Inc.