Wilderness Skills Institute

© 2023 · All Rights Reserved.

NWSI Recordings

This page provides links to recordings from the National Wilderness Skills Institute sessions in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

There are 6 different trails/streams for the National Wilderness Skills Institute including Combined Sessions, Traditional Skills, Visitor Use Management, Wilderness I, Wilderness II, and Wild & Scenic Rivers. Click on each track to jump to the sessions for the track.

Click on the title of each Track to view the details for each session and the link to the recordings.

  • Combined
    • Welcomes:
      • 2023
      • 2022 (includes Message from the U.S. Forest Service Chief)
      • 2021
      • 2021 Message from the U.S. Forest Service Chief
    • Keynotes:
      • 2023 – Finding Creativity in Public Lands Management
      • 2022 – What kind of an ancestor do you want to be?
      • 2021 – A New Way into the Wild: Inclusion as a Criterion for the Future of Conversation
    • Exploring Native Land Acknowledgements (2021)
    • Leadership:
      • U.S. Forest Service’s “This is Who We Are” (2021-2022)
      • Situational Leadership (2022)
      • Leadership Panel Discussion (2022)
      • Micro-Mentoring (2021)
      • Building Successful Wilderness Teams – An Alternative Approach (2023)
      • The Good, The Bad, The Ugly of High Functioning Groups (2023)
      • Audacious, Inclusive Team-Building and the Big Water Salmon Jump Expedition (2023)
    • Leave No Trace Outdoor Skills & Ethics:
      • Introduction (2021)
      • Teaching Tools for Responsible Recreation (2021)
      • Trivia (2022)
      • Refresher, Updates, Resources (2023)
    • Climate Change:
      • Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments: What they are and How they Help Stewardship (2023)
      • The Resist-Adapt-Direct (RAD) Model (2023)
      • Working with the Resist-Accept-Direct Model (2023)
      • Prescribed Fire and Wilderness: Research Findings (2023)
      • Prescribed Fire and Wilderness Workshop: The Process (2023)
    • Funding Programs (2022)
    • Wild Yoga (2022)
    • Pre-Pandemic In-Person Trainings Slideshow (2021)
    • What We Learned (2021)
    • Simulcast Session from Southern Appalachian Wilderness Skills Institute & Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute (2023)
    • Take-Aways & Next Steps – including end credits (2021-2023)
  • Traditional Skills
    • The Wilderness Tool (2023)
    • Mastering the Basics: An Examination of the Physics, Nuances, & Mechanics of Traditional Tool Skills (2021-2022)
    • Trail Maintenance Basics for Field Staff (2021-2022)
    • Trail Management Objectives on the Trail: An Introduction to the Backend of Trail Work (2021)
    • Field Leadership Development: Giving Leader’s Intent and Field Briefings (2021)
    • Traditional Skills and Minimum Tool Leadership Panel Discussion (2022)
    • Crosscut Saws (2021)
    • Pack Stock (2021-2022)
    • Backpacking & Backcountry Nutrition (2021)
    • U.S. Forest Service Trail Stewardship Program (2022)
    • U.S, Forest Service’s 10-Year Trail Shared Stewardship Challenge (2021)
  • Visitor Use Management
    • The Wonderful World of Visitor Use Management (2021-2022)
    • Development Guidance for Monitoring Campsites & Trails (2021-2022)
    • The Sustainable Camping & Trail Management Toolbox (2021)
    • Solitude Monitoring (2021)
    • Increasing the Relevancy of Wilderness to Diverse Visitors: Adaptions for how we communicate (2022)
    • Improving Public Interactions: Applying WISDOM and ART for Better Field Contacts and Visitor Use Management (2021-2022)
    • To Permit or Not to Permit: Addressing Visitor Capacity (2021)
    • Lessons from the Field:
      • The Central Cascades Wilderness Permit System (2021)
      • Overcoming Challenges and Continuous Improvement in Wyoming’s Snake River Canyon (2021)
      • Providing Up to Date Trail Conditions via Electronic Formats (2021)
      • Digital Kiosks and Visitor Use Management (2021)
      • Visitor Use Management on the Appalachian Trail (2021)
    • Management Case Studies: Resolving the Worst Appalachian Trail Camping Impacts (2021)
  • Wilderness I
    • History leading up to the Wilderness Act (2021-2022)
    • Wilderness Act 101 (2021)
    • The Fundamentals of Wilderness (2022)
    • Understanding Wilderness Character (2021-2022)
    • Wilderness Character and Wilderness Character Monitoring (2023)
    • Wilderness Values, Four Cornerstones, and Benefits (2021)
    • What’s in a Title: Congressionally Designated Areas and the Planning Processes Behind Them (2022)
    • Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Fire Resource Advisors (2021)
    • Prohibited Uses and the Exceptions to Them (2021)
    • From knowledge to impact: A conversation about unpacking barriers to DEI in wilderness (2022)
    • What Would You Do If You Were In Charge of America’s Wilderness? (2023)
  • Wilderness II
    • Minimum Requirements Analysis and the Minimum Requirements Analysis Framework (2023)
    • Minimum Requirement Analysis/Minimum Requirements Decision Guide (2021)
    • Assessing and Developing Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for Wilderness Rangers (2022)
    • The Wilderness Movement: Through the (Historical) Looking Glass (2022)
    • Wilderness Research (2021)
    • Using “Field Maps” Applications in Wilderness Management (2021)
    • Wilderness Stewardship Performance:
      • Overview (2021)
      • Natural Role of Fire (2021)
      • Recreation Sites (2021)
      • Trails (2021)
      • Opportunities for Solitude (2021)
      • Agency Management Actions (2021)
    • Wilderness Character Monitoring:
      • An Interagency Perspective (2021)
      • Implementing within the U.S. Forest Service (2021)
      • Baselines: Best Practices for Shared Areas (2022)
      • Support & Resources (2021)
    • International Aspects of Wilderness: Vignettes of Hope in a Conservation Landscape of Uncertainty (2022)
    • International & Global Initiatives (2021)
  • Wild & Scenic Rivers
    • History of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: A Photographic Journey (2023)
    • History of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act (2021)
    • Myth-busting the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (2022)
    • Wild and Scenic Rivers Training On-Demand (2022)
    • The Art of Being a River Ranger (2023)
    • Assessing and Developing Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for River Rangers (2021)
    • Beyond the Banks: Understanding Your Wild & Scenic River (2021)
    • River Incident Management (2022)
    • Challenges & Successes: User Capacity Monitoring on Wild & Scenic Rivers (2022)
    • Wildfire Incidents and Wild & Scenic Rivers Resource Considerations (2021)
    • All-Forward: Sexual Harassment in the Whitewater Rafting Industry (2022)
    • Restoration on Wild and Scenic Rivers – Fossil Creek (2023)



Track Description: A few larger sessions have been developed that cross all tracks including the opening keynote session, leadership training, and a closing discussion around take-aways and next steps.

Sessions: 

2023 Welcome

2023 Keynote – Finding Creativity in Public Lands Management

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/OFpIZhrCEpc
    • Keynote Description:
      An overview of our/you role in managing wilderness and wild & scenic rivers now and into the future.
    • Presenter:
      • Nada Wolff Culver, Deputy Director of Policy and Programs, Bureau of Land Management

2022 Welcome

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/vAlVTKcPCR4
    • Description:
      • Welcome Message from NWSI Core Team
      • Opening Remarks from USDA Forest Service Chief Randy Moore

2021 Welcome

2021 Message from the U.S. Forest Service Chief

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/SIIAteDEvtE
    • Description:
      Chief Christiansen will be sharing some thoughts as we begin to wrap up the week with our last day of sessions. Be sure to join us for this special message.
    • Presenter:
      • Vicki Christiansen, Chief, U.S. Forest Service

2022 Keynote – What kind of an ancestor do you want to be?

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/X7dkws9C6hk
    • Keynote Description:
      Dr. John Hausdoerffer will present an interactive session based on his book, What kind of an ancestor do you want to be? As we face an ever-more-fragmented world, What Kind of Ancestor Do You Want to Be? demands a return to the force of lineage—to spiritual, social, and ecological connections across time. It sparks a myriad of ageless-yet-urgent questions: How will I be remembered? What traditions do I want to continue? What cycles do I want to break? What new systems do I want to initiate for those yet-to-be-born? How do we endure? Published in association with the Center for Humans and Nature and interweaving essays, interviews, and poetry, this book brings together a thoughtful community of Indigenous and other voices—including Linda Hogan, Wendell Berry, Winona LaDuke, Vandana Shiva, Robin Kimmerer, and Wes Jackson—to explore what we want to give to our descendants. It is an offering to teachers who have come before and to those who will follow, a tool for healing our relationships with ourselves, with each other, and with our most powerful ancestors—the lands and waters that give and sustain all life.
    • Recommended Pre-Work:
      Listen or read “What Do You Owe The Mountains Around You?”
    • Keynote Presenter:
      John Hausdoerffer is a teacher, author, and organizational leader from Crested Butte, CO. His authored and co-edited books include Catlin’s Lament: Indians, Manifest Destiny, and the Ethics of Nature; Wildness: Relations of People and Place; Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations; and What Kind of Ancestor Do You want to Be? He serves as the Dean of the Clark School of Environment & Sustainability at Western Colorado University and has co-founded organizations such as Coldharbour Institute, the Resilience Studies Consortium, and the Mountain Resilience Coalition. His favorite job was leading a rag-tag group of wilderness trail workers in Rocky Mountain National Park in 1998. More info: http://www.JHausdoerffer.com

2021 Keynote – A New Way into the Wild: Inclusion as a Criterion for the Future of Conversation

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/7lgo83q-8TQ
    • Keynote Description:
      Join us as we kick-off the National Wilderness Skills Institute followed by an in-depth discussion with Dr. Drew Lanham. He is a cultural and conservation ornithologist whose work addresses the confluence of race, place, and nature. Drew is an accredited author, a lifelong bird watcher and hunter-conservationist living in Seneca, South Carolina.
    • Presenter:
      • Dr. Drew Lanham, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology, Master Teacher and Certified Wildlife Biologist, Forestry and Environmental Conservation Department, Clemson University
    • Happy Hour Keynote Discussion:
      • Recording: https://youtu.be/1PGlJSsr0L4
      • Description:
        Join us as we spend time exploring the messages shared in the keynote discussion with Dr. Drew Lanham. What role do we each play in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion and what connection does this have to stewarding Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers?
      • Facilitator:
        • Bill Hodge, Executive Director, Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation

Exploring Native Land Acknowledgements (2021)

U.S. Forest Service’s “This is Who We Are” (2021-2022)

    • Recordings:
    • Description:
      • 2021 Introduction: Learn about the U.S. Forest Service’s “This Is Who We Are” program with engagement and reflection around the agency’s mission,
        purpose, and core values. There will be facilitated discussion intended to help participants envision how they and others deliver on the
        Forest Service’s mission and core values. All Forest Service employees AND partners are welcome.
      • 2022- Leadership Stance & Habits: Everyone of us is a leader. Over the course of a day, a week, a year, a whole career, each of us can lead in our work, regardless of a job title. Learn about the stances and habits of effective and successful leadership in conservation and stewardship work.
    • Presenter:
      • Colter Pence, Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers, and Trails Program Manager, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District, Flathead National Forest
    • Resources:

Situational Leadership (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/_JgGEw6ydng
    • Description:
      Strong teams and competent leaders can transform any organization. This session focuses on the development of influential teams and leaders through the Situational Leadership model, enabling participants to:

      • Describe contributing factors to both group and individual development levels.
      • Characterize the four primary leadership styles.
      • Articulate the relationship between development levels and leadership styles.
    • Presenter:
      • Shannon Stober, Jump Start Training & Development
    • Resources:

Leadership Panel Discussion (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/N3vX230PxzI
    • Description:
      Bring your curiosities to a panel discussion on what leadership in conservation and stewardship work looks like
    • Panelists:
      • Colter Pence, Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers, and Trails Program Manager, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District, Flathead National Forest
      • Leanne Marten, Regional Forester, U.S. Forest Service Northern Region
      • Tim Love, Coordinator for the Montana Forest Collaboration Network
      • Risa Shimoda, Executive Director, River Management Society
      • Kaitlin de Varona, Executive Director, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards

Micro-Mentoring (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/O9hSmL7ErAc
    • Description:
      Get connected with a National Wilderness Skills Mentor to schedule for a micro-mentoring session. Micro-mentoring is typically 1 short (30-45 minute) session where a mentor and mentoree discuss perspectives, career goals, leadership, and personal challenges. Mentorees are encouraged to share with the mentoree before the mentoring session occurs a resume and a brainstorm of things they would like to discuss with the mentor. We will use the session at NWSI to match mentors and mentorees, and coach mentorees on how to be best prepared for the mentoring session they will then schedule
    • Presenter:
      • Colter Pence, Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers and Trails Program Manager, Flathead National Forest

Building Successful Wilderness Teams – An Alternative Approach (2023)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/ynOn3y-w0Pw
    • Description:
      Leaders and field workers are invited to join instructors on a walk through a model for designing and maintaining successful Wilderness teams
    • Presenter:
      • Dylan McCoy, Lead Wilderness Ranger, McKenzie River Ranger District, Willamette National Forest

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly of High Functioning Groups (2023)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/Z1SqtkoWkqo
    • Description:
      Seasonal employment offers unique challenges in building a productive work team with good communication practices in a short amount of time. The limited time to train the group and a designated end date can make it difficult for everyone to get on the same page quickly at the beginning of the season. Based on a study investigating what is important to seasonal employees and the organizational communication theory of socialization, this workshop with give an overview of concepts of socialization that will help seasonal managers and practitioners understand the challenges of building a team quickly AND some communicative practices and skills so that you will be prepared to build a terrific team this season.How do people build identity to an organization and group in a short time? We will talk about the stages of socialization pre-employment; throughout and post-season. We’ll also discuss findings on what seasonal employees find important:

      • Creating friendships as a support system and a sense of team
      • Personal growth
      • Important to feel competently trained
      • Feeling respected and supported by supervisor

These four things can be addressed through building skills that we’ll apply in breakouts:

      • Giving and receiving (hard) feedback
        • Short training time requires ongoing coaching through the season.
        • Agree to a culture of ongoing learning.
        • Intention for growth.
        • Invitation to problem solving.
      • Bystander intervention
        • Proven method for stopping unwelcome behaviors.
        • 4 D’s of Bystander Intervention
        • Breakout and discussion
    • Presenters:
      • Jim Miller, Co-Founder, Respect Outside
      • Maria Blevins, Associate Professor of Communication, Utah Valley University

Audacious, Inclusive Team-Building and the Big Water Salmon Jump Expedition (2023)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/UpIzf6mEUpg
    • Description:
      Meet the leaders of the 2023 Big Water Salmon Jump Expedition, a 350 mile-long celebration of the importance of salmon health in the Columbia River by a traditional canoes that will take place mid-June through the end of July 2023.
      Paddlers from multiple tribes, primarily from eastern Washington, will paddle from Revelstoke, BC to the Snake River confluence, engaged through the unimaginably engaging, outstretched arms of the organizers. How might their strategy, approach and demeanor relate to you and your seasonal crew’s success or planning team’s effectiveness? You may gain an insight or two while listening to their story.
    • Presenters:
      • Peter “PT” Bruno, Expedition Lead, Big Water Salmon Jump: Columbia River Journey
      • Ben-Alex Dupris, Colville Confederated Tribes

Leave No Trace Outdoor Skills & Ethics: Introduction (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/PDkzgVyMlPA
    • Description:
      This course provides an overview of Leave No Trace (LNT) principles that protect the outdoors while minimizing our impacts to the land, soil, vegetation, water, wildlife, cultural resources, and other visitors. Participants will learn about LNT guidelines to practice, promote, and share whether in the backcountry, front country, your favorite local parks, and natural areas or in your everyday life. Participants will also be introduced to programs and resources of the LNT Center for Outdoor Ethics and ways to get more involved. Lastly, the course will cover LNT recommendations to keep ourselves, our communities, and our outdoor spaces safe and healthy during COVID-19.
    • Presenters:
      • Brice Esplin, Subaru/Leave No Trace Team
      • Erin Collier, Subaru/Leave No Trace Team

Leave No Trace Outdoor Skills & Ethics: Teaching Tools for Responsible Recreation (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/lyiU5J0IaKw
    • Description:
      This course is designed for park and recreation staff, outdoor educators, and guides who will gain skills and knowledge to incorporate Leave No Trace (LNT) into their work as well as teach LNT to all experience levels and in varied environments. Participants will receive an overview of LNT principles, practices, and ethics, including both the how’s and whys behind the importance of practicing LNT. Participants will learn about LNT guidelines to practice, promote, and share whether in the backcountry, front country, your favorite local parks or in your everyday life. Instructors will cover tips, tools, and best practices for effectively communicating and teaching LNT to others (both online and in-person), including interactive activities and techniques such as Authority of the Resource. They will also review programs and resources of the LNT for Outdoor Ethics and ways to get more involved. Lastly, participants will learn about LNT recommendations to keep ourselves, our communities, and our outdoor spaces safe and healthy during COVID-19.
    • Presenters:
      • Brice Esplin, Subaru/Leave No Trace Team
      • Erin Collier, Subaru/Leave No Trace Team

Leave No Trace Outdoor Skills & Ethics: Trivia (2022)

    • Recording: Zoom Recording Link
    • Description:
      Whether you are new to Leave No Trace or consider yourself an expert, bring a friend and join the Subaru/Leave No Trace Team for this interactive game night to gain or refresh Leave No Trace skills and knowledge. After each question there will be discussion of the applicable Leave No Trace practices and principles, with quick tips covering Leave No Trace Basics and techniques for protecting your favorite outdoor spaces. Come ready to play! We will use an online trivia platform that’s a ton of fun. We recommend logging in from your laptop but having a cell phone or other device handy to play.
    • Presenters:
      • Haley Toy, Subaru/Leave No Trace Team
      • Gary Huey, Subaru/Leave No Trace Team

Leave No Trace Outdoor Skills & Ethics: Refresher, Updates, Resources (2023)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/OCtlNqvpuxg
    • Description:
      Rivers and wilderness areas are dynamic. Join this interactive session to stay abreast of changes in practices and new research related to Leave No Trace Skills & Ethics. These updates will help keep your LNT knowledge sharp and prepare you for a summer in the field, whether as a land manager, volunteer, or outdoor educator.
    • Prerequisite: Leave No Trace: Take Action to Protect the Outdoors (self-paced course)
    •  Presenters:
      • Haley Toy, Subaru/Leave No Trace Team
      • Gary Huey, Subaru/Leave No Trace Team

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments: What they are and How they Help Stewardship (2023)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/_faYrshf1Cc
    • Description:
      In this session, participants will learn about resources available to support considerations of climate change in stewardship. The session will highlight climate change vulnerability assessments developed for national forests in the western United States and how they can be used. Participants will also develop a better understanding of potential impacts of climate change on wilderness areas and have the opportunity to discuss strategies for responding to these impacts.
    • Prerequisite:
      Participants would benefit from having some familiarity with climate change vulnerability assessments relevant to the places where they work:

    • Presenter:
      • Dr. Thomas Timberlake, Climate Change and Science Coordinator,  Pacific Northwest Research Station and Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Center

The Resist-Adapt-Direct (RAD) Model (2023)

Working with the Resist-Accept-Direct Model (2023)

Prescribed Fire and Wilderness: Research Findings (2023)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/AOLgtyav3zY
    • Description:
      This session will focus on the research and findings of the Wilderness and Fire Management Workshop hosted by the Center for Public Lands at Western Colorado University in December 2022. Workshop participants represented multiple agencies, organizations, geographic regions, and professional roles, each bringing unique experiences and perspectives to a discussion about the future of wilderness and fire management. Research conducted by the Center for Public Lands regarding challenges and opportunities associated with prescribed fire in wilderness, along with case studies from around the country, provided a foundation for conversation and deliberation.
    • Presenters:
      • Alyssa Worsham, Graduate Student, Western Colorado University
      • Dagny Signorelli, Graduate Student, Western Colorado University

Prescribed Fire and Wilderness Workshop: The Process (2023)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/-IG75Ofkzos
    • Description:
      This session will provide insight behind the process used by graduate students Alyssa Worsham and Dagny Signorelli to encourage discussion among wilderness professionals during the Wilderness and Fire Management Workshop. Workshop participants prepared a white paper to summarize the topics discussed, synthesizing key opportunities to enact change in current fire/wilderness management practices, with the goal to prepare land managers for shifting baselines, changing climate conditions, and future policy environments.
    • Presenters:
      • Alyssa Worsham, Graduate Student, Western Colorado University
      • Dagny Signorelli, Graduate Student, Western Colorado University

Funding Programs (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/a11f_jObzBk
    • Description:
      We will hear from a panel of guests, all of whom have a connection to funding programs specific for wilderness and trail stewardship.
    • Presenters:
      • Randy Welsh, Executive Director, National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance
      • Kerry Morse, Conservation Awards Manager, National Forest Foundation
      • Sharon Seim, Wilderness & Trails Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service Alaska Region
      • Brenda Yankoviak, National Trail Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service
      • Dusty Vaughn, Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Specialist, Washington Office, U.S. Forest Service

Wild Yoga (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/vFbmSw92uQE
    • Description:
      Join Kathleen Pangan, a registered yoga teacher and former SAWS Wilderness Specialist in a lovely natural setting in Mount Rogers National Recreation Area for 30 minutes of movement in an outdoor setting. Take this break in your day to wake up, focus, breathe, stretch your muscles, strengthen your body, and enjoy some healthy screen time….outdoors if you can, or in your own home space. Enjoy!
    • Presenter:
      • Kathleen Pangan, Wilderness Specialist, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards

Pre-Pandemic In-Person Trainings Slideshow (2021)

What We Learned (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/n3qMyuH0o-c
    • Description:
      This session will take participants through a review of what was the 2021 National Wilderness Skills Institute. With a focus on having fun
      and making sure this community of practice stays connected we will provide some highlights from the week.
    • Facilitator:
      • Bill Hodge, Executive Director, Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation

Simulcast Session from Southern Appalachian Wilderness Skills Institute & Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute (2023)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/I3QM2bar5zg
    • Description:
      Join us as we close out the 2023 NWSI with an opportunity to connect with the in-person training occurring at the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Skills Institute at the Cradle of Forestry on the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina and the Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute at the Powell Ranger Station on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. We’ll get a chance to listen in on a session around rock work by Artie Hidalgo, Jolly Rovers Trail Crew at SAWSI and get a glimpse of what’s happening at NRWSI.
    • Presenters:
      • National Wilderness Skills Artificial Intelligence
      • Southern Appalachian Wilderness Skills Institute -Artie Hidalgo, Jolly Rovers Trail Crew
      • Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute Slideshow

Take-Aways & Next Steps (2021-2023)

    • Recordings:
    • Description:
      This week wasn’t what we wanted to do…or was it? We all came into this knowing that this training session was a needed replacement for what we would have rather done in person and within our local landscape. But what did work about the week and is there a need for some bigger connection in future years? Let’s spend one last zoom session together and toast to the wilderness and wild & scenic river adventures ahead!!
    • Presenters:
      • NWSI Core Team



Track Description: Provides a foundation for the skills needed to work in a wilderness setting. With an overview of crosscut, axes, rigging and hand tools, using pack stock, and trail maintenance techniques, participants will have a solid foundation for moving to the field to practice these skills.


Sessions:

The Wilderness Tool (2023)

Mastering the Basics: An Examination of the Physics, Nuances, & Mechanics of Traditional Tool Skills (2022)

Mastering the Basics: An Examination of the Physics, Nuances, & Mechanics of Traditional Skills (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/eHHdofBAJ38
    • Description:
      This session provides participants an opportunity to learn from traditional tool experts with a focus on learning how to use a tool rather than just learning the “how to do it” technique. The foundational teaching by these experts puts more emphasis on the science, physics and dynamics of the work and the proper shape, size, and balance of the tool. This understanding improves efficiency and safety of tool use regardless if tool users are new to the skill set or have years of experience. There is nothing easy about using traditional tools, it is hard work, but improving proficiency of tool use enhances the experience and promotes the recognition of value in the work and tools used in wilderness.
    • Presenters:
      • Bob Beckley, Retired, National Technology & Development Center, U.S. Forest Service
      • Susan Jenkins, Project Leader, National Technology & Development Center, U.S. Forest Service
      • Jeremy Watkins, Wilderness/Trails Specialist, Seeley Lake Ranger District, Lolo National Forest
      • Aaron Klug, Bob Marshall Wilderness Trail Specialist, U.S. Forest Service
      • Dolly Chapman, Retired, Wilderness Trail Crew Leader & Owner of Chapman’s Sharp Saws
      • Doug Hunt, Retired Packer, Selway Bitterroot Wilderness, U.S. Forest Service
      • Jessica Kehoe, PT,DPT,CSCS, Alpine Physical Therapy
    • Resources: see updated resource list for the 2022 session above

Trail Maintenance Basics for Field Staff (2021-2022)

    • Recordings:
    • Description:
      An overview of definitions of common terms, some details of trail clearing and basic tread, and a run through of the most common trail tools. this is targeted at the novice trail maintainer.
    • Presenters:
      • Jessica May, Trails Specialist, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District, Flathead National Forest
      • Kerry Wood, Wilderness & Trails Program Manage, Sandia Ranger District, Cibola National Forest
      • Garrett Villanueva, Pacific Southwest Regional Trail and Travel Management Program Leader, U.S. Forest Service
      • Melanie Vining, Executive Director, Idaho Trails Association

Trail Management Objectives on the Trail: An Introduction to the Backend of Trail Work (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/WxlwXAkH4qs
    • Description:
      This session will review Trail Management Objectives (TMO) in the context of field work and accomplishment reporting. The goal is to explain some of the national standardization of our trails system while acknowledging local variation. It is also meant to connect what field workers are doing on the ground with the bigger picture of trail system management. If you are novice to trail work, it will be helpful for you to take the Trail Maintenance Basics for Field Staff prior to attending this session.
    • Presenters:
      • Jessica May, Trails Specialist, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District, Flathead National Forest
      • MJ Crandall, Recreation Staff Officer, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District, Flathead National Forest

Field Leadership Development: Giving Leader’s Intent and Field Briefings (2021)

Traditional Skills and Minimum Tool Leadership Panel Discussion (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/B07fLtc3hnE
    • Description:
      Every year the USDA Forest Service recognizes and employee or crew that demonstrates outstanding initiative, creativity, and commitment to wilderness principles by accomplishing a difficult or challenging wilderness stewardship activity using traditional skills. During this panel discussion attendees will hear from some of the award recipients from the last five years as they share information about their work and the future of promoting traditional skills for wilderness work.
    • Panelists:
      • Adam Washebek, Recreation Staff Officer, Gardiner Ranger District, Custer Gallatin National Forest
      • Cindy Ebbert, Reality Specialist, Dillon Ranger District, White River National Forest
      • Kelly Pearson, Retired Wilderness Technician, Shawnee National Forest
      • Tory Hahka, Authorities Coordinator, U.S. Forest Service Eastern Region

Crosscut Saws (2021)

Pack Stock (2021-2022)

    • Recordings:
    • Description:
      This session will use video content from last years NWSI (see Pack Stock I and Pack Stock II recordings) and bring in expert speakers for discussion/Q&A. Session will introduce participants to the capabilities of pack stock and their role in managing public lands throughout the nation. We will also discuss safely working around stock, including horse psychology, stock on the trail, all the way up to some of the safety factors that packers consider when putting a string together. Interact with a panel of professional U.S. Forest Service packers.
    • Presenters:
      • Ken Graves, Forest Packer, U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Pack Stock Center of Excellence, Co-Director, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
      • Katy Bartzokis, U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Pack Stock Center of Excellence Lead Packer, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
      • Debbie Mcdougald, Special Uses Permit Administrator & Stock Program Manager, Sierra National Forest
      • Michael Morse, Wilderness & Trails Supervisor, U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Pack Stock Center of Excellence Co-Director, Inyo National Forest

Backpacking & Backcountry Nutrition (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/U4jFvq2eULM
    • Description:
      Katie has been Crew Member, Crew Leader, Field Operations Coordinator and Program Manager for backcountry programs in virtually
      every landscape across our public lands and she will share the what and how of packing your pack for extended time in the wilderness.
      Jesse has led and prepared crews for extended hitches in the backcountry and has established some best practices for preparing for
      feeding diverse (and hungry) crews, with critical decisions coming before ever leaving the workstation
    • Presenters:
      • Katie Currier, Masters Candidate, University of Idaho; Former Program Manager, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
      • Jessica Satterfield, Conservation Education Specialist, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
      • Carol A. Hennessey, Recreation, Trails, Wilderness, Outfitter & Guide & Rivers Program Manager, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests

U.S. Forest Service Trail Stewardship Program (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/Eod8V_jUXs4
    • Description:
      Join the U.S. Forest Service’s Washington D.C. Office Trails Team to hear about specific actions the agency is taking to support the trails workforce and improve trail conditions on the ground. During this session, participants will learn about the 10 Year Trail Shared Stewardship Challenge- what it is, why we have it, and what to expect from it. We’ll then do a deep dive into several topics of interest to trail practitioners related to training, analyzing trail program workforce capacity, and data efforts (spoiler alert- we’re working to bring our trail data systems into the 21st century).
    • Presenters:
      • Brenda Yankoviak, National Trail Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service
      • Del Orme, Assistant National Trail Program Manager (Acting), U.S. Forest Service
      • Matt Able, Trail Data Modernization Product Owner, U.S. Forest Service
    • Resources:

U.S, Forest Service’s 10-Year Trail Shared Stewardship Challenge (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/rcSKw6PXU3o
    • Description:
      This session will include an overview of the national trail program (who’s who and what we’re all working on), and a synopsis of the 10 Year Trail Shared Stewardship Challenge (why it’s needed, how it’s structured, and what to expect).
    • Presenter:
      • Brenda Yankoviak, National Trail Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service
    • Resources:



Track Description: Visitor Use Management Provides participants with the tools needed to adapt to a variety of challenges and opportunities that are present in current land management settings. These sessions will go from the theoretical to the applied with an overview of the Visitor Use Management Framework and a variety of lessons from the field.

Sessions:

The Wonderful World of Visitor Use Management (2021-2022)

    • Recordings:
    • Description:
      Are you frustrated by visitor behavior? Do you want to address management challenges in a meaningful way that lasts? Do you feel like you’re lacking the tools and information you need to tackle visitor use challenges? This session will provide an introduction to visitor use management and to valuable tools that will help you tackle challenges big and small.
    • Presenter:
      • Linda Merigliano, Recreation and Wilderness Program Manager, Bridger-Teton National Forest

Development Guidance for Monitoring Campsites & Trails (2021-2022)

    • Recordings:
    • Description:
      This presentation will address how monitoring can supply a Visitor Use Management process with accurate information about campsite and trail conditions to evaluate thresholds/standards of quality and aid in selecting corrective actions and evaluating their efficacy. The bulk of the talk will be focused on developing and implementing effective monitoring programs, with helpful guidance for both program leaders and field staff.
    • Presenters:
      • Dr. Jeff Marion, Recreation Ecologist, Eastern Ecological Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey
      • Dr. Jeremy Wimpey, Principal, Applied Trails Research, LLC

The Sustainable Camping & Trail Management Toolbox (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/7AohJYUTeyA
    • Description:
      This presentation will discuss the use-impact relationship and its implications for managing visitor use to minimize resource impacts. Management begins by developing a sustainable infrastructure of trails and campsites so we will discuss the most influential attributes that makes these features sustainable and how maintenance can enhance their sustainability. Next we will discuss visitor use management options, such as camping management options (dispersed, established site, and designated site), trail management options (pairing type of use to trails that are sustainable for each use), and when redistributing or limiting visitor use is necessary. Finally, we will discuss the role of visitor education and Leave No Trace practices.
    • Presenter:
      • Dr. Jeff Marion, Recreation Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey Eastern Ecological Science Center
    • Resources:

Solitude Monitoring (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/rvCypmvhQjk
    • Description:
      Dr. Troy Hall will present on the legislative process involved in the passage of the Wilderness Act to explore how “outstanding opportunities” and its parts were historically understood. Specifically, Dr. Hall will dissect the parts of the phrase “outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation” (from Section 2[c] of the Wilderness Act) through an examination of how the terms “solitude,” “rugged,” “primitive,” and “unconfined” were represented and likely understood by participants in the wilderness bill hearings.
    • Presenter:
      • Dr. Troy Hall, Professor & Department Head, Forest Ecosystems & Society, Oregon State University
      • Dr. Jesse Engebretson, Assistant Professor, California State University Chico

Increasing the Relevancy of Wilderness to Diverse Visitors: Adaptions for how we communicate (2022)

Improving Public Interactions: Applying WISDOM and ART for Better Field Contacts and Visitor Use Management (2021-2022)

To Permit or Not to Permit: Addressing Visitor Capacity (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/Y54GZHYXn6w
    • Description:
      Have you ever thought to yourself, “What is visitor capacity and how do I determine the visitor capacity of an area?” or “How would I
      even go about addressing visitor capacity?” or “A permit system would solve everything!” This session will provide an introduction to
      visitor capacity and will provide some useful tools and a framework that will help you navigate the complex world of visitor capacity.
    • Presenter:
      • Katy Nelson, Wilderness and Trails Specialist, White River National Forest
    • Resources:

Lessons from the Field: The Central Cascades Wilderness Permit System (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/7HNMPLrUjT8
    • Description:
      The Central Cascades Wilderness Permit System is a joint project between the Deschutes and Willamette National Forests to limit entry
      on both day and overnight use within three Wilderness areas in order to protect them for current and future generations. This
      presentation gives a brief history of the project and what the system looks like as it is implemented in May of 2021.
    • Presenter:
      • Jason Fisher, Wilderness Specialist, Deschutes National Forest

Lessons from the Field: Overcoming Challenges and Continuous Improvement in Wyoming’s Snake River Canyon (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/j-vlFUMVuhs
    • Description:
      Visitor use reached over 200,000 boaters a season in the Snake River Canyon during the 1990’s. While the quality of the river experience was dropping, conflicts were on the rise and stakeholders demanded change. Please join for a discussion of initial interventions and fine tuning that has followed.
    • Presenter:
      • David Cernicek, Wild & Scenic Rivers, Special Uses, Partnerships, & River Ranger, Bridger-Teton National Forest

Lessons from the Field: Providing Up to Date Trail Conditions via Electronic Formats (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/1sGEHsfqLE8
    • Description:
      An overview of mapping products that deliver real-time information to the public at large: ArcGIS online, trails data, maintenance schedules and reporting.
    • Presenter:
      • Joshua Simpson, Wilderness, Trails, Recreation and Noxious Weeds Program Manager, Krassel Ranger District, Payette National Forest

Lessons from the Field: Digital Kiosks and Visitor Use Management (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/bWdA1is1f84
    • Description:
      U.S. Forest Service Northern Region digital kiosk program: Explanation and background of what digital kiosks are, and how digital kiosks can assist with visitor use management. How can we think of new ways to use this technology to encourage certain visitor use patterns?
    • Presenters:
      • Chrysann Jaeger, Conservation Education Specialist (acting), Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
    • Resources:

Lessons from the Field: Visitor Use Management on the Appalachian Trail (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/Em49D7TsLe0
    • Description:
      I’ll describe the history of VUM on the Appalachian Trail (AT), Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s (ATC) adoption of the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council’s (IVUMC) Visitor Use Management (VUM) planning framework, give some examples of AT VUM planning work, and describe ATC’s strategic VUM plan for future A.T. VUM work.
    • Presenter:
      • Morgan Sommerville, Director of Visitor Use Management, Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Management Case Studies: Resolving the Worst Appalachian Trail Camping Impacts (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/3mPk6Qfo8lA
    • Description:
      This presentation will present and discuss three cases studies where management-science collaborations sought to resolve the recognized “worst” Appalachian Trail camping locations by shifting camping from popular flat areas, where campsite proliferation and expansion had created unacceptably large “mega-clusters” of campsites and impact, to sustainable side-hill campsites in sloping terrain. The cases studies are Annapolis Rocks vista, Maryland, Slaughter Gap, Georgia, and Hawk Mtn Shelter, Georgia. The “lessons-learned” from each will be shared and discussed.
    • Presenters:
      • Dr. Jeff Marion, Recreation Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey Eastern Ecological Science Center
      • Morgan Sommerville, Director of Visitor Use Management, Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Also See: 2022 Challenges & Successes: User Capacity Monitoring on Wild & Scenic Rivers in the Wild & Scenic Rivers Track



Track Description: The Wilderness I track will take us on a journey from the beginnings of the Wilderness Act through the foundations that guide wilderness stewardship today. Learn from experienced instructors working in a variety of wilderness settings who will share their expertise in the fundamentals of wilderness history, the Wilderness Act, wilderness character, more inclusive wilderness, and the different congressionally designated areas including wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, and wilderness study areas. Woven through the sessions is the common thread of wilderness in the context of indigenous people who have been connected to these lands for time immemorial and who will be part of the lands for generations to come, as well as diverse communities and cultures who visit these lands today and those who are facing barriers to access. Join us to grow your knowledge, skills, and understanding of wilderness from the origin of an idea decades ago to stewardship of these unique and special lands in the modern day.

Sessions:

History leading up to the Wilderness Act (2021-2022)

    • Recordings:
    • Description:
      We will explore the cultural shifts that happened to launch a system of public commons, and how that shift and a vision of the future informed the subsequent movement to secure wild public lands within the framework of the larger public domain. We will explore critical moments and crucial characters, while laying open the fissures and cracks left to us by those that advocated for what we serve today.
    • Presenter:
      • Bill Hodge, Executive Director, Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation

Wilderness Act 101 (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/uC_SaiLEius
    • Description:
      This presentation is targeted to first- or second-year seasonal wilderness rangers, volunteers and those that are new to wilderness stewardship. The power-point will focus on the fundamentals of the Wilderness Act, specifically section 2 and 4 of the Law. It will also address the “why” wilderness was needed in 1964 and for future generations. The presentation will conclude with the challenges forthcoming, including climate change, intervention, and the need to “Let it Be.”
    • Presenter:
      • Ralph Swain, Retired, Wilderness and Rivers Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region

The Fundamentals of Wilderness (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/HTS9V1RhAYE
    • Description:
      For those who are new to wilderness stewardship and anyone who wants to experience creative and interactive approaches to wilderness education. Finish the session with a deeper understanding of the wilderness as you learn about fundamental principles of the 1964 Wilderness Act, why wilderness mattered then, now, and for future generations through presentation of a creative and interactive story map. Presenters will demonstrate tools and resources through the story map that will encourage participant engagement and may inspire creative ideas for your own presentations in the future.
    • Presenters:
      • Ben Clark, Virtual Student Federal Service Intern, Pacific Northwest Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers, Congressionally Designated Areas, U.S. Forest Service; Geography & History Educator, Crested Butte Community School
      • Dan Abbe, Wilderness Specialist, Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center
      • Nancy Taylor, Pacific Northwest Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers, Congressionally Designated Areas Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service
    • Resources:
  • Understanding Wilderness Character (2021-2022)
    • Recordings:
    • Description:
      Brief overview of wilderness character – how it is defined, why it matters, and what each of the 5 qualities is about. How is wilderness character used with emphasis on use at field level – communication, education.
    • Presenter:
      • Linda Merigliano, Recreation and Wilderness Program Manager, Bridger-Teton National Forest

Wilderness Character and Wilderness Character Monitoring (2023)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/-Hig4iJESXg
    • Description:
      This session will define wilderness character using the 5-quality framework and 1964 Wilderness Act. Attendees will also receive an overview of how wilderness character is monitored by all four land management agencies: Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service and Forest Service. Additional information will be provided about the Forest Service’s approach to wilderness character monitoring (WCM), including an introduction to the 2020 Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide and how it’s used. This session will be useful for folks who will be conducting WCM or are curious about how land management agencies track changes to wilderness resources.
    • Prerequisite:
    •  Presenter:
      • Michelle Tanz, Wilderness Dayen, Society for Wilderness Stewardship

Wilderness Values, Four Cornerstones, and Benefits (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/QhK7ar1yZRQ
    • Description:
      This session will look in depth at the Four Cornerstones of wilderness stewardship (preserve wildness and natural conditions; provide and use the minimum necessary; manage wilderness as a whole; and protect wilderness benefits). These foundational principles will be connected with values that are fundamental to those who work in wilderness as well as visit these special lands for diverse reasons. The final cornerstone, protection of wilderness benefits, will lead into discussion of a timely report on wilderness benefits to present and future generations of wilderness visitors and for those who value wilderness from afar.
    • Presenters:
      • Ken Straley, Acting Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region
      • Jason Taylor, Director, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, U.S. Forest Service

What’s in a Title: Congressionally Designated Areas and the Planning Processes Behind Them (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/uBc0itrizY4
    • Description:
      What is recommended wilderness, or a wilderness study area? What is the difference between those land allocations and designated Wilderness and how does that impact your work? What is an eligibility or suitability study? What does it mean to have an eligible or suitable Wild and Scenic River on your unit? How does that title influence or impact your work? If you are curious about these questions than this course is for you! We will hear from several experts in this field and break down complicated planning terms and processes so that you can understand what these titles mean and what your role is in managing these areas. See you there!
    • Presenters:
      • Liz Townley, Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Planning Specialist, U.S. Forest Service
      • Steve Chesterton, National Wild & Scenic Rivers Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service
      • Peter Mali, National Wilderness Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service
      • Mary Erickson, Forest Supervisor, Custer Gallatin National Forest

Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Fire Resource Advisors (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/teK8YAUEvQ4
    • Description:
      This course will include a brief introduction into what a Fire Resource Advisors(READ) is, how they are related to Wilderness and Wild &
      Scenic Rivers (WWS) specifically, some of what a WWSR READ does, why that is important to WWSR management, and how people can
      get started on this path if they are interested.
    • Presenter:
      • Dylan McCoy, Lead Wilderness Ranger, McKenzie River Ranger District, Willamette National Forest

Prohibited Uses and the Exceptions to Them (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/g8_OK7H-YIw
    • Description:
      This session will review the Wilderness Act prohibitions, exceptions to them and special provisions.
    • Presenter:
      • James Sippel, Wilderness Specialist, Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center, Bureau of Land Management

From knowledge to impact: A conversation about unpacking barriers to DEI in wilderness (2022)

    • not recorded as requested by presenters
    • Description:
      This is an interactive session designed to identify impactful methods and materials to better prepare wilderness professionals around the country to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) needs. We will begin with a discussion to share our own personal DEI-in-wilderness journeys, and then we will break out into 4 smaller focus groups to discuss what DEI barriers and knowledge gaps you face in your work in wilderness, as well as explore some successes and opportunities to build from to improve our commitment to DEI in wilderness. Come prepared to share your own stories, successes and challenges and to build ideas with others who are committed to a more inclusive future of wilderness. We are limiting registration to the first 40 participants (20 from federal agencies and 20 from stewardship groups) to allow for the opportunity for deep dialogue in smaller break-out sessions.
    • Presenters:
      • Lauren Redmore, Research Social Scientist, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute
      • Kimm Fox-Middleton, Wilderness Interpretation & Outreach Specialist, Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center
    • Resources: Presentation Slides

What Would You Do If You Were In Charge of America’s Wilderness? (2023)

    • Game Board
    • Description:
      You’ve been appointed steward of a large, popular wilderness not far from a major city. Every choice you make will effect the land’s four wilderness qualities (undeveloped, solitude, untrammeled , and natural), which derive directly from the Wilderness Act. Each choice is based on a real-world scenario. Just as in real life, you’ll face growing tension between the qualities the Act protects, due to the increasing effects of climate change and other human pressures. Grab a pencil, tally your score, and see what kind of manager you’d be—and how your choices affect hikers, ecosystems, and the very idea of wilderness itself.
    • Authors:
      • Originally developed in partnership with Backpacker Magazine by Dr. Peter Landres, Retired, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute
      • Illustration by Nigel Sussman



Track Description: Building upon content covered in the Wilderness I sessions, the courses in this track dives deeper into wilderness history, Wilderness Character Monitoring, research, and international wilderness topics.

Sessions:

Minimum Requirements Analysis and the Minimum Requirements Analysis Framework (2023)

Minimum Requirement Analysis/Minimum Requirements Decision Guide (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/rbu7B975zU8
    • Description:
      Overview of Minimum Requirement Analysis, where it comes from, why we do it, and tips for how to complete.
    • Presenters:
      • Dan Abbe, Wilderness Specialist, Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center, U.S. Forest Service
      • Dan Morris, Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers, and Caves Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service Intermountain Region
      • John Campbell, Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service Southern Region

Assessing and Developing Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for Wilderness Rangers (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/Fmxo6v1qI1M
    • Description:
      Learn about core competencies, knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed for entry level wilderness ranger work, in order to develop a personal development and training plan, and then identify resources to develop those KSAs. This session will be shared in three modules:

      1. Review the Wilderness Technical Core Competencies for Wilderness Specialists,
      2. Assess your own wilderness KSAs,
      3. Learn about resources to further develop your KSAs.
    • Presenters:
      • Colter Pence, Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers, and Trails Program Manager, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District, Flathead National Forest
      • Dan Abbe, Wilderness Specialist, Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center
    • Resources:

The Wilderness Movement: Through the (Historical) Looking Glass (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/JKS-pM2aRbE
    • Description:
      In this session, Michelle Reilly, Ph.D. will present two related discussion. First, she will discuss some of the women in the early days of the wilderness movement from her article, “Beyond Secretaries, Hostesses, and Cooks: The Power, Humility, and Compassion of Women Who Battled to Save Wilderness” published in the April 2021 volume of the International Journal of Wilderness. Next, Michelle will present opposing views, namely the dualistic, backward-looking interpretation of wilderness and a forward-looking conception of wilderness supported by historical documents.
    • Presenter:
      • Dr. Michelle Reilly, National Wildlife Refuge System Wilderness Liaison, Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center &
        Wildlife Biologist & Course Leader, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center
    • Resources:

Wilderness Research (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/N2usBnZorBo
    • Description:
      This session will be an informal discussion, focused on addressing questions from attendees about the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, the use of science to support Wilderness or other public lands stewardship, science careers at resource management agencies, and other questions about research related to Wilderness.
    • Presenter:
      • Jason Taylor, Director, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, U.S. Forest Service

Using “Field Maps” Applications in Wilderness Management (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/IIU1NLmfaRA
    • Description:Quick introduction to getting a GIS account, then talking about Field
      Maps mobile application, how it works, how it’s been applied to Wilderness Management, it’s capacity and limitations, lessons learned, and time for Q&A. Outcome is a better understanding of Field Maps and how it may be a tool folks can use to track management data.
    • Presenter:
      • Lead Wilderness Ranger, McKenzie River Ranger District, Willamette National Forest

Wilderness Stewardship Performance: Overview (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/8Cl39jMT2do
    • Description:
      Provides attendees background of the Wilderness Stewardship Performance (WSP) measure, results from the first six years, accomplishment trends, and funding opportunities. From this presentation, participants will gain a better understanding of WSP, where to find resources, and possible funding opportunities.
    • Presenters:
      • Eric Sandeno, Information Manager, Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers, Washington Office, U.S. Forest Service
      • Dusty Vaughn, Specialist, Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers, Washington Office, U.S. Forest Service
    • Reference: Table of Elements

Wilderness Stewardship Performance: Natural Role of Fire (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/B8FOngnC4oc
    • Description:
      Provides attendees details about the five scoring components, with specific examples, of the Natural Role of Fire Wilderness Stewardship Performance element. From this presentation, participants will gain a better understanding of the Natural Role of Fire element and deliverables needed to improve element scores.
    • Presenters:
      • Frankie Romero, Fire Use & Fuels Program Manager, Washington Office, U.S. Forest Service
      • Colter Pence, Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers and Trails Program Manager, Flathead National Forest

Wilderness Stewardship Performance: Recreation Sites (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/-Ywc8ITVmCM
    • Description:
      Provides attendees details about the five scoring components, with specific examples, of the Recreation Sites Wilderness Stewardship Performance element. From this presentation, participants will gain a better understanding of the Recreation Sites element and deliverables needed to improve element scores.
    • Presenters:
      • Stacy Duke, Forest Recreation Program Manager, Hoosier National Forest
      • Eric Sandeno, Information Manager, Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers, Washington Office, U.S. Forest Service

Wilderness Stewardship Performance: Trails (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/6WkrClvSCBU
    • Description:
      Provides attendees details about the five scoring components, with specific examples, of the Trails Wilderness Stewardship Performance element. From this presentation, participants will gain a better understanding of the Trails element and deliverables needed to improve element scores.
    • Presenters:
      • Brenda Yankoviak, National Trail Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service
      • Matt Able, Assistant National Trails Program Manager (Acting), U.S. Forest Service

Wilderness Stewardship Performance: Opportunities for Solitude (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/eqsQvC1-pok
    • Description:
      Provides attendees details about the five scoring components, with specific examples, of the Opportunities for Solitude Wilderness Stewardship Performance element. From this presentation, participants
    • Presenter:
      • Dr. Troy Hall, Professor & Department Head, Forest Ecosystems & Society, Oregon State University

Wilderness Stewardship Performance: Agency Management Actions (2021)

Wilderness Character Monitoring: An Interagency Perspective (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/6x4ORCSAAI4
    • Description:
      A look at wilderness character monitoring history, development, overview, and an interagency update.
    • Presenters:
      • Dr. Peter Landres, Emeritus Scientist, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, U.S. Forest Service
      • Kaitlin de Varona, Program Manager & WCM Team Leader, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
      • Julie King, National WCM, Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service
      • Marissa Edwards, Wilderness Fellow, American Conservation Experience
      • Peter Mali, National Wilderness Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service
      • Roger Semler, Wilderness Stewardship Division Manager, National Park Service
      • Peter Keller, National Wilderness Program Lead, Bureau of Land Management

Wilderness Character Monitoring: Implementing within the U.S. Forest Service (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/G8bKJWUpM3A
    • Description:
      Implementing the Wilderness Character Monitoring (WCM) framework with the USDA Forest Service including legislative and administrative document compilation, narrative writing, measure selection, the USDA Forest Service WCM Technical Guide, and baseline assessment report writing (Wilderness Stewardship Performance points 2-8).
    • Presenters:
      • Kaitlin de Varona, Program Manager & WCM Team Leader, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
      • Mike Smith, WCM Team Leader (Senior), Society for Wilderness Stewardship
      • Jacob Wall, Program Director, Society for Wilderness Stewardship

Wilderness Character Monitoring Baselines: Best Practices for Shared Areas (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/BBe4tkQQpbo
    • Description:
      In this session we will discuss how working across multiple jurisdictions can add complexity and challenge to completing wilderness character monitoring baselines and will be sharing best practices for both agency staff and partners for working across administrative boundaries, including, district, forest/park/unit, regional, agency and international boundaries. We will be sharing examples and challenges of working across agency boundaries for BLM/USFS shared wilderness areas in California and across forest boundaries with examples from the Bob Marshall Complex and the central Sierra Nevada. We will share how efficiencies can be gained by working on multiple wildernesses on the same district or forest at the same time with examples from Los Padres National Forest and from the Southern Appalachians. We will briefly explore the unique challenges of areas that are immediately adjacent to international boundaries where data and information may be needed from agencies outside the U.S. We will share resources, such as tools and templates that are available to help you as you work to complete wilderness character narratives and baseline reports. We also spend some time sharing information about partner resources available to assist with WCM and how to obtain them or work with new partners to add capacity to help with WCM.
    • Presenters:
      • Christina Boston, Acting National Wilderness Character Monitoring Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service
      • Wilderness Character Monitoring Central Team:
        • Drew Lindsey, Data Services Specialist, U.S. Forest Service
        • Scotty Bowman, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
        • Jim Edmonds, Central Data Analyst, U.S. Forest Service
      • Heather MacSlarrow, Executive Director, Society for Wilderness Stewardship
      • Colter Pence, Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers, and Trails Program Manager, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District, Flathead National Forest

Wilderness Character Monitoring: Support & Resources (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/VBUD-e0l9lI
    • Description:
      An introduction to the USDA Forest Service Wilderness Character Monitoring (WCM) Central Team roles and responsibilities as well as a look at resources available to staff working on wilderness character monitoring.
    • Presenters:
      • Julie King, National WCM Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service
      • Kaitlin de Varona, Program Manager & WCM Team Leader, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
      • Mike Smith, WCM Team Leader, Society for Wilderness Stewardship
      • Drew Lindsey, Data Service Specialist, U.S. Forest Service
      • Jim Edmonds, Central Data Analyst, U.S. Forest Service
      • Portia Jelinek, Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers NRM Account Manager, U.S. Forest Service

International Aspects of Wilderness: Vignettes of Hope in a Conservation Landscape of Uncertainty (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/N-YDlrQcPAo
    • Description:
      Presentations on the progress being made to protect wild nature and people
    • Presentations & Presenters:
      • “Communities, Wilderness and Conservation” – Bhavna Menon, Programme Manager, Last Wilderness Foundation
        A Psychology graduate with a postgraduate degree in Journalism, Bhavna’s love for nature and the wilderness started with a visit to Kanha Tiger Reserve in the State of Madhya Pradesh, India. This trip, taken during her school days, had her smitten with the wild and inculcated in her the desire to be deeply involved in forested landscapes. For the last 13 years she has been part of wildlife conservation as the Program Manager of the Last Wilderness Foundation (LWF). The main focus areas for LWF are mitigation of Human-Wildlife conflict and the creation of alternative sources of livelihood for community members living around tiger reserves, so as to encourage community participation for landscape protection. Her dream is to continue working with tribal community members for a long time to come, and constantly expand her conservation vision and endeavors.
      • “The Value and Uses of Wilderness and Nature-based Therapy During COVID” – Jo Roberts, CEO, Wilderness Foundation UK, Outdoor Therapist, Nature Advocate
        Jo shares the work that the UK Foundation is doing to connect people to the natural world and how important this became during Covid. The Foundation has a background of many years of research into the impact of wilderness therapy trails and nature-based immersion programmes on positively impacting mental health and behavioral issues. This research is shared widely to provide evidence to why we need to protect the green and wild spaces on which our mental health and wellbeing depends.
      • “The Experience of a Wilderness Trail in Africa” – Cherryl Curry, CEO, Wilderness Leadership School, Ambassador for Wilderness
        Wilderness Trails help nurture one’s understanding of what a leader is, teamwork, ethics and judgement. The trail experience helps develop self-reliance, improves judgement, decision making, respect, and a sense of responsibility that helps leaders thrive in today’s rapidly changing business landscape. Reconnecting with nature at such a profound level changes the way you see the world; changes the way you see yourself and your experiences in the modern world.
      • “Rewilding, Animating the Carbon Cycle” – Vance Martin, President of WILD Foundation (USA) and Wilderness Foundation Global (South Africa); Founder/Chair, Wilderness Specialist Group (IUCN/WCPA)
        Our first priority as conservationists is to protect the remaining wilderness on land and sea. Our second priority is to rewild the huge amounts of land and seas that have been pounded by the hammer of human ‘development’ and are perfect and necessary candidates for rewilding. Rewilding plays a central role in meeting our climate and biodiversity targets and avert major ecosystem tipping points that are existential threats to all life on earth. Wildlife plays a virtually unknown and/or highly undervalued role in this action, one that is now being called “Animating the Carbon Cycle”. The impact of recovering biodiversity, particularly animal species, plays a critical role in controlling carbon uptake and storage in ecosystems and can be considered the key to uniting the climate and extinction crisis and thereby vastly improve our chances to address these emergencies.

International & Global Initiatives (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/_lJCREqgNCU
    • Description:
      Learn about various initiatives that are building global movements to protect wild places and rivers including updates on the World Wilderness Congress, international wilderness guidelines, rewilding projects, and inclusivity in the wilderness culture.
    • Presenters:
      • Adam Hanson, NAWPA Facilitator & Manager of Conservation Programs, The WILD Foundation
      • Hanna Öllös, Carpathian Region & Wilderness Specialist, European Wilderness Society



Track Description: This track assists agency personnel and partners learn more about the management of Wild & Scenic Rivers (WSRs). Sessions explore key topics related to the management of WSRs, including misconceptions of the WSR Act, river incident management, water quality monitoring, user capacity monitoring, and training resources.

Sessions:

History of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: A Photographic Journey (2023)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/UjfHzEgc3DU
    • Description:
      Join Tim Palmer as he chronicles the lively history of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act involving citizen activists, scientists, dedicated public officials, and enlightened political leaders. The fast-paced and highly informative slideshow will introduce the essential policies outlined in the WSR Act and equips participants to have more informed conversations about wild and scenic rivers.
    • Presenters:
      • Tim Palmer, author and photographer (link)

History of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/jgQwcyi08kk
    • Description:
      This course will explain the events that contributed to the passage of the Wild & Scenic Rivers (WSR) Act, discuss the importance of the WSR Act, describe the key primary concepts included in the WSR Act, and describe the role of federal land management agencies in implementing the WSR Act.
    • Presenters:
      • Ed Krumpe, Professor Emeritus, Department of Natural Resources & Society, University of Idaho
      • LuVerne Gruessing, Retired, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Cottonwood Field Office, Bureau of Land Management

Myth-busting the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/6w1bhj-4Byo
    • Description:
      Legislation is tough to read and hours of review are often needed to fully comprehend what exactly it does. As a result, many individuals often make their own interpretations. In this session, a panel of Wild and Scenic River experts will share some common misconceptions regarding the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, along with clarifying explanations that can be used to educate, inform and collaborate with constituency groups, partners, and river users.
    • Presenters:
      • Angie Fuhrmann, River Training Center Coordinator, River Management Society
      • Fred Akers, Administrator, Great Egg Harbor Wild & Scenic River
      • Jamie Fosburgh, Branch Chief, Partnership Wild & Scenic Rivers, National Park Service
      • Colter Pence, Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers, and Trails Program Manager, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District, Flathead National Forest

Wild and Scenic Rivers Training On-Demand (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/fyDrsWigmOA
    • Description:
      In this session, participants will learn about the resources and training that can be accessed on-demand and for free through a tour of National Wilderness Skills Institute recordings, the Interagency Wild and Scenic River’s Coordinating Council crosswalk on training resources, and the River Management Society’s Video Channel.
    • Presenters:
      • Angie Fuhrmann, River Training Center Coordinator, River Management Society
      • Monica Zimmerman, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Bureau of Land Management
    • Resources:

The Art of Being a River Ranger (2023)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/3ffcWZ6dC_0
    • Description:
      In addition to running the river, rangers perform various duties simultaneously and often with limited resources. Save time and accomplish more in the field by learning what strategies are being used by river rangers throughout the country. Presenters will share tips and tricks for smoother public interactions, painless river check-in procedures, constructive visitor use surveys, and thorough patrol reporting.
    • Presenters:
      • Tony Mancuso, Colorado & Green River Management, Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands, Utah Department of Natural Resources
      • Patrick Kollodge, Commercial Permit Administrator, Medford District, Grants Pass Field Office, Bureau of Land Management
      • Echo Miller-Barnes, Lead River Ranger, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District, Flathead National Forest
      • Chad Niehaus, San Juan River Ranger, Monticello Field Office, Bureau of Land Management

Assessing and Developing Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for River Rangers (2021)

Beyond the Banks: Understanding Your Wild & Scenic River (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/9B-jf4n9nLw
    • Description:
      Field staff implement law, agency policy and regulation often without realizing their day to day work is designed to align with broader goals and objectives. Understanding the requirements for stewarding a Wild & Scenic River (WSR) and the management plans that provide the basis for how and why WSRs are managed increases knowledge of field level practitioners creating ownership and lasting stewardship of the resource. This session focuses on the fundamentals of managing a WSR.
    • Presenters:
      • Steve Chesterton, National Wild & Scenic Rivers Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service
      • Kristen Thrall, Recreation Program Manager, Huron-Manistee National Forest,
      • Tangy Wiseman, Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Program Specialist, U.S. Forest Service
      • Liz Townley, Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Planning Specialist, U.S. Forest Service

River Incident Management (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/ozyGDnhtnOE
    • Description:
      Preventive actions, using home court advantage, do’s and don’ts and things to consider before, during and after a critical emergency unfolds in your river canyon. In this session, participants will gain a real-world perspective on approaching good problem-solving and go-nogo decision making while putting personal and team safety first.
    • Presenter:
      • Dave Cernicek, Wild & Scenic Rivers, Special Uses, Partnerships, & River Ranger, Bridger-Teton National Forest

Challenges & Successes: User Capacity Monitoring on Wild & Scenic Rivers (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/nL2ZaoCq4-0
    • Description:
      How long are the wait times at your boat ramp? How often are the campsites used along your river? In this session, participants will learn the theory behind user capacity monitoring, how to use the sliding scale, examples of user capacity monitoring strategies along different types of river corridors, and different types of systems used for gathering and storing data. There will be opportunities to share your ideas and successes!
    • Presenters:
      • Mary Ellen Emerick, Natural Resource Specialist, Enterprise Program, U.S. Forest Service
      • Sarah Lange, Acting Pacific Southwest Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Program Assistant, U.S. Forest Service

Wildfire Incidents and Wild & Scenic Rivers Resource Considerations (2021)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/Tp0zH_eB8L0
    • Description:
      This session will focus on Wild & Scenic Rivers (WSR) in the context of Wildland Fire Incident Management. The presentation will review the requirements of the WSR Act, consider river specific resource protection measures during a wildland fire incident, and examine the framework for integrating river resources into the overall incident management strategy. This session will benefit a wide range of river professionals and resource specialists tasked with ensuring the protection of river values before, during, and after a wildland fire.
    • Presenter:
      • Kai Allen, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Rogue National Wild & Scenic River, Bureau of Land Management

All-Forward: Sexual Harassment in the Whitewater Rafting Industry (2022)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/kkNV0NBIKEU
    • Description:
      The whitewater rafting industry offers many unique aspects in the job, including blurred lines between work and personal time, a hierarchy of seniority, the prevalence of alcohol, customer service orientation, isolated environments, and young workforces. The Equal Opportunity Employment Commission outlines that these traits can foster work environments where sexual harassment is prevalent. This session will outline a multi-year qualitative research project looking at the working environment in the whitewater rafting industry and how it might become more inclusive.
    • Presenter:
      • Dr. Maria Blevins, Associate Professor, Department of Communication, Utah Valley University

Restoration on Wild and Scenic Rivers – Fossil Creek (2023)

    • Recording: https://youtu.be/Q0Y6w1s0GXY
    • Description:
      This session will focus on Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River on which a fish barrier, installed to protect a native fish species from invasive species, preceded the Wild and Scenic River designation whose requirement for eligibility is its free-flowing condition. This contradiction in management requirements has not been highlighted in the past and is today due to the increasing awareness of national legislative mandates that conflict directly with one another.
    • Prerequisite:
    • Presenter:
      • Matthew O’Neil, Fish Biologist, Coconino National Forest