Public

Interagency Regional Wilderness Stewardship Training

Large weathered rock outcroppings in the foreground with a rolling green forest in the background under a beautiful sunrise

This Regional Wilderness Stewardship Training course will be held in-person in Marion, IL, and will include a field trip into the nearby USFWS and USDA FS Wilderness areas. Staff from BLM, FWS, FS, or NPS whose work interfaces wilderness are invited to apply (see “how to register” below). Non-federal agencies and partners are also welcome to apply and will be selected if space allows. The Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center will notify you if you are selected. Participants are required to attend the entire training to receive credit.

Dates

October 7 - 10, 2024

Location

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center - Conference Room, Marion, IL.

Lodging

Lodging in Marion will be made available at or below the per diem rate. A block of rooms is being held at the Drury Inn & Suites. Other local hotels can be used, according to your preference, when you book your travel.

Training Cadre

  • Michelle Reilly, USFWS Representative to the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center

  • Neil Vincent, US Fish and Wildlife Service

  • Kristin Rasmussen, US Fish and Wildlife Service

  • PJ Walker, National Park Service

  • Chris Holbeck, National Park Service

  • Jonathan Thompson, USDA Forest Service

  • Alyssa Macuiba, USDA Forest Service

Cost

Participants pay their own travel costs. Registration fees are temporarily waived in full.

Audience

The target audience is field-level decision-makers and field staff whose work involves wilderness stewardship, Minimum Requirement Analyses, and wilderness character reports.

Description

This course addresses the wilderness resource, management, and stewardship. The course will focus on fostering understanding of the Wilderness Act, wilderness character, Minimum Requirements Analyses, and regionally relevant wilderness management topics (fires, invasive species, and visitor use management). The course is designed to foster awareness and understanding of stewardship requirements, illustrate MRA requirements and steps, and improve resource stewardship within areas of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Learning is enhanced by a one-day field trip to view and discuss existing stewardship issues in wilderness and the opportunity to network with wilderness professionals from all land management agencies.

Learning Goals

  • Develop awareness of fundamentals: the wilderness resource (designated in the NWPS);

  • Improve stewardship of the resource and wilderness character as a whole;

  • Explore perceived conflicts between resource management and wilderness stewardship;

  • Provide overview of law, agency policy, and case law;

  • Develop knowledge of the minimum requirements in project design in Wilderness;

  • Provide opportunities for peer-to-peer connections and discussions between wilderness staff.

How to Register

Registration closed on September 9th.

Registration will be on a first-come basis, and the Carhart Center will maintain a waiting list should there be cancellations.

Questions

Questions about the registration process, course content, or logistics should be directed to Michelle Reilly at Michelle_Reilly@fws.gov