Interagency Regional Wilderness Stewardship Training

Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Montana. Photo courtesy of Whit Patterson. 

Regional Wilderness Stewardship Trainings are four-day courses that provide foundational knowledge of the Wilderness Act and its implementation, explore topics of regional relevance, foster networking among wilderness professionals, and strengthen connections to the wilderness resource.

Dates

October 5-8, 2026

Location

Livingston, Montana 

Trainer

Rob Burrows, National Park Service Representative at the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center

Cost

Participants pay their own travel costs. Specific information about lodging will be provided when your registration is confirmed. A block of rooms will be reserved at the training venue.

Audience

The target audience is federal agency staff who are field-level decision-makers with wilderness stewardship responsibilities and/or who are field-going and conduct work in wilderness. 

Description

This course focuses on the National Wilderness Preservation System, agency policy, and sound wilderness management principles. The overarching mandate to preserve wilderness character, including its public use, is emphasized, as is the application of the Minimum Requirements Analysis process. The topics included in this training are selected for their regional relevance, though the topics will have relevance in other regions as well. Participants will learn to: 1) interpret and discuss the act that established the National Wilderness Preservation System, agency policy, related laws, special provisions, and the mandate to preserve wilderness character; 2) recognize and address changing regional issues affecting wilderness management; 3) apply wilderness stewardship principles to specific management challenges; and 4) demonstrate commitment to excellent wilderness stewardship and sound decision-making. Learning is enhanced by a one-day field trip to discuss stewardship issues, and the opportunity to network with wilderness professionals, land management agencies, and partners.

Participants are required to attend the entire training to receive credit.

Learning Objectives

1. Explore management approaches to issues held in common with other participants.

2. Relate management decisions to the legal framework of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

3. Recognize the qualities of wilderness character and how they are to be protected.

4. Apply the Minimum Requirements Analysis process to current issues.

5. Identify valuable online information and stewardship resources.

6. Examine wilderness issues relevant to the region, for example, this may include:

   • Fire management in wilderness

   • Visitor use management in wilderness

   • Ecological intervention in wilderness 

   • Other emerging topics 

Prerequisites

The course requires completion of online training courses prior to attending. Please plan to dedicate 3-4 hours to this prework. 

How to Register

Staff from any federal agency who work in wilderness are invited to apply. Applicants will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants must confirm they have approval from their supervisor/agency to be admitted to the course. Non-federal agencies and partners are also welcome to register and will be selected if space allows. If the number of applicants exceeds the available spots, those applicants will be placed on a wait list and be admitted if cancellations occur.

The Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center will aim to notify those selected at least a month before the training starts.

The application form is available here.

Questions

Questions about the registration process, course content or logistics should be directed to the course coordinator, Rob Burrows, rob_burrows@nps.gov.