Interagency National Wilderness Leadership Training

Due to the current situation with Coronavirus (Covid-19) and concern with everyone’s health and safety, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 National Wilderness Leadership Training course that was scheduled for June 14-20 in Missoula, MT. Due to the logistics associated with field trips and other aspects of this particular course, it is simply not possible to reschedule it at a later time in 2020. The next course will be hosted in 2021.

June 13-19, 2021

This course is focused specifically on the stewardship of wilderness in the United States and is appropriate for senior-level decision makers with wilderness stewardship oversight.

This three-day course includes formal presentations, group discussions, case studies and a field trip into a local wildland area. In-class portions focus on the interpretation and application of the Wilderness Act of 1964, agency policy, and wilderness management principles. The overarching mandate to preserve wilderness character, while providing for public use, is emphasized, as is the application of the Minimum Requirements Analysis process.

Participants will learn to: 1) interpret and discuss the 1964 Wilderness Act, agency policies and wilderness values envisioned by Congress and wilderness leaders 2) recognize the changing national issues affecting wilderness management 3) use case studies to identify and apply wilderness law, agency policy, and management principles to specific management challenges 4) demonstrate commitment to excellent wilderness stewardship and sound decision-making. 

The course requires completion of two online courses prior to attending, The Wilderness Act and either Writing a Minimum Requirements Analysis or Evaluating a Minimum Requirements Analysis.

Nomination is required for eligibility. Contact the Holly Metzger at hollyametzger@fs.fed.us or 406-243-4682.