Webinars
Each year wilderness and conservation groups offer free webinars on contemporary topics in wilderness and wildlands stewardship. This year, many webinars are focused on public health and its relationship to public lands. If your groups is offering a webinar relevant for this listing, please email Lisa Ronald. Below the list of upcoming webinars, select webinar recordings are available.
Upcoming Webinars
The Great American Outdoors Act - What it means for Stewardship
July 14, 2020 1-2pm mountain time, with Michelle Reugebrink
Park Rx
July 14, 2020 3-4pm mountain time, with Robert Zarr, MD, Founder, Park Rx America, and Kathleen Wolf, PhD, Research Social Scientist, University of Washington (Part of the SHIFT Land Management: Land Use and Public Health webinar series)
The Trail Calculator Project
July 28, 2020 10-11am mountain time, with Dr. Henry “Shelton” Brown III, Associate Professor of Management, Policy & Community Health, University of Texas School of Public Health (Part of the SHIFT Land Management: Land Use and Public Health webinar series)
Partnering with Tribes on Conservation
August 5, 2020 1-2pm mountain time, with Jennifer Talken-Spaulding, Acting NPS American Indian Liaison
The Mental Health Benefits of Parks
August 11, 2020 10-11am mountain time, with Ralf Buckley, School of Environment and Science – Ecology and Evolution, Griffith University and Jon Jarvis, Executive Director, UC Berkeley’s Institute for Parks, People, and Diversity (Part of the SHIFT Land Management: Land Use and Public Health webinar series)
Back Country Horsemen of America - 3S's for Safe Horsemanship Around other Users
August 11, 2020 1-2pm mountain time, with Randy Rasmussen and Cate Bendock, other details TBD
The Mental Health Benefits of Outdoor Recreation
August 25, 2020 10-11am mountain time, with Kristen Walter, PhD, Clinical Research Psychologist, Naval Health Research Center (Part of the SHIFT Outdoor Recreation: The Health Benefits of Time Outside webinar series)
Quantifying the Health Care Cost Savings of Outdoor Recreation
September 8, 2020 10-11am mountain time, with Randall Rosenberger, PhD, Professor, Associate Dean – Student Success, Oregon State University (Part of the SHIFT Outdoor Recreation: The Health Benefits of Time Outside webinar series)
Public Lands and Climate Change: Panel Discussion
September 8, 2020 1-2pm mountain time, Ecological change is happening before our eyes, brought on by climate change. Regardless of the cause, the changes in the natural world are evident and swiftly reshaping environments. This is felt keenly on public lands. Our panelists will discuss ways that stewardship groups can involve themselves in the monitoring and preparation for climate change adjustments in your local areas. This session will help set a framework for climate change understanding leading into the National Wilderness Workshop in Merced, California in October.
Poop in the woods: Why managing human waste in wilderness matters
October 7, 2020, 1-2:30pm mountain time, Human waste can be one of the most significant impacts on public lands, particularly in pristine areas such as wilderness. Given the increase in recreational use of our shared lands, understanding the issues and impacts associated with human waste is imperative for ensuring that it is dealt with appropriately and effectively. From catholes to groovers, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics Education Director Ben Lawhon will cover the specific impacts of improper disposal of human waste, will explore the science of human waste, and will review strategies and techniques for minimizing the impact of this waste in wild places.
Ethics in Digital Media
October 20, 2020 1-2pm mountain time, with Lisa Ronald and Mikensi Romersa from the University of Montana's Wilderness Institute and Journalism School
Make it Count: Collecting and Applying Trail Count Data
October 22, 2020 10-11:30am pacific time, Learn from industry experts, advocates, and practitioners about how to collect and apply trail count data, and how to leverage that data in order to achieve meaningful, tangible changes in your community.
Working with Kids in Nature: Panel Discussion
November 10, 2020 1-2pm mountain time, with Fish and Wildlife Service educator Sue McDonald, other details TBD
Strategies for Trail Designations — A Panel Discussion
December 8, 2020 1-2pm mountain time, with Andrew Downs, other details TBD
Past Webinars
National Park Service—An Introduction to Wilderness Character (2020)
Preserving wilderness character is mandated by the Wilderness Act of 1964 and agency policy. This webinar provides the basics of why we preserve wilderness character, the definition of wilderness character, including the qualities and what degrades them, and how to integrate wilderness character into National Park Service planning, monitoring and operations. Presenters included Roger Semler, NPS Wilderness Stewardship Division Chief, Tim Devine, Wilderness Stewardship Branch Chief for Training and Development and NPS Representative at the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center, and Erin Drake, NPS Wilderness Stewardship Communications and Outreach Specialist.
Introduction to Wilderness Character webinar recording from May 5, 2020
Wilderness in the NPS—An Exploration of the Wilderness Stewardship Division (2020)
This webinar focused on the role and function of the National Park Service's (NPS) Wilderness Stewardship Division, and highlighted key partners and resources critical to successful wilderness stewardship. Presenters included Roger Semler, NPS Wilderness Stewardship Division Chief, Tim Devine, Wilderness Stewardship Branch Chief for Training and Development and NPS Representative at the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center, and Erin Drake, NPS Wilderness Stewardship Communications and Outreach Specialist.
NPS Wilderness Stewardship Division webinar recording from April 9, 2020
Covid-19 Town Hall for the Wilderness Stewardship Community (2020)
The Covid-19 Pandemic is disrupting the work of the wilderness stewardship community. In this special Town Hall gathering of the wilderness community panelists shared how the Covid crisis is affecting their organizations. Moderated by Randy Welsh, Executive Director of the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance. Panelists included Bill Hodge, Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, Meryl Harrell, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards, Andrew Downs, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Jimmy Gaudry, Forest Service, Northern Region.
Wilderness and COVID-19 recording from April 2, 2020
Wilderness and Accessibility: Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Visitors Who Use Wheelchairs (2020)
Wilderness areas offer unique opportunities for self-reliant experiences to everyone. But how do people who have disabilities fit into wilderness? Accessibility expert Janet Zeller discusses what responsibilities wilderness managers have and don't have to provide access for visitors with disabilities. With the advent of increasingly-innovative mobility technologies, she also provides tools to identify what kinds of wheelchairs and other mobility-assisting devices are allowed in wilderness.
Wilderness and Accessibility recording from February 4, 2020
Sustainable Camping on the Pacific Crest Trail (2018)
During this webinar, recreation ecologist Jeff Marion discussed the challenges of camping impacts and "Best Management Practice" options for increasing campsite sustainability. Unregulated camping with visitor-selected sites frequently result in unacceptable resource and social conditions. New research findings reveal the advantages of three alternative options: Designated and Established Site Camping, and Dispersed Pristine Site Camping. Innovations such as shifting camping to naturally-occurring or constructed "side-hill" campsites and using printed and digital maps to shift campers to the most sustainable campsites will also be described. Dr. Lisa Machnik, a Forest Service wilderness manager, discussed wilderness character implications.
Wilderness Stewardship Performance (2017/2018/2019)
Plants Element
William Carromero (Forest Service) and Stacy Duke (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Plants Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Plants Element.
Plants Element webinar recording from September 26, 2019
Recreation Sites Element
Kevin Cannon (Forest Service) and Charis Parker (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Recreation Sites Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Recreation Sites Element.
Recreation Sites Element webinar recording from September 26, 2019
Non-Compliant Infrastructure Element
Eric Sandeno (Forest Service) and Colter Pence (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Non-Compliant Infrastructure Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Non-Compliant Infrastructure Element.
Non-Compliant Infrastructure Element webinar recording from March 14, 2019
Cultural Resources Element
Molly Westby (Forest Service) and Stacy Duke (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Cultural Resources Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Cultural Resources Element.
Cultural Resources Element webinar recording from March 14, 2019
Agency Management Actions Element
Bjorn Fredrickson (Forest Service) and Colter Pence (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Agency Management Actions Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Agency Management Actions Element.
Agency Management Actions Element webinar recording from February 19, 2019
Motorized Equipment/Mechanical Transport Use Authorization Elements
Eric Sandeno (Forest Service) and Colter Pence (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and present detailed information on scoring for the Motorized Equipment/Mechanical Transport Use Authorization Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Motorized Equipment/Mechanical Transport Use Authorization Element.
Motorized Equipment/Mechanical Transport Use Authorization Element webinar recording from February 19, 2019
Education Element
Nancy Taylor (Forest Service) and Stacy Duke (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Education Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Education Element.
Opportunities for Primitive and Unconfined Recreation Element
Dr. Troy Hall (Oregon State University) and Stacy Duke (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Opportunities for Primitive and Unconfined Recreation Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Opportunities for Primitive and Unconfined Recreation Element.
Wilderness Character Baseline Element
Adam Barnett (Forest Service) and Stacy Duke (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Wilderness Character Baseline Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Wilderness Character Baseline Element.
Trails Element
Jaime Schmidt (USDA Forest Service National Trail Program Manager) and Stacy Duke (USDA Forest Service, Hoosier National Forest) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Trails Element including examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Trails Element.
Solitude Element
Troy Hall (Oregon State University) and Stacy Duke (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance, presented detailed information on scoring for the Solitude element, and provided examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Solitude element.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Wilderness (2017)
Bob Wick (Bureau of Land Management), Parker Martyn (National Park Service), Jeff Lucas (Fish and Wildlife Service), and Sandy Skrien (Forest Service) talked about how each agency handles UAS use from an administrative, outside request (e.g. research, SAR, commercial etc.), and public/recreational standpoint.
Evaluating Proposals for Ecological Intervention in Wilderness (2017)
Beth Hahn and Peter Landres, ecologists from the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, presented the final version of their supplementary tool intended to provide support to agency staff in completing an MRA or MRDG for proposals that involve ecological intervention in wilderness, including projects motivated by the preservation of cultural resources. This supplement is needed because ecological intervention proposals commonly entail complex legal, scientific, and ethical questions that may be beyond the realm of a typical MRA or MRDG. By asking questions early in the proposal evaluation process, this supplement is intended to help agency staff identify issues that need to be resolved before moving forward with the MRA or MRDG and other required analyses.