Wilderness Connect, housed on the University of Montana campus, acknowledges that we are on the traditional lands of the Salish and Kalispel people, who have stewarded this land throughout many generations and are its past, present, and future caretakers.
Webinars
Each year wilderness and conservation groups offer free webinars on contemporary topics in wilderness and wildlands stewardship. 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
Wilderness Stewardship Advocacy 101
August 16, 11am mountain time, Part of a 5-month series to assist wilderness stewardship groups in their advocacy efforts locally and nationally. Experts in the field will share experiences, tips, and practical techniques.
Climate and Outdoor Recreation Series: Aligning Climate, Equity, and Recreation
September 15, 11am mountain time, As a means to address the impacts of climate change, President Biden issued an executive order establishing a national goal to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and freshwater and 30 percent of U.S. ocean areas by 2030, in an initiative commonly referred to as 30x30. In follow-up last month, The Department of the Interior, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, and the Council on Environmental Quality, recommended a ten-year “America the Beautiful Campaign” in a report to the National Climate Task Force on how the Biden-Harris Administration should implement 30x30. Several states are also actively engaged in working toward 30 x 30. Join our expert panel in a discussion centered on the progress and implementation of this audacious initiative - highlighting opportunities for advancing outdoor recreation and access equity as it all moves forward.
Wilderness Stewardship Advocacy 201
September 20, 11am mountain time, Part of a 5-month series to assist wilderness stewardship groups in their advocacy efforts locally and nationally. Experts in the field will share experiences, tips, and practical techniques.
Climate and Outdoor Recreation Series: Civilian Climate Corps
September 22, 11am mountain time, A part of a proposed American Jobs Plan calls for $10 billion to launch a new large-scale 21st century CCC to combat the 21st century problem. The Civilian Climate Corps, as it would be called, would employ thousands of young people to address the threat of climate change, strengthen the country's natural defenses and maintain its ailing public lands. A number of congressional bills related to a civilian climate corps have been introduced recently. Join our panel in sorting through what's on the table, what's on the horizon, where there is alignment with outdoor recreation, and potential steps to implementation.
Inclusivity in Wilderness Coffee Hour
September 24, 1pm mountain time, A foundational way to increase inclusivity within the wilderness movement is to ensure that the narrative we tell about wilderness is honest, relevant to diverse affinity groups, and accurately contextualizes conservation’s colonialist and discriminatory past. A small, nimble task team including people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and outdoor enthusiasts with disabilities is creating an inclusive language screening tool intended to help agencies and wilderness non-profits communicate in a more inclusive way to employees, volunteers, and wilderness visitors. Hosted in partnership with the University of Montana Wilderness Institute's Wilderness Connect program, this coffee hour will introduce concepts of inclusive language and communications through a series of interactive learning exercises. Your insights will help shape the tool’s development and application.
The ASK - Developing Your Requests Workshop
October 18, 11am mountain time, Part of a 5-month series to assist wilderness stewardship groups in their advocacy efforts locally and nationally. Experts in the field will share experiences, tips, and practical techniques.
Final Preparations for a Washington DC Advocacy Trip
November, 11am mountain time, Part of a 5-month series to assist wilderness stewardship groups in their advocacy efforts locally and nationally. Experts in the field will share experiences, tips, and practical techniques.