80 S Warren St.
Helena, MT 59601
(406)443-7350
mwa@wildmontana.org
www.wildmontana.org
Wild Montana uniting and mobilizing communities to keep Montana wild.
Statement:
Only 3% of Montana’s wilderness is protected under the Wilderness Preservation System. Through grassroots organizing, public education, and trail time, Wild Montana encourages citizens to become advocates for the protection of crucial wildlife habitat, clean watersheds, and the preservation of our state’s most unique and beautiful resources – our wild and public lands.
How we help:
Wild Montana brings people together around a shared love of wildlands, and works towards a future where people and wildlife flourish because public lands and waters are wild and connected. Across our work — whether working to gain state funding for parks, trails, and wildlife habitat, protecting the headwaters of the Blackfoot River, or mobilizing people to speak up for wildlands in eastern Montana — it’s imperative that people are connected to the outdoors and love the wild places we’re working to protect.
One component of Wild Montana’s work is the Stewardship and Education program which includes Wilderness Walks and Winter Adventures, Volunteer Trail Crew, and Community Outreach and Education. These focus areas foster a connection between people and the wild places we are working to protect; improve and protect trails and public lands infrastructure; and build a stronger, larger, and more inclusive conservation movement for the protection of Montana’s wildest places. Our Wilderness Walks program began in 1960 and over the last 62 years, has grown to what it is today – a robust program offering up to 100 free guided hikes each summer and now also at least 40 Winter Adventures during the colder months.
Since the inception of our Volunteer Trail Crew program in 2012, we have leveraged over $1 million dollars of in-kind volunteer labor maintaining and constructing trails on Montana public lands. Last year alone, this program engaged 249 volunteers on multi-day trips led by Wild Montana staff and volunteers. These trips are designed to provide outdoor experiences to those who may not otherwise have the chance to connect with Montana’s wild places, all while moving participants from “appreciators” to “advocates,” ultimately building a more inclusive movement to keep Montana wild.
Wild Montana’s Community Outreach and Education program provides opportunities for community engagement, such as workshops, Public Lands Day and Earth day events, membership recruitment events, and more. We provide opportunities for a range of people — from young kids to retirees to college students — to get outdoors, learn about Montana’s public lands, and become inspired to take action to keep Montana wild.
Wild Montana’s Stewardship and Education program is just one example of Wild Montana’s efforts to protect Montana’s wild public lands and waters. Visit our website at www.wildmontana.org to learn more about our other work happening across the state.