The volunteer program offers public lands enthusiasts an opportunity to give back to public lands and recreate with purpose in iconic areas of Central Idaho.
The Idaho Conservation League (ICL) is calling for volunteers to join the 2025 season of its Wilderness Steward Program, arguably one of its most important seasons yet to come. The program provides great opportunities for passionate outdoor recreationists to give back to Idaho’s public lands in some of the state’s most iconic landscapes.
Since 2016, the Wilderness Stewards program has helped restore, protect, and enhance wilderness character throughout some of central Idaho’s designated and recommended wilderness areas. These volunteers, called “Wilderness Stewards,” are trained and conduct independent patrols of the Cecil D. Andrus-White Clouds Wilderness, Craters of the Moon National Monument, Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness, Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness, Sawtooth Wilderness, and recommended Wilderness in the Sawtooth and Salmon-Challis National Forests.
As land management agencies governing these Wilderness Areas have seen—and expect to continue to see—dramatic shifts in capacity so far this year, a stable, consistent base of volunteers to look after our central Idaho trails is key to keeping these shared spaces maintained. If you spend some of your summer recreating in Central Idaho’s beautiful Wilderness areas, and are concerned about the use, accessibility, and wildness of these spectacular places, this program is for you.
On independent patrols, Wilderness Steward volunteers serve as an extension of hands, ears, and eyes for land management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service, depending on the region of patrol. Wilderness Stewards are asked to conduct at least four patrols between June and September, but we encourage them to continue the work until the snow flies in the late fall. While on patrol, Wilderness Stewards tend to the character of our public lands by naturalizing backcountry campsites, clearing illegal fire rings, removing waste, and collecting data about trail use for our land management agencies.
Additionally, Wilderness Stewards get the chance to do the crucial work of engaging with fellow recreators about the tenets of Leave No Trace and regional Wilderness regulations, helping to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and authentic wilderness experience for all.
. If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to email stewards@idahoconservation.org.
