WILDERNESS EDUCATION PLAN

Stanislaus National Forest

March 2009

Introduction

The purpose of wilderness education on the Stanislaus National Forest is to introduce various audiences to:

  1. The values and purposes of the National Wilderness Preservation System
  2. The goals of wilderness management and the Wilderness Act
  3. Specific methods of protecting the wilderness
  4. Understanding and complying with regulations
  5. Understanding and adopting Leave No Trace skills
  6. Helping visitors plan ahead and prepare
  7. To create stewards and champions of wilderness

Wilderness education programs will target four main audiences: Forest Service staff and volunteers, special use permittees (i.e., organization camps, outfitters and guides), wilderness visitors,and the general public. The wilderness education projects that are the responsibility of the Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers are attached. This plan is a revision of the first version written in 2003.

This plan will be in effect for three years or until a revision is deemed necessary. It is assumed that annual program progress goals will be worked on each year.

Programs for Forest Service Staff

Front Desk Staff

Recognizing that the Forest front desk staff interact with many wilderness visitors in person and on the telephone and through the process of issuing Wilderness Permits, programs will emphasize strengthening their knowledge in the areas listed under “Introduction” above.

  1. Organize annual front desk staff training at the start of the season to bring all new and returning staff to a sufficient understanding of the topics under “Introduction” above to effectively interpret them to wilderness visitors and other members of the public.
  2. Encourage and assist at least one Information Specialist in each District Office in becoming a certified LNT Trainer by taking one of the courses offered locally.
  3. Provide opportunities and encouragement for front desk staff to visit the wilderness and/or wilderness trailheads to familiarize them with the wilderness areas on the Stanislaus
  4. Have the Wilderness Coordinator and/or other experienced wilderness staff visit each front desk occasionally and work alongside staff to enhance opportunity for staff to become more familiar with wilderness management and wilderness areas on the Stanislaus

Other Forest Staff

Recognizing that non-wilderness Forest Service staff occasionally work in wilderness areas and/or interact with the public about wilderness and that their understanding of the topics in “Introduction” above enhances good wilderness management, wilderness education opportunities will be made available to them and their participation encouraged.

  1. Non-wilderness Forest Service staff will be encouraged to attend the two wilderness related classes at Baker Station (see “Programs for the Public” below).
  2. Training on wilderness management will be including in annual training to Fire staff.

Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers

Support and assist in the training of SWV volunteers to insure their knowledge of the topics listed under “Introduction” above.

Regional Wilderness Ranger Academy

Encourage and facilitate participation by wilderness staff in the new Wilderness Ranger Academy annual training organized by the Region. Provide help in organizing and planning the annual event.

Programs for Special Use Permittees

Pack Stations

Provide at least four hours of training annually for all pack station staff in Leave No Trace skills and wilderness regulations. SWV stock “Master Educators” will be recruited to help FS staff in this training.

Encourage pack station staff to attend Leave No Trace Trainer and Stock LNT classes at Baker Station.

Provide pack stations with copies of the Forest Service DVD “LNT Stock Packing in the Sierra.”

Organization Camp Permittees

Provide start of the season training for youth camp staff in Leave No Trace and wilderness management, goals, regulations for the permitted camps on the Stanislaus.

This training will be organized by members of the Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers (see “Wilderness Education Projects of the Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers” below.)

Programs for Wilderness Visitors

(see also “Programs for the General Public” below)

Stanislaus National Forest Website

Investigate ways to improve the Stanislaus National Forest website to help visitors plan ahead and prepare to minimize impacts on the wilderness areas. Make sure ROGs relevant to wilderness visitors are available online. Check the website regularly for up-to-date wilderness content.

Wilderness Permit Information

Create new wilderness permit that includes wilderness regulations printed on the permit.

Revise “Authority of the resource” information sheet for front desk.

Wilderness/LNT Information Table

Conduct Wilderness/LNT education days during the summer at Summit Ranger Station and other locations. See SWV Wilderness Stewardship Information Table project below.

Stock Packing LNT Information Table

Conduct stock packing LNT education at ranger stations and/or trailheads during the summer. See SWV projects below.

Programs for the General Public

Baker Station Classes

Provide support for wilderness related classes offered at Baker Station through the Yosemite Community College District’s High Sierra Institute ( Currently an introduction to the National Wilderness Preservation System called “Wild by Law” and a “Leave No Trace Trainer Class” are offered. Assist in the development of a third class on Leave No Trace practices for stock uses which is currently under development. Encourage wilderness staff, non-wilderness FS staff, interns and volunteers to take advantage of these offerings where appropriate.

Wilderness Stewardship Presentation

Design and conduct public presentation at Pinecrest amphitheater and other locations to introduce the general public to Wilderness. See SWV projects below.

Sale of LNT Promotional Products

Investigate LNT promotional products, such as LNT water bottle,s for potential sale through the 3FIA program at Ranger Stations.

Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers Education Projects

Wilderness Stewardship Information Table(Dave Salzer, coordinator).

This is a repeat and modest expansion of the similar project in the 2008 season. SWV volunteers will set up an information table for wilderness visitors to engage visitors in conversations about wilderness stewardship messages such as Leave No Trace. Tables could be set up on busy weekend days at the Summit Ranger Station as last season. A modest expansion of this program could be undertaken by a.) Increasing the number of weekends at Summit, b.) Possibly including other Ranger Stations such as Mi-Wuk, Groveland or Calaveras, c.) Possibly setting up at busy trailheads, d.) possibly setting up at community events. The coordinator will work with the requesting organizations and/or FS front desk supervisors. The coordinator will recruit, schedule, train and equip SWV volunteers to staff the tables. An effort will be made to collect and organize all materials needed to facilitate ease of set up. Suggest LNT Trainer class as minimum requirement for SWV participants. Goal:At least 8 days in 2009 (up from 5 in 2008).

Stock Packing LNT Information Table (Dave Moser and Karen Lopes, coordinators)

Similar to programs offered in 2008, SWV stock volunteers will set up LNT and wilderness stewardship information tables at wilderness portal locations frequented by stock users. Similar to the above project, volunteers will engage stock users in conversations about wilderness stewardship and LNT. In addition, as volunteers are available, the coordinators will try to organize SWV volunteers to respond to requests for stock LNT presentations from SWV and/or the STF Wilderness Coordinator. Goal: At least 2 set-ups in 2009 (up from 1 in 2008).

LNT/Wilderness Stewardship Training for Organization Camps (Brian Dennen, coordinator)

Working with the Wilderness Coordinator, SWV volunteers will contact the management of the private camps on the Stanislaus NF (such as Camp Jack Hazard, Camp Liahona, Camp Hi-Sierra, the Lair of the Golden Bear, and possibly others) that take guests into the wilderness areas. SWV volunteers, working with Forest staff, will offer to coordinate and put on wilderness stewardship training (such as LNT workshops) to the staff of the camp, encouraging them to integrate wilderness stewardship training in their programs for guests. The Wilderness Coordinator will provide a list of contacts to SWV for this purpose and contact will be made early enough to coordinate with the camp staff training (often in early June). Goal:Training offered to all permitted camps in 2009.

Wilderness Stewardship Audio/Visual Presentation (Jeanne Knapp, coordinator)

Working with the Wilderness Coordinator and the Forest Interpretive Staff, SWV volunteers will develop a half hour to one hour presentation about wilderness stewardship to offer to potentially interested groups in the community (such as the Forest’s amphitheater programs, REI evening programs, etc.). It is suggested this presentation be adaptable, attractive and packaged to make easy to present by various SWV members and/or Forest staff. The idea is that it be attractive and interesting, but also contain powerful wilderness stewardship messages. Goal:A “premiere” for interpretive staff’s amphitheater programs by August of 2009 (working with Phyllis Ashmead).

Prepared by:

Brent Pettey

Wilderness Education Volunteer

Sierra Nevada Wilderness Education Project

Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers

Adam Barnett

Wilderness Manager

Stanislaus National Forest

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