More opportunities available for wilderness work

 This summer, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation has expanded its annual offering to 40 “Volunteer Vacation” projects.  

The foundation will kick off its season June 7 with a National Trails Day celebration at Stanton Lake.  

Volunteer projects of varying difficulty are available through mid-September.  

Trip offerings include weekend to weeklong backcountry trips throughout the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.  

Project work includes trail maintenance, campsite restoration and noxious weed removal. All projects work toward stewardship of “The Bob” and ensure that trails stay open and the wilderness stays wild. 

Foundation Director Carol Treadwell describes the experience: “On these ‘Volunteer Vacations,’ you will get into the backcountry and explore amazingly beautiful areas while giving back to wilderness.”  

More project details are available online at www.bmwf.org/volunteer. 

To register for projects, go to www.bmwf.org or contact Sue at (406) 387-3822.  

Trip registration is required two to three weeks in advance with a refundable $75 deposit for multiple-day projects. 

Individuals, youth groups, families, organizations and anyone else interested in an outdoor adventure and giving back in a beautiful setting are welcome to apply.  

It will be 50 years ago on Sept. 4 that the Wilderness Act was signed by Lyndon B. Johnson.  

With that signature, the Bob Marshall Wilderness became permanently preserved for the use and enjoyment of all Americans. 

In commemoration of this golden event, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation has organized volunteer projects to restore and maintain 150 miles of trail — 50 miles of trail in each of the three wilderness areas in the complex: The Great Bear, Scapegoat, and Bob Marshall.

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring and preserving the trail system and wilderness values in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.