Wilderness Workshop

The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance and the Society of Wilderness Stewardship, in partnership with the U. S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Bend Parks and Recreation, the Oregon Natural Desert Association, and a host of local partners, are pleased to announce the upcoming National Wilderness Workshop. The workshop will take place in the Hampton Inn and Suites and the Hilton Garden Inn, both in the Old Mill District.

The workshop will consist of general plenary and concurrent sessions all around the theme of wilderness stewardship.  General sessions will provide understanding about the uniqueness of Oregon wilderness areas, the challenges of recreation use in these areas, and how they provide transformative experiences for wilderness users.  Updates on national wilderness issues will also be presented. Concurrent sessions will provide more detailed presentations around wilderness science, wilderness management issues, wilderness stewardship and volunteer engagement.

Saturday Field trips will explore the many different varieties of wilderness opportunities, challenges, issues, and special places around Bend. Each field trip will have a set of specific learning objectives, a local expert to lead discussions and transportation.  Lunch will be provided.

This Workshop will be a great opportunity to learn new skills, interact with seasoned field experts, and show off your own skills. Wilderness Workshop participants will learn about the latest in wilderness issues, practical strategies to engage their local audiences and tools and techniques to help them be more effective in their current stewardship roles, as well as challenge them in their wilderness stewardship efforts. Several outstanding training opportunities are being offered prior to the Workshop.  These classes will provide more in-depth hands-on training on specialized topics.