June 2001
News from the National Group
The Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA) held its second board meeting in late March in Boise, Idaho. The WWA is a newly-formed, national nonprofit organization that promotes and preserves winter wildlands and a quality human-powered snow sports experience on public lands. The BSA was instrumental in starting the WWA and is an affiliate member. The new organization works on national policy regarding winter use of public lands and helps new grass roots groups get started.
Board members of the WWA consist of representatives from the BSA and the American Alpine Club in Colorado, The Nordic Voice in California, the Natural Trails and Water Coalition in Washington, DC, the Nevada Coalition for Safe and Appropriate Sports in Nevada and the Nordic and Backcountry Skiers Alliance in Idaho. Both Kim Hedberg and Lynn Buhlig attended the WWA board meeting on behalf of the BSA.
The meeting participants dealt with a variety of issues pertinent to the functioning of a new organization, including membership structure, the design of a new brochure, budgets, and policy guidelines. The board voted to support a ban on snowmobile use in all national parks noting that the original intent of national parks was to preserve the pristine nature of these public lands. Draft guidelines for the organization were also discussed, including a policy statement regarding snowmobile use on public lands. Final versions of these statements will be published as they are completed.
The board also agreed to support an exciting partnership with Little Bear Snowshoes in which WWA will join with Little Bear to sponsor and eventually operate and expand their highly successful SnowSchool program. The SnowSchool program provides an opportunity for elementary students across the country to learn about winter ecology and take field trips using snowshoes. The program provides the snowshoes and a curriculum to schools, then links the schools with a nearby public land manager for a field trip. This program expects to reach 20,000 kids in the 2001-2002 school year.
The WWA has a promising future with a dynamic executive director, Sally Grimes. The group is shaping up to be a strong voice for human-powered winter backcountry recreationists and a strong voice on national issues. The next board meeting will be held September 15-16, 2001, in Golden, CO. For more information on the Winter Wildlands Alliance, contact Sally Grimes at (208) 336-4203, sally@winterwildlands.org or check out WWA's website: www.winterwildlands.org.