Actively protecting preserving wilderness areas: Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers enter 26th year of service

Sonora, California, July 26, 2016 – The Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers’ (SWV) 2016 season of work, and 26th year of service, is well under way on the Stanislaus National Forest. During the 2015 summer season, SWV’s 49 active members performed over 1,500 hours of volunteer service. Wilderness Ranger interns sponsored by SWV performed an additional 1,150 hours of service. Projects accomplished included: lakeshore habitat restoration; Leave No Trace education; trail sign repair; trash removal; trail clearing; campsite cleanup and invasive weed removal.

'Thank you for all you do' is a comment frequently heard by SWV volunteers as they encounter visitors while working on the Stanislaus National Forest. "The appreciation shown by people who care for the beauty and pristineness of wilderness is one of the ways we get energized to continue to do this work,” said Jeff Hawley, SWV President. “Our volunteers do it for the love of wilderness, of giving something back, and contributing to the preservation of a resource that is increasingly endangered – true wilderness. I'm proud to be a part of such a great organization."

Volunteer involvement in wilderness protection has always been vital, but with current economic conditions, it is even more critical that volunteers assist in caring for our wilderness. "SWV gladly welcomes new members who want to help preserve the sanctuary of wilderness,” added Hawley. Persons interested in becoming a volunteer can complete an application found on SWV's website at: http://www.swv1.org.

As a non-profit volunteer organization, SWV actively solicits and receives funding through individual donations and corporate grants in order to expand the organization’s capacity to serve the wilderness. This summer, Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteer work is being leveraged through the sponsorship of three Wilderness Ranger interns. Internships are made possible through matching award grants from the National Forest Foundation and the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance.

The National Forest Foundation’s Matching Awards Program provides funding for results-oriented on-the-ground projects that enhance forest health and outdoor experiences on National Forests and Grasslands. The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance is a nationwide network of wilderness stewards such as SWV who work to restore, protect and nurture America’s wilderness.

SWV’s work in 2016 is also being supported by donations from individuals and from the Clif Bar Family Foundation. These donations are important to enhancing SWV’s effectiveness. The most important contributions are from SWV’s active members who volunteer their time to work in the wilderness areas of Stanislaus National Forest each summer.

Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers was first organized in 1991, and has since continuously pursued its mission to preserve the wilderness character of designated public lands through education, example and coordinated effort in direct support of U.S. Forest Service work in the Emigrant, Carson-Iceberg and Mokelumne Wilderness.