Become a Volunteer
Volunteer Projects
Volunteers are at the heart of how ABWF shows up for the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness and the communities that surround it. From educating hikers as Trail Ambassadors, to pulling weeds at local trailheads, to swinging pulaskis and sharing meals around the campfire during summer trail maintenance projects, volunteers add power and passion to all we do.
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Multi-day Services Trips
Our multi-day wilderness trips are where stewardship and adventure collide. Each summer season, we partner with the Forest Service to host six or more work trips into the backcountry to maintain trails, restore habitats, or collect data. Want to come along?
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Single-Day Projects
Throughout the spring, summer, and fall, we host a variety of single-day and half-day volunteer opportunities around the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. From weed-pulls to clean-up days, there is something for everyone. Bring a friend or make one!
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Citizen Science
Our two citizen science programs provide opportunities for volunteers to contribute to our growing body of knowledge about how people interact with the wilderness, and what resources are available to help them do so in a safe and responsible way.
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Trail Ambassadors
Across the country, wilderness areas are receiving more visitation. Our trained Trail Ambassadors provide hikers with information and tools they need to care for their surrounding environment, and remind even experienced backcountry users of practices that are too often overlooked.
Why We Volunteer
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"...fantastic way to give back"
"Being off-grid and under the stars during a 5-day trail project with like-minded people was a fantastic way to give back to the AB wilderness that's captivated me for years."
— Julie Rae, Red Lodge, MT
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"The trip was a huge success..."
“The trip was a huge success. The ABWF was extremely knowledgeable and our leader was fantastic. The meals were delicious and the scenery surreal. We were able to help with trail clearing and weed pulling which will greatly benefit the ecosystem.”
— Colby McCoy, Trail Stewardship Volunteer from Schreiner University
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"...most rewarding experiences of my life..."
“Volunteering with ABWF has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I had the chance to not only work in a beautiful place, I had the opportunity to meet and work with incredible people from all over the country.”
— Marco Lopez, Pinedale, WY
Trail Building and Maintenance
Each year, ABWF volunteers, staff, and Forest Service trail-crew members venture out to disparate corners of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness with saws and pulaskis in-hand to clear trail, clean drains, and assist with trail construction.
On our projects, volunteers learn trail building techniques practiced by crews in the Custer-Gallatin Forest, while experiencing firsthand the thought, intention, and hard work that goes into maintaining our incredible trail system. Expect to learn and work during the day, eat delicious food around great company, and rest your head each night in a beautiful spot in the Absaroka-Beartooth.
Trail projects with the ABWF are…
Productive
We train volunteers how to use their tools and bodies safely and efficiently. Our goal is to do quality work that will leave our trails in good shape for decades to come.
Accessible
Volunteers pay nothing to attend, and we welcome folks with a wide range of backcountry experience. If you are new to the outdoors, we encourage you to get in touch to see if a project like this could be a good fit (info@abwilderness.org)! We also have some supplemental gear that we borrow out to volunteers.
A Great Time!
You betcha! Working hard in the backcountry lends itself well to great conversations, satisfying meals, stunning views, and new friends.
2023 Projects: Multi-Day
| Project | Ranger District | Dates | Difficulty | Open Spots |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meatrack Meadows brushing & weeds | 8 537 673 | 4 042 000 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooke City area trail clearing | 10 831 100 | 3 198 000 | 0 | 0 |
| Specimen Creek flood repairs | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined |
2023 Projects: Single Day
| Project | Ranger District | Dates | Difficulty | Open Spots |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meatrack Meadows brushing & weeds | 8 537 673 | 4 042 000 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooke City area trail clearing | 10 831 100 | 3 198 000 | 0 | 0 |
| Specimen Creek flood repairs | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined |