Trail Ambassadors
Across the country, wilderness areas are seeing increased visitation.
With many people being new to the area or to Wilderness exploration, our Trail Ambassador Program provides the essential guidance at popular trailheads across the range. We believe that most users want to do the right thing, but they may be unaware of the best practices, rules, and the importance of preserving these wild spaces. Our ambassadors offer local knowledge, tools, and reminders to ensure both beginners and seasoned adventurers engage in responsible recreation, helping to protect the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness for future generations.
What’s a Trail Ambassador?
Trail Ambassadors range from seasoned AB veterans looking to pass along their knowledge, to folks who simply want to share their enthusiasm for responsible recreation.
Regardless of their familiarity with the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, the ABWF will provide training that prepares them to step into a Trail Ambassador role with confidence and safety. We invite interested folks of all ages and experience levels to volunteer, and we are committed to giving each Trail Ambassador the training and resources they need to be effective stewards while sharing their love of the Wilderness and trails.
What to expect
A typical season volunteering as an ABWF Trail Ambassador looks a bit like this:
May: Attend a fun one day in-person training session that prepares attendees, regardless of experience, to be a Trail Ambassador. Meet ABWF Staff, other Ambassadors and experts from the US Forest Service and MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks. New Ambassadors will be able to join our small cadre of veterans to see how it’s done and learn the ropes before venturing out on their own or with their friends.
June to September: Based on your own schedule, choose available days over the summer season to station for a few hours at a Wilderness portal, or hike some of our most most iconic trails, making friendly contact with visitors. Share local knowledge, provide information, and other free materials to help users decrease their impact and maximize their enjoyment of the area.
Documentation: ABWF will provide all the forms and instruction on how to gather data to help inform future USFS management decisions and assist in evaluating Wilderness stewardship.
Interested in becoming an ABWF Trail Ambassador?
Do you enjoy interacting with a myriad of trail users and being a steward of public lands while giving back to our beloved Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness? If so, we want you! Contact us anytime of the year about joining our dedicated Trail Ambassador family.