Local chapter of Wild Montana to host annual volunteer program

The Madison-Gallatin chapter of Wild Montana will host its annual Trail Work Program again this June, bringing volunteers together to protect and maintain local recreation areas.

Wild Montana was founded in 1958 by Bozeman locals Ken and Florence Baldwin. The organization works to bring people and communities together around policies, proposals and legislation that protect wild public lands and waters from degradation and irresponsible development, according to its website.

“We just get locals engaged and give them some ownership of the trails they hike and use,” said Dustin Rothenberg, senior trail captain for Wild Montana.

The Trail Work Program started in 2018 to promote stewardship and give back to the community, according to the chapter’s website.

“Some years ago, there was a large-scale effort to develop a consensus recommendation to the forest service on how to deal with the Gallatin Range,” trail crew coordinator Dean Center said. “One of the things that came out of the collaborative was that people of all user groups wanted to give back to the forest. They wanted to participate.”

For the past eight years, the teams have cared for Lava Lake in the Gallatin Canyon and Cliff Creek in Paradise Valley.

“The Trail Work Program involves more manual labor,” Center said. “Some of us really wanted to do physical work, so we go out, and we cut brush, cut logs and clear the trails. We do whatever kind of work the forest service feels there’s a need [for] and they won’t be able to get to.”

Volunteers can either participate in a multi-day job or single-day projects, according to the Wild Montana website.

“I really enjoy working with volunteers,” Rothenberg said. “They bring a really good energy with them — a lot of enthusiasm. It is fun showing people what it is like to be trail crew for a day. I get to teach and joke around with them, and push them to the limits a little bit.”

The organization doesn’t just work on the trails it has adopted, according to Center. The trail crews work wherever the Gallatin Forest Service needs them.

Rothenberg said the volunteers range from college students to retirees.

“It’s kind of fun because you get the different generations mingling, and it’s a good vibe and a good mix of folks,” Rothenberg said. “You got people that just moved to town or are looking to make friends, you’ve got people that run on the trails and want to do their part to maintain it.”

The Madison-Gallatin chapter is looking for volunteers for this year's Trail Work Program. According to Rothenberg, anyone who uses the trails around Bozeman should sign up, as the program offers a new perspective.

“You know this is how much work it takes to maintain something in good shape and be part of the community,” Rothenberg said. “Get your hands dirty, get some physical activity. It’s good for our bodies. It’s good for our souls. It’s good for our minds. I mean, it’s all benefits and really no drawbacks.”

To learn more about the Madison-Gallatin chapter of Wild Montana, visit https://wildmontana.org/chapters/madison-gallatin-chapter/.