How does the VOlunteer Partnership program work?

The Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation is a wilderness stewardship organization, and we accomplish our work through partnerships and volunteers. Each year, we partner with national and local, community-based groups to host multi-day volunteer stewardship projects in the Selway-Bitterroot and Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Areas. Each wilderness stewardship partnership project is planned to meet the capabilities and interests of volunteer groups. We will work closely with you and your group to make sure projects are well thought out, planned, and fun.

This guide is intended to provide you with an outline of how the SBFC Volunteer Partnership Program operates and what our individual and shared responsibilities are. In this way we will be able to work together to ensure our partnership is collaborative and productive.

PROJECTS

SBFC wilderness stewardship projects are typically multiple days and run for 6-8 days.

We require a minimum of 5 volunteers and a maximum of 10-12 volunteers. SBFC always provides a trained Wilderness Steward leader who has crosscut saw and Wilderness First Responder certifications. Our partners are welcome to bring a leader. Projects are typically located in accessible but remote wilderness, wildlands and backcountry areas. 

SBFC can also arrange 1- or 2-day projects for groups up to 20.

The SBFC Volunteer Coordinator will work with the partner volunteer group leader to determine project logistics that include:

  • Dates (a typical hitch model runs midweek to midweek)

  • Location

  • Length of project

  • Project leadership

  • Number of volunteers

  • Experience, fitness level, and age of volunteers

  • Overall project difficulty level. This includes the length of hike from trailhead to basecamp, overall miles for the project, terrain, etc.

 

SBFC RESPONSIBILITIES

SBFC will support each partner group by providing:

  • Project identification, approval and logistical coordination with the U.S. Forest Service

  • Technical leadership by trained and certified SBFC staff, including training in tool use, trail work, and backcountry camping

  • Tools and personal protective equipment

  • Group kitchen and camp gear

  • Pack support, if needed

Additional responsibilities may be divided between SBFC and the partnering group. To be determined for each project are:

  • Menu planning, food shopping, and on-site meal preparation

  • Group leadership and organization of volunteers (e.g., a partner volunteer group may appoint a volunteer crew leader for pre-trip and on-site support)

SBFC cannot provide any of the following:

  • Transportation of volunteers in SBFC vehicles

  • Personal backpacking gear / clothing / equipment

  • Travel insurance of any type 

SBFC operates under an agreement with U.S. Forest Service. To participate in a SBFC volunteer project, all volunteers are required to sign a U.S. Forest Service volunteer form 301. Under this agreement volunteers will be covered for injury while performing service work if an accident or injury should occur while on a volunteer project on USFS managed lands.

Volunteers must provide their own personal health and other insurance.

PARTNER RESPONSIBILITIES

  • The partner will provide SBFC with a list of volunteers registered for the volunteer project, and will facilitate the registration of each volunteer through a secure SBFC web link.

  • The partner will ensure volunteers receive the payment link for the required project deposit. SBFC charges a refundable volunteer deposit for single and multi-day projects ($15 and $60, respectively) to secure each participant’s spot. In some cases SBFC may be able to waive this deposit, please speak with the SBFC Volunteer Coordinator.

  • Advance notice of cancellation within 14 days of project start date (or as soon as possible). Deposits will be considered to be donations if cancellation is later than 14 days before the project date.

Interested in planning a partner project or learning more?

Contact volunteer@selwaybitterroot.org