Who We Are
The Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers (SWV) are a diverse and growing team of Wilderness loving citizens from all walks of life who are united by a shared love of the idea of American Wilderness. The mission of Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers is to preserve the wilderness character of designated public lands through education, example and coordinated effort in direct support of US Forest Service work in the Emigrant, Carson-Iceberg, and Mokolumne Wilderness areas of the Stanislaus National Forest.
The Wilderness Resource
Nearly one quarter of the Stanislaus National Forest is designated Wilderness! The Emigrant, Carson-Iceberg and Mokelumne Wilderness Areas represent a magnificent segment of the Sierra Nevada – John Muir’s Range of Light. In the more than 50 years since the passage of the Wilderness Act, America’s support for Wilderness has only strengthened, but the job of wilderness restoration and protection has grown in magnitude and complexity.
What We Do
SWV members fill a wide range of roles that support the Forest Service. Volunteers deliver wilderness awareness and “Leave No Trace” (LNT) education through a variety of methods. In the field, SWV members perform a wide array of volunteer activities such as trail maintenance, habitat restoration, campsite cleanup and invasive weed removal. SWV also receives financial support which is used to strengthen its capabilities. The National Forest Foundation and The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance have recently awarded grants to SWV for support of a Wilderness Ranger Internship program.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
If you enjoy the wilderness and can spare a few summer days to work as a volunteer, submit an application to join SWV as an active member. If you don’t have the time or desire to work in the wilderness you can help by making a donation to SWV. Go to the links on the upper right hand side of this page titled, “Volunteering”, “Become a Member” and “Donate to SWV” for more information.
CONTACT US at president@swv1.org
WebMaster – admin@swv1.org