A Wilderness Forever Future

The need for wilderness education

Challenge

Opportunities

Challenge

Opportunities

-public perception of wilderness

-ideas to build on

-support in management documents

Challenge

Opportunities

-public perception of wilderness

-ideas to build on

-support in management documents

Wilderness!

The U. S. National Community Viewpoint on Wilderness Protection

“Nationally, 58 percent of American’s 16+ favor protecting more of our federal lands as wilderness”

SNP Visitor Survey 2001

• important to preserve wilderness for future generations

90%

• wilderness a reason for visiting71%

Wilderness?

0

20

40

60

80

100

Know alot

Know alittle

Heardabout

No idea

Pe

rce

nt

of

Vis

ito

rs

Day

Overnight

Visitor Wilderness Knowledge

Only 16% of respondents named an actual unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System

50 % had heard of wilderness, but did not know the definition

Visitor Wilderness Knowledge

?Wilderness

“For in the end we will conserve only what we love. We

will love only what we understand. We will understand

only what we are taught.”

-Baba Dioum

Challenge

Opportunities

-public perception of wilderness

-ideas to build on

-support in management documents

Www.wilderness.net

Employee Training

Visitor Contacts

Interpretive Programs

Interpretive Media

• Computer exhibit

• Publications

• Park brochure

Shenandoah Wilderness Area

Education Programs

Wilderness Field Seminar

“I will definitely watch more closely and understand more fully what is written and acted upon wilderness issues before our leaders.”

Wilderness Field Seminar

“Wilderness will become a part of my regular conversation!”

Boy Scout National Jamboree

Boy Scout National Jamboree

Wilderness Weekend

Challenge

Opportunities

-public perception of wilderness

-ideas to build on

-support in management documents

Comprehensive Interpretive Plan

Shenandoah National Park Long-term Goal

Mission Goal 1

NPS Management Policies

Director’s Order #41: Wilderness Preservation and

Management

Wilderness Education and Partnership Plan

The Wilderness Act, 1964

What can you do?

Know management support

EvaluateBe inspired - be visionary

Talk wilderness

“…to preserve for present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness”

“It is a bold thing for a human being who lives on the earth but a few score years at the most to presume upon the Eternal ...

Yet we who concern ourselves with wilderness preservation are compelled to assume this boldness…”

-Zahnie

A Wilderness Forever Future

The need for wilderness education