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July 2021

Meet Kate: Our New Membership Director

We’re excited to introduce you to the newest member of our team: Kate Thorpe! Kate (she/her/hers) joins Winter Wildlands Alliance as our Membership Director. She will lead and manage WWA’s membership and outreach program – helping you and people like you connect to, engage in, and support our work!

Summer Merch Sale

We’re clearing house in our webstore to get new products in for the winter. Use code “SNOWDREAMS” for 20% off (even on our already on-sale items). All purchases benefit our work year-round to protect and preserve wild winters. Rep your favorite season all year long with our gear!

Our D.C. “Fly-In” with Outdoor Alliance

In June, we and our partners at Outdoor Alliance met virtually in Washington D.C. with policymakers and decision makers on key issues for the human-powered outdoor recreation community. Since the inception of Outdoor Alliance more than 15 years ago, the coalition has regularly convened its executive directors to meet with lawmakers and administration officials in D.C. to advocate for outdoor recreation and conservation issues. The Outdoor Alliance groups share a great deal of common priorities and values, and our unified voices are a powerful way to protect the outdoors.

Photo Credit: SOLE (on the ancestral lands of the Shoshone-Bannock and other Nations)

Leading the Way for Winter Education in the Inland Northwest

Selkirk Outdoor Leadership & Education (SOLE) was founded with a mission to provide affordable access to intentional and transformational experiential education programs for winter recreation stakeholders throughout the Inland Northwest. Since 2012, SOLE has partnered with Winter Wildlands Alliance to bring SnowSchool to the youth of this region.

Policy Update – June 2021

In this month’s policy update from our Policy Director, Hilary Eisen: Forest service funding and staff updates, our Grassroots Advocacy Conference and NEPA news.

Photo Credit: Marcus Garcia (on the ancestral lands of the Sugpaiq and other Nations)

Welcome Valdez Adventure Alliance

As WWA’s newest Grassroots Group, Valdez Adventure Alliance (VAA) creates outdoor resources, programs, and events that: improve physical and mental health, promote family building, provide education on environmental stewardship, skills, and safety, and strengthen community. The Valdez Fat Bike Bash and the Valdez Ice Climbing Festival are the two annual events they put on for their Alliance and outdoor enthusiasts who love Valdez and Alaska.

Wild Winter Events

Don’t miss out on the following upcoming wild winter events hosted by us and our partners! Make sure to bookmark our website calendar or follow us as we post events in the next few weeks.

Can we save the backcountry from ourselves? We’re thrilled to announce our 9th Biennial Grassroots Advocacy Conference! It will be hosted virtually on Tuesday, Aug 24 and Wednesday, Aug 25 with three one-hour sessions per day. Get the latest developments in national policy, advocacy and planning issues, share regional grassroots successes and strategies, meet with public land managers and fellow activists, and gain new advocacy tools. Help us find a way forward together. WWA grassroots groups, backcountry partners, Alliance members, and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds are welcome to join.

#KEEPWINTERWILD

“⚡ ACTION UPDATE ⚡ The Biden Administration announced in its new regulatory agenda (and likely in a forthcoming statement from USDA) that the @usdagov and @u.s.forestservice would embark on a process to repeal or replace the Alaska Roadless Rule exemption in the Tongass National Forest. As skiers and outdoor enthusiasts, we are passionate about climate change action to save snow and keep winter wild. Our community cares deeply about conservation and recreation, and the Roadless Rule is vitally important for both. Cutting old growth trees on the Tongass would have a dire effect on winter wildlands in the Alaskan backcountry. Tongass roadless areas offer world-class outdoor opportunities for backcountry skiers, hikers, kayakers, mountain bikers, hunters, anglers and more. We’re excited to hear the USDA and US Forest Service are committing to address Roadless Rule protections in the Tongass ASAP.”

Read more at our Instagram profile.