NWSI 2026 What Distinguishes Wilderness from Other Public Lands

Description: A short introduction to wilderness character from the Wilderness Act and Keeping It Wild 2 followed by 4 or 5 discussion stations to cover definitions, examples, and tensions for each of the tangible qualities in small groups. This is an interactive facilitated activity for participants to first consider and share a value that wilderness holds for them individually and then to connect individual values to the full ranges of benefits that wilderness provides to our country. Presenters: Rob Burrows, Wilderness Training Manager, National Park Service representative to Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Center Michelle Tanz, Program Coordinator and Wilderness Lead, Society for Wilderness Stewardship Jimmy Gaudry, Director, Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center, U.S. Forest Service