Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness (FSPW) celebrated its five year anniversary last month. Since its inception, the aim of this volunteer-driven group has been to protect the 88,000-acre Scotchman Peaks roadless area through wilderness designation by educating people about the value of preserving this unique area that spans two states. The pristine valleys, lakes and forests provide surrounding communities such as Troy, Noxon and Heron in Montana, and Clark Fork, Hope and Sandpoint, in Idaho, a quiet refuge, as well as world class recreation opportunities such as hiking, hunting, fishing, and camping.
The beauty and rarity of the areas surrounding Scotchman Peak Mountain, which stands more than 7000 feet tall, is undeniable. Created during the Mesozoic period, then sculpted by the Ice Age, these scenic views were developed over millions of years. Many sensitive and endangered species such as the grizzly bear, Canada lynx, mountain goat, wolf, bald eagle and bull trout are found in the area, as are uncommon old growth cedar and hemlock communities.
FSPW is at the forefront of social media outreach. In redesigning their website, they added a Facebook page, a YouTube Channel, and started Twittering and blogging—moves that put them ahead of many other local conservation groups. The result? Their web traffic doubled; a third of which is a direct result of their presence on Facebook and Twitter. And their general outreach has increased by bringing in Facebook Fans who have not previously been supporters. This success serves as a model for other organizations looking to expand their impact.
“These are powerful tools for our outreach and education,” says the Friend’s chair, Phil Hough. “We need to be able to embrace new technologies in order to spread our message as broadly and effectively as possible.”
FSPW is also committed to being an integral part of local communities. Each week, the group offers free guided tours and hikes of the proposed wilderness areas, and the Friends can be seen hosting various educational and fun events, including music and film festivals, year-round. They also became a sponsor of The StoryTelling Company, an annual winter series of live music and tales. A recent essay contest with a cash prize inspired middle- and high-school students to ponder the question, “Does Wilderness Have Value?”
“Jewel of the Scotchman’s” (watercolor/gouache on Canson Paper);
© Jared Shear
Another innovative event aimed at reaching more potential supporters was the Extreme Plein Air Art 2009, which involved taking three artists on a four-day backpacking trip through the Scotchman Peaks to a remote area just south of Little Spar Lake. The goal was to capture and display the quiet, stunning beauty of these areas on canvas, to later sell at a fundraising event. The popularity of the art from this project prompted FSPW to host a “Paintout” last fall, a contest where artists had one day to paint their favorite wilderness views.
FSPW is made up of people who are not just committed to conservation of wild lands, but to their towns, their children, their local artists, and a vital local economy. The group believes that wilderness areas are important not just for preserving habitat, but for preserving the community—its history and personality, and providing an outlet for human expression and meditation. This integrative and interactive approach to wilderness protection will serve the group well in the new decade.
For more information, visit the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness website.
