The way we manage access on our national forests is changing. The Great Burn could feel the effects for years to come. For more than 20 years, the Forest Service has used the Travel Management Rule to establish a consistent framework for deciding where and how people can travel on National Forest System lands.

While spraying weeds in the Lolo National Forest, I couldn’t help but notice an abundance of a low-growing purple flowers covering the ground. Many native plants quickly recolonize an area after a disturbance—such as herbicide application.

My name is Hope Sampson, and this year I’m serving as GBCA’s Big Sky Watershed Corps (BSWC) member from January - November, filling the role of Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator.

I wake at 7:00am PST to the persistent trill of the Swainson’s thrush. Outside my tent, the ridgeline is bathed in purple and gold as the sun crests the distant mountains and ignites the blooming fireweed.

My name is Seth, and I’m the lead for the GBCA trail crew based in Pierce ID for this season. Going into the summer, the crew had a variety of different trails projects planned, such as replacing turnpikes and puncheons, as well as repairing bridges, drains and digging tread.

Picture this: You’re hiking along the St. Joe River corridor and spot a trail leading down to a perfect-looking fishing hole. As you make your way to the river, it’s quiet and peaceful.

When you look at a map of the Great Burn, you may notice that many trails either follow streams or lead to lakes. There are multiple reasons for this, but among them are humans' need and desire for water.

It started in November 2023 when we visited the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy to learn about how we could engage the students in environmental education and land stewardship.

We’re so excited that you’re considering volunteering with us for this field season! If you’re a returning volunteer, we can’t wait to hang out and work hard with you again. If you’re new here, read on to get a taste of what a day in the life of a trip is like.

In 2025, GBCA welcomed three new Board members: Josh Elliott, Matt Hohenstreet and Traci Sylte. We’re excited to have fresh faces and new perspectives to help guide us through the upcoming years. In their own words, our new board members share why they are looking forward to joining the board.

Hi, I’m Hope Sampson and I’m GBCA’s new Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator! I’ll be serving in this position through early November as part of Montana Conservation Corps’ Big Sky Watershed Corps program.

It’s hard to believe the 2025 field season has already come to an end. Our Great Burn summer stewardship crews accomplished an impressive amount of work, and they deserve an enormous round of applause. Not only did they complete essential stewardship projects throughout the Great Burn and surrounding roadless areas, but they showed up every day as passionate conservationists deeply committed to protecting wild places.