Decades of Commitment to the Great Burn and Its Future

Discover the place

GBCA THROUGH THE YEARS

STEWARDS, KEEPERS, CARETAKERS: THE PEOPLE OF THE GBCA

Decades of dedication to the care and keeping of the Great Burn and its Wild spaces.

  • 1971

    The Great Burn Study Group (GBSG) forms, led by founder Dale Harris, with 11 undergraduate students who spend the summer studying the Great Burn, then a year preparing a report.

  • 1983 - 1997

    The GBSG helps develop and shepherd 16 different wilderness bills introduced in Congress that include designation for parts of the Great Burn.

  • 1999

    The GBSG begins its formal fundraising efforts with the Montana Wilderness Association as a fiscal sponsor. Up to this point, all activities are done on a volunteer basis or financed privately by GBSG members.

  • 2002

    The GBSG secures a first-time commitment from the Lolo National Forest Supervisor to issue citations against snowmobile violators in the Great Burn.

  • 2003

    The GBSG's 501(c)(3) nonprofit status is formalized, and its Mission Area expands the recommended Wilderness in Idaho and Montana to include 41 other inventoried roadless areas.

  • 2005

    The GBSG begins an integrated weed management project, partnering with the Nez Perce Tribal Biological Control Center to purchase insects for weed eradication.

  • 2006

    The GBSG partners with the U.S. Forest Service for a multi-year small carnivore study in the Great Burn.

    GBSG enters a five-year participating agreement with the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest for on-the-ground trail work. 

    The GBSG becomes a member of the Montana Restoration Working Group (later, the Montana Forest Restoration Committee), whose goal is to agree on restoration principles for mixed conifer and ponderosa pine forests on federal lands in Montana.

  • 2009

    The GBSG initiates the Stateline Lakes Survey project.

  • 2010

    The GBSG initiates the Roving Ranger program on the Great Burn.

  • 2015

    The GBSG initiates a campaign to secure wilderness designation for the Montana side of the Great Burn, along with the Shining Mountain Chapter of the Montana Wilderness Association.

  • 2019

    The Great Burn Study Group rebrands as the Great Burn Conservation Alliance (GBCA), marking an essential change in how we hire and grow our staff and allocate budget, resources, and programs for the Burn.

  • 2021

    The GBCA establishes the Heart Lake Ambassador Program, a college credit program that curbs human impacts on the Burn’s native mountain goat herds and educates visitors on mountain goat ecology and safety practices.

  • 2022

    The Great Burn Conservation Alliance is awarded $850,000 by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which allows the GBCA to create a new full-time position (Restoration Program Director), develop a new education program, and expand our restoration work to our full mission area. In the same year, we received a game-changing grant that allows us to grow our education programs for K-12 students.

OUR PEOPLE

HAYLEY NEWMAN
Executive Director

Hayley joined GBCA in 2018 as the Stewardship and Outreach Coordinator. As Director, Hayley leads GBCA’s policy and stewardship goals, ensuring the organization remains healthy and thriving. Before the GBCA, Hayley worked on a variety of conservation biology issues with local and national nonprofit groups and federal government agencies. 

She holds a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, focusing on road ecology.​

CHRIS PRANGE
Restoration Program Director

As the Restoration Program Director, Chris manages backcountry restoration projects centered on noxious weeds. He also leads GBCA’s educational outreach program.

Previously, Chris was a seasonal crew member with GBCA for four years, working on trails and backcountry weed treatment.

He holds a BS in Biology from Willamette University, Oregon, as well as an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana.

JOELLE GALLAUGHER
Stewardship Manager

Joelle is GBCA’s stewardship manager and backcountry ranger. In this role, she helps keep the Great Burn Wild by patrolling roughly 700 miles a year! 

Joelle also serves as our main crew liaison, ensuring that our volunteer and seasonal crews are well-informed and on task throughout the busy summer season.  

Before the GBCA, Joelle worked on several trail crews across the West. She has a B.S. in Ecology and a minor in Native American Studies from Northern Michigan University.

LAURA LEE
Contract Finance Officer

Laura has been with GBCA since 2000. She enjoys working with many small nonprofits in Missoula, helping them achieve their missions through effective financial management. 

Laura holds a B.A. from Carleton College and received her accounting education from the University of Montana.

Pete joined the GBCA team in December 2023. As the Development and Communications Coordinator, he works to maintain and develop funding sources and foster awareness of the Great Burn and GBCA’s mission. 

Before the GBCA, Pete held a variety of positions in guiding, journalism, and nonprofit grant writing. He has a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts and a master's in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism from the University of Montana.

PETE ZIMMERMAN
Development and Communications Coordinator

HOPE SAMPSON
Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator

Hope is serving with the GBCA as a Big Sky Watershed Corps member. She works to engage and educate communities in the Great Burn Mission Area and helps oversee our volunteer trips. 

She’s spent the past four field seasons conducting ecological monitoring work across Montana, Idaho, Alaska, and abroad, and has a particular interest in aquatic ecology and watershed management. 

She holds a B.S. in Geography and Environmental Science from the University of Montana.

2026 SEASONAL CREWS

GRACE CHOVIL
Restoration Crew Member

CORY HOFFMAN
Restoration Crew Member

ZANE NORRIS
Trail Crew Member

KELSEY BRICKELL
Restoration Crew Member

SETH JAGER
Trail Crew Lead

LOGAN MISSMAN
Trail Crew Member

JADE CARTER
Restoration Crew Member

ADDI WEBKING
Trail Crew Member

ANNE ILIFF
Lolo Trail Steward

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DAPHNE HERLING
Board President

Senior research analyst, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Montana (Retired)

NORM WILLIAMSON
Board Treasurer

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

BRIAN CHRISTIANSON
Member

Photographer, Educator, Storyteller

TOM GORMAN
Member

Professor, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho (Retired) 

MATT HOHENSTREET
Member

Co-Owner Lochsa Lodge

TRACI SYLTE
Member

Hydrologist, Civil Engineer, Fluvial Geomorphologist

SARAH BATES
Vice President

Senior Director, Western Water (Retired) National Wildlife Federation

KAYLA CROUSE
Secretary

Merchandising Planning Assistant, REI Co-op

JOSH ELLIOTT
Member

Environmental Project Manager, DJ&A

RICHARD GOULD
Member

Surgeon (Retired)

CHRIS RYAN
Member

Wilderness and Wild & Scenic River Program Manager (Retired), US Forest Service Region 1

MEET OUR PEOPLE! VOLUNTEER iN THE BURN

Every year, we rely on dozens of volunteers to help us monitor and clean up campsites, inventory trails, remove invasive plants, and more. Volunteers gain an intimate knowledge and understanding of the Burn’s ecosystem and experience its Wild spaces with the help of Great Burn guides.

Volunteer trips are free!

→ Upcoming Volunteer Trips

ARE YOU OUR
NEXT TEAMMATE?

Ready to work and make a difference in the Wild and scenic Idaho backcountry? Join the GBCA trail crew, part of an integrated Forest Service trail crew, in the North Fork District of the Clearwater National Forest. This is an incredible opportunity to have a major impact on backcountry trails and public land access.

CHECK OUT OPEN ROLES

Thank you to Our Partners

Make any recurring donation, and opt in to receive action alerts, volunteer information, newsletters, and other opportunities to get engaged to become a Friend of the Burn. You’ll join hundreds of others who are showing support for permanent protection of this special place, so that it can stay Wild and available for generations to come.

BECOME A FRIEND OF THE BURN

Donate