Partner Spotlight: Winter Wildlands Alliance

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Get to know this national nonprofit helping to protect our wild snowscapes, and SO much more…

 

We recently highlighted the incredible organizations that make up our core partnership network at the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association. Today, we are excited to give you a closer look at the first of those partners: Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA).

WWA does vital work behind the scenes to protect our public lands and advocate for winter recreationists, like all of you in our hut community. Here is an overview of WWA’s scope and mission, provided directly by their Policy Director, Anneka (Ani) Williams:

Who is WWA, and What Does the Organization Do?

Wild snowscapes are an important ecosystem and habitat across the globe. From protecting snow that feeds into downstream water sources to sheltering wintering wildlife, to providing solitude and refuge for all types of winter recreationists, wild snowscapes are vital to the functioning of our natural ecosystems and for recreation on public lands. 

 

Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA) is a national nonprofit dedicated to protecting these landscapes and the experiences they make possible. The organization represents a broad alliance of grassroots organizations, conservationists, outdoor industry partners, backcountry skiers and snowboarders, Nordic skiers, snowshoers, winter mountaineers, snow scientists, educators and many others who are devoted to protecting our wild snowscapes and the important resources they provide. Their work can be broken down into four main pillars:

 

SnowSchool

Helping the next generation understand the importance of snow in our ecosystems is part of building sustainable and durable protections for wild snowscapes. Winter Wildlands Alliance’s SnowSchool is an outdoor education program that helps connect students to winter. Each year, SnowSchool engages 35,000 students at 70+ sites across the country, introducing participants to snow science, wintering wildlife, and the magic of winter. For many, SnowSchool is their first time strapping on a pair of snowshoes.

 

Backcountry Film Festival

Backcountry Film Festival (BCFF) celebrates the spirit of human-powered adventure by showcasing stories that connect us to wild places, to each other, and to the movement to keep winter wild. Presented by Winter Wildlands Alliance, the BCFF tours 75+ communities nationwide, reaching more than 30,000 people each season. Funds raised through BCFF events stay in local communities to support human-powered recreation and conservation efforts, avalanche/safety programs, and local SnowSchool programs. 

 

Policy Work

Winter Wildlands Alliance’s policy work runs the gamut from hyperlocal initiatives to advocacy and lobbying at the nation’s capital. The unifying feature across WWA’s policy work is to keep winter wild. Historically, Winter Wildlands Alliance has been strongly involved in winter travel planning: the process of designating clear zones for motorized areas, while setting aside other areas for non-motorized users or wildlife. The goal of this is to create balance across winter recreation use and protect natural ecosystems. WWA also works to support local initiatives across its grassroots network, which can range from glading projects to develop backcountry ski terrain, to passing county-level ordinances that protect public land access. As a founding member of the Outdoor Alliance coalition, WWA spends time in Washington, D.C., advocating for wild snowscapes in federal offices. 

 

Ski Kind 

In addition to education and advocacy, Winter Wildlands Alliance promotes a culture of respect and responsibility through its Ski Kind initiative. WWA believes that people are at their best when they are outside — skiing, riding, and traveling through winter landscapes. Through the Ski Kind ethic, the organization works to foster a culture rooted in respect, connection and shared responsibility to build community around keeping the backcountry open, accessible, inclusive, and protected. Learn more about the  Ski Kind ethic here. 

 

How Can You Engage With WWA?

• Follow Along. Stay in the know on action alerts you can take to protect wild snowscapes.
• Attend a BCFF event near you. This is a great way to meet people, get stoked, and become inspired.
• Spend time in your favorite winter landscapes and share that stoke with your friends and with WWA. It’s important that we all keep reminding ourselves why this work matters so much!
• Become a member. Your support goes a long way in helping WWA achieve its mission. 

 

From all of us here at 10th Mountain Huts, thank you for supporting WWA and the other key partners working to protect and enhance our collective backcountry experience.