PARTNER & AFFINITY GROUP INQUIRIES & RESERVATIONS

If you have a minimum of six people ready to exchange some hard work for an unforgettable time in The Bob — join us! The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation (BMWF) can create a custom project just for your group or organization. BMWF works with groups of all skill levels, demographics, and identities. Never used a crosscut saw or camped in bear country before? That’s okay — we’ll teach you.

We provide an experienced Wilderness Crew Leader with backcountry safety, trails, and outdoor education knowledge. You bring an affinity group, an organization or club, a school group, Scouts, your coworkers, your fishing buddies, or family and friends. We can create a challenging trip, a first-time wilderness experience, or a reunion to a favorite spot from years ago. BMWF wants to help you make it happen! Group reservations are accepted from December through March for the following summer.

What’s an Affinity Group?
An affinity group is a group of people linked by a shared identity or unifying characteristic that has been traditionally underrepresented, who may feel isolated from the status quo. If you are part of a community that has historically been underrepresented in the outdoors, we would love to work with you. The goal is to engage individuals with a shared kinship and passion, to experience the wilderness within an accepting and supportive environment and foster life-long friendships. Every moment spent in an affinity space is a chance to connect with each other and ourselves. Around the campfire, on our mountain trails, and while exploring new landscapes, we build a community where everyone thrives.

**If you’re part of an affinity group who is more interested in learning basic wilderness skills than doing trail work, please check out our Wilderness 101 opportunities.

Important Partner and Affinity Group Info:

While trail work or noxious weed suppression is the goal, many volunteers go home with an intangible wilderness experience they never expected.
Volunteer Comments:
“The trip was an exhilarating experience of renewal. Excellent organization and planning and work preparation was evident to make the trip a memorable success. The immersion in the wilderness was glorious. The luxury of having packers carry in the participants' tents and sleeping bags, the food, and the tools was very much appreciated!”
“I LOVED this trip, and it really pushed me to do things I didn't know I could. Addy, my crew leader, was the most amazing person I have met EVER. I am recommending this to everyone.”
“I had such a great time this trip and can't wait to hopefully come back again next year. I just love how ten volunteers can hike in strangers and out friends.”
February 3rd 2023: Request for custom projects due. Would you and your group like specific dates, locations or project type? You must submit your formal request before Feb 3rd 2023.
February 17th-March 3rd: Are you more flexible with locations, dates and work to be done? Check out the Adopt-a-Project list. All projects available for adoption will be posted here after Feb 17th. The window to adopt a project is short! So be ready to grab one you like. To adopt a project you must submit your formal request by March 3rd 2022. Projects are assigned first come, first served.
The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation does not exchange fees for services. As a nonprofit, we work hard writing grants, seeking donations and hosting fundraisers to supplement trip costs.
If you have the means to donate to the Foundation after your project, we greatly appreciate the contribution. If you have a limited budget, we're here to help make it happen at limited cost to you.
All projects require a deposit to secure your trip. Custom projects require a $600 deposit; Adopt-a-Projects require a $200 deposit. All deposits are refundable AFTER the project is complete. Your participants will NOT have to pay a separate security deposit – it will be free of charge for them to participate.
BMWF will supply all menu planning and food for the project. We budget $15 per day/per person. E.g. A five day trip with 8 people will cost $600 for food. BMWF can cover food costs if you are unable; please let us know in your project request form. If you are able to reimburse the food cost, we will invoice you AFTER the project is complete.
Wish to support more stewardship work in the Bob? Great! Your contributions will help us provide more quality experiences to groups with limited resources. Soup to nuts a full five day project costs the BMWF around $7,500. This includes crew leader time, packer reimbursements, food, supplies, and planning and coordination.
Wilderness service projects require a great deal of preparation and attention to detail. You have some responsibility in this process. The lists below outline how we can best work together as we prepare for a trip into The Bob. You will also receive an agreement that further defines expectations for your organization and BMWF.
Your Responsibilities:
- Designate a Group Leader to assist with pre-trip planning and communications and represent the Partner Group on the trip.
- Recruit a minimum of four (4) volunteers per project.
- Direct each group participant to the partner page on the BMWF website and ensure that they complete the volunteer registration no later than two weeks prior to the trip departure date.
- Provide each participant in the group with the BMWF packing list provided.
- You may choose to reimburse BMWF for your group's food expenses as part of the partnership effort to protect public lands.
- Flexibility — we are working in the woods with many variables.
BMWF will provide:
- A Project Plan including work details, driving directions, packing list. The plan will be provided to the Partner Group Leader one month prior to the project.
- An experienced Wilderness Crew Leader (with backcountry safety, trails and/or weeds training & more)
- Pre-project details including packing list, directions, wilderness information, daily itinerary, etc.
- Meal planning and food shopping, group hygiene & cooking gear
- Two-way backcountry radios
- Safety gear and trail tools
- Pack stock support (if needed)
*Specific expectations will vary by group and will be outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be signed by BMWF staff and partner Contact Person/Group Leader prior to the project.
A $600 refundable deposit is required to secure your custom partner project. A $200 refundable deposit is required to adopt an existing project. You can pay via check or make an online payment with a credit card. Your deposit can be refunded AFTER your project has taken place.
The intent behind the refundable deposit is to ensure your group is committed before putting on their hiking boots. Please take the time to prepare for your projects so we can avoid the following matters.
Note that a group’s refundable deposit will be forfeited if the following general expectations are not fulfilled.
General Expectations:
- Safety is the #1 concern in the field. If any partner participant is violating safety expectations or direction from BMWF staff, the BMWF is entitled to cancel a project effective immediately (even in the field) without a refund.
- The BMWF is required by the US Forest Service to submit volunteer paperwork to respective Forest Service personnel no later than 10 (ten) business days before a project start date for every participant. If the BMWF is missing paperwork after the deadline, the project will be cancelled without a refund.
- Project enrollment minimum is 4 (four) volunteers. If a partner has reserved project dates and fails to recruit the minimum participant number, the BMWF will cancel the project without a refund.
American Hiking Society
Boy Scouts of America
Big Sky Bible Camp
Building Bridges
Continental Divide Trail Association
Flathead National Forest Employees
Flathead Ski Education Foundation
Girl Scouts of America
Girls in The Bob
Greg Nelson & Family
Great Old Broads (Flathead Chapter)
Glacier Queer Alliance
Here Montana
Helena Young Professionals
Latino Outdoors - Missoula Chapter
Montana Academy
Montana Wilderness Association
National Smokejumpers Association
Next Generation West Ministries
Paul Busch Memorial Foundation
Pete Metzmaker & Friends
Rocky Mountain Outfitters
Salish Kootenai College Upward Bound
Sinopah House
Schreiner University, Texas
Sierra Club
The Center (Missoula)
University of Montana, Outdoor Program
Woods Project
Wilderness Volunteers
Youth in Restoration

Partner & Affinity Group Options:

OPTION ONE: CUSTOM PARTNER PROJECT
If you would like a custom project with specific dates, we require a $600 refundable deposit to reserve your trip. Only 10 partner opportunities are available for this option! Request a custom partner project by FEBRUARY 5TH, 2024.

2023 Adopt-a-projects

OPTION TWO: ADOPT-A-PROJECT
If you are a bit more flexible with dates and locations, you may adopt a pre-planned volunteer project. Take a look at our 'Adoptable Projects' (Available February 16th, 2024) and find a project that will work for your group.

Request your group partner projects by MARCH 4TH, 2024.
Recruit a minimum of 6 volunteers six weeks prior to your trip date to keep your trip private. If you have not recruited the requested number of volunteers, your trip will be opened to the public after that date.

Request Your Project:

For both Custom Projects and Adopt-a-Projects, please fill out the Partner Project request form:

2024 partner project request form

I have filled out the project request form, now what happens?

You will be contacted by Partnership Coordinator Erynn Castellanos within a few days after you submit your application
Erynn works with Field Coordinator Ian Bartling to coordinate the perfect trip for your group. BMWF will give you details of the project for your approval within three weeks of your request.
Once you and BMWF agree on the project scope, you will receive an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) from Erynn, outlining the expectations of both parties.
Within two weeks of receiving the MOU, you need to sign a copy and return with the required trip deposit amount.
Once we receive your signed MOU and deposit, we will make a project description page and online registration for your trip.
A few weeks prior to your project date all participants will receive an email with further trip details, crew leader details and along with resources to prepare your group for their trip.