On May 12, Greg Schatz and his all-volunteer work crew from the Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead started digging a solar-powered water system at the Meadow Creek trailhead, a prominent gateway to the Bob Marshall Wilderness near Spotted Bear. Although the longtime horse packer said the job...
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A few select quotes:
“I’m not worried about getting that water system done, but we are panicking about trails not getting cleared and losing the continuation of the backcountry skills that trail crew leaders have passed down across generations,” Schatz said. “That’s what has us concerned. Our nonprofit isn’t going to fold, but we’re not going to be able to make up for what’s lost due to these cuts.”
But even if Kipp’s reinforcements can help keep watch over the Bob, “there’s no filling the gap with volunteers and a few trail technicians.” “We’re not stemming the flow of blood, we’re not even stopping the bleeding,” Kipp said. “We’re just doing something. We will have warm bodies on the ground this summer, but the capacity of our operation to run volunteers hasn’t increased. Our work is just going to be that much more valuable this year because there are fewer Forest Service personnel on the ground.”
“This loss affects more than just the members who answered the call to serve. It directly harms the communities that depend on them. Montana members whose positions were cut were actively contributing to agricultural education, environmental conservation, afterschool programs, mental health outreach, food security, tax assistance, and poverty alleviation,” according to a statement from the Montana AmeriCorps Alumni Council.
AmeriCorps has long enjoyed bipartisan support — for good reason, Kipp said. A
2023 research study revealed that every $1 invested in AmeriCorps returns over $17 in measurable value. Since 1994, over 11,000 Montanans have served their state and country through the program, contributing more than 11 million hours of service and earning $28.5 million in education awards.
