2004 Carhart Center Annual Report (1.68 MB)

The National Wilderness Preservation System is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service. In a spirit of cooperation these four agencies established the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center and the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute. Two representatives from each of the agencies and the National Biological Service direct the Carhart Center and Leopold Institute on management needs for training, education and research.

The Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center was established to "foster interagency excellence in wilderness stewardship by cultivating knowledgeable, skilled and capable wilderness managers and by improving public understanding of wilderness philosophy, values and processes."

Formerly located at the Historic Ninemile Ranger Station near Missoula, Montana, the Carhart Center recently moved to the University of Montana campus. The Carhart Center addresses challenges in wilderness management, training, and education identified by wilderness managers all across the country. The staff of seven includes representatives from each of the four wilderness-managing agencies. They believe the key to success of any program is implementation, the key to implementation is ownership, and the key to ownership is participation. So the Carhart Center staff works with experts at all levels of the four wilderness-managing agencies, along with outside experts, to develop comprehensive interagency solutions to wilderness challenges using a team approach. Materials developed by the Carhart Center are distributed to every wilderness unit and training sessions are offered where they are needed most. By coordinating with wilderness leaders and managers from each agency, and by exporting training and expertise, everyone benefits from the creative efforts of a few, implementation is ensured, and training costs are minimized.

Address:
Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center
James E. Todd Building
32 Campus Drive
Missoula, Montana 59812-3168
Telephone: (406) 243-4682
FAX: (406) 243-4717