Wilderness Speaker Series returns to Flathead Valley Community College

Three local environmental non-profit organizations are partnering to bring the annual Wilderness Speaker Series back to Flathead Valley Community College. On the second Tuesdays of February, March and April, featured speakers will bring a range of wilderness topics to the public to raise awareness and inspire community discussion.

The Wilderness Speaker Series is presented by the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, the Northwest Montana Lookout Association, and the Flathead-Kootenai Chapter of Wild Montana, with support from the Natural Resources Conservation and Management program at FVCC.

The series will be held in the Large Community Room (#139) in FVCC’s Art and Technology Building from 7-8:15 p.m. on Feb.10, March 10, and April 14. The events are free, and all are invited.

The series will kick off on Feb. 10 with featured speaker, Rachel Schmidt of American Rivers. Schmidt works with broad stakeholders, government agencies and Tribal Nations to expand river restoration efforts in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. She will discuss the history and significance of Wild and Scenic rivers to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 2026.

On March 10, speakers Leo Rosenthal of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Sheena Pate, executive director of Flathead Rivers Alliance, will team up to continue the 50th anniversary theme. Their talk will explore the science, stewardship, and stories shaping the Flathead River system. Rosenthal will share insights into native trout trends and watershed monitoring across the Three Forks, and Pate will highlight collaborative conservation efforts and current threats.

On Tuesday, April 14, Montana FWP wildlife biologist Franz Ingelfinger will explore findings from ongoing elk studies in the South Fork of the Flathead River. Elk in the South Fork have been a topic of interest for generations, and current populations are at lows not seen in almost a century. Ingelfinger will dive into what’s really going on with habitat, predators and wildfire effects on local elk herds.

For more information about the Wilderness Speaker Series, visit bmwf.org/wss .