Hello Volunteers and Friends of the BWCA Trails,
Prioritizing the safety of our members and volunteers is integral to the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC) mission of preserving historic trails in the BWCAW. In light of the unprecedented spread of COVID-19, we have initiated steps to minimize our exposure to the virus. On March 18, 2020, the BWAC Trail Committee conducted our scheduled meeting by remote conference, a first for us. Here are the highlights of the meeting and how the spread of the corona virus could impact BWAC activities:
Powwow Trail maintenance trips. BWAC spring trips are departing between April 30 and June 11. Using best available advice, we will notify our volunteers immediately, or at a minimum, three weeks prior to trip departure if an individual trip will not go forward. If your trip is canceled or you choose to change your plans for whatever reason, your registration fee will be: a) fully refunded; b) credited to a future trip; or c) can be used as a tax-deductible donation to the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee. Please contact your crew leader with your choice/ for more information.
April 9 crew member orientation and Duluth chapter events. All large group events have been canceled. We will be developing alternative ways to present crew training in the coming weeks and will keep you apprised.
Hikes. At this time we are leaving the decision for hike events to the crew leaders and participants. If you are symptom free, arrive to the hike by yourself and follow 6 foot social distancing, risk of contracting the virus should be minimal according to the authorities. The responsibility for making a decision is solely yours. Do not participate if you don’t feel comfortable doing so.
BWAC Volunteer Service Agreement with the US Forest Service. BWAC Advocacy and FS liaison teams are planning to meet with the SNF Forest Supervisor Connie Cummings and Wilderness Managers on March 30 via video conference. The purpose of the meeting is to: 1) sign the Volunteer Service Agreement for Powwow Trail Maintenance; 2) propose a plan and time table for restoring the eight closed campsites on the Powwow Trail.
What can you do in the meantime? It is not what life throws at you, but how you decide to cope with it. Get out and hike in your local nature area and breathe in the fresh air of spring. And if you run out of things to do, contact me if you would like to volunteer – there are several tasks BWAC needs help with and we are 100% volunteer run.
I will communicate with you in two weeks or so about May trips. Our number one concern, as with all trail maintenance trips, is your safety. Thank you for volunteering and feel free to contact me with any questions.
Regards,
Martin Kubik and the BWAC team.