Member Highlight: Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness

Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness (FSPW) started out in 2005 as a small nonprofit with only a working board. Now, 14 years later, they have two full-time staff, three part-time, and between 100-150 unique volunteers. What began as a purely advocacy organization, they have expanded to include education, outreach, and stewardship programs that keep them busy year-round. ​

Britta Mireley, Deputy Executive Director, has been with the nonprofit for three years and has seen FSPW grow and establish more community collaborations. “We have a wonderful Trail Ambassador program that is in conjunction with Idaho Panhandle National Forests and Idaho Fish and Game. FSPW volunteers hike Scotchman Peak trail on weekends and holidays during hiking season… This has become a great program to help keep hikers and wildlife safe and also to engage volunteers and strengthen our relationships with agency partners.”

Mireley and her team have found fundraising success when partnering with multiple organizations. “As part of Idaho Gives, a group of Bonner County nonprofits get together to host events and share the ‘high tide’ philosophy of fundraising. We have also partnered on smaller fundraising and outreach events with Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society, Bonner County History Museum, and others.”

Coordinating over 100 volunteers can be tricky, Mireley has found. “On paper, managing volunteers is very straightforward. In reality, there is nothing straightforward about it and is all about relationship building.”

“While some of our metrics look like miles of trail, many are people-oriented. We are all about building community support for the Scotchmans, and we do that by being part of the communities surrounding the Scotchmans. Individually, all of us are part of the communities surrounding the Scotchman Peaks, and as an organization we strive to be as well.”

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