"Guardians of Wilderness:

Inspiring Stewardship of Public Lands" 

Regional Broadwalk

June 29 - July 2, 2026

Outdoor recreation is a key attraction that helps drive local economies and enhance quality of life. However, rising visitor numbers, years of insufficient funding, and recent staffing cuts are putting our federal public lands at risk.  

Please join us to explore the tension between increasing demand for recreational access to the wilderness and protection of the natural environment. Through local case studies of the nearby Wenatchee River valley and Alpine Lakes Wilderness, we'll learn about both the conflicts and collaboration that are shaping current and future land management decisions. We look at the need to balance recreational and other use by humans with the legal mandate to preserve wilderness, honor Tribal treaty rights, and protect nature.

Become inspired to help advocate for public lands and wilderness!

LODGING

Ingalls Creek Center (12355 Ingalls Creek Rd, Peshastin, Wa. 98847) is located at the base of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. An outdoor pavilion, fire ring, amphitheater, walking trails, and a large meadow allow for a scenic and spacious venue for our gathering. 

There are two options for lodging. For those who want a bed indoors, the Retreat Center has two dormitory style bunkrooms in the main lodge. Each room holds 8 people each for a total of 16 lower beds. ADA accessibility, showers, toilets, electricity, and running water are included. Large and small gathering rooms and a large commercial kitchen sit on the lower level of the main lodge.

For those who wish to sleep under the stars, the Center boasts ten campsites which allow for 20 tents as well as four RV sites including three with electricity.  All campers have access to water, inside showers and bathrooms, as well as outside porta potties. The site map of Ingalls Creek is below.

SPEAKERS will include:

• Mat Lyons, Executive Director of TREAD, will discuss how TREAD collaborates with partners to drive sustainable outdoor recreation initiatives in North Central Washington.  Mat will focus on TREAD's work to promote improved recreation management in the Enchantments Area of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and on work with the Forest Service to create new outdoor recreation opportunities in the upper Wenatchee River Valley.  https://www.tread-cw.org 

• David Knibb, with the Icicle Network (a group of wilderness supporters whose aim is to keep the public informed about dams and water use in the Icicle River drainage) and author of Backyard Wilderness - The Alpine Lakes Story, will engage with us about historical and current issues facing the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and water development. https://iciclenetwork.com/welcome 

• Troy Campbell, Executive Director of Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce (or staff) will present the innovative Ambassador Trail Program in the Leavenworth area. https://www.leavenworthchamber.org/recreation-ambassador 

• Suzanne Cable, Wenatchee Broad, will present about her career with the USFS,  wilderness stewardship, and her role in advocating for limiting access to Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

• We are currently working on involving the Tribes to learn about tribal perspectives on Wilderness and Wildlands in North Central Washington.

FOOD

Food is an important aspect of our event, and so we have hired three different caterers to provide dinners on each of the three nights. Vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available. Breakfasts and coffee and tea will also be provided by our Broads.  Lunch will be on your own.  Please bring either an appetizer or a dessert to share with others.

COST and REGISTRATION

The National Office will be responsible for registration.  The cost for the camping option will be $300, and the fee for a bunk inside the lodge will be $325.  RV sites will also be $300.  Some Broads may want to come for the day and not stay overnight at a discounted price of $50 per day. We love dogs, but please do not bring a dog to this event.

FUN

We have activities for all abilities! Fun might include yoga, art, and happy hour. Stewardship events will involve planting and trail maintenance at Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery and Ingalls Creek Retreat Center on Tuesday. On Wednesday we will  hike or relax!

We hope you will join us!

Your planning committee,

Penelope Peterson, Laurie Kerr, Barb Muirhead, Suzanne Cable, and Carolyn Mastin
 

“Once lost, a wilderness resource is irretrievable. But once won, a battle may need to be fought again and again. Until an area receives the relative permanence of formal protection, a threat initially forestalled may repeatedly rear its head. Defenders must be alert each time, and they must win each time, for if they lose but once, all earlier victories are obviously erased. It is, in every sense, a lopsided struggle.”  ― David Knibb