Public Access Volunteer Corps
The goals of PLWA’s landmark Public Access Volunteer Corps program are to:
prepare volunteers to advocate for and educate about public land and water access rights in Montana
enable graduates to investigate and successfully address the myriad of public access complaints currently facing Montana’s public access community
develop the skills required to bridge gaps between public and private landowners, while safeguarding and enhancing access
create partnerships between organizations and communities that care about public access issues both within and outside of Montana
PLWA has current Public Access Volunteer Corps members located in:
Billings [Big Horn County]
Anaconda [Deer Lodge County]
Lewistown [Fergus County]
Belgrade [Gallatin County]
Helena [Lewis & Clark County]
Cameron [Madison County]
Toston [Broadwater County]
Butte [Silver Bow County]
Missoula [Missoula County]
Kalispell [Flathead County]
Red Lodge [Carbon County]
Florence [Ravalli County]
Reach out to us at haley@plwa.org if your community or organization has an interest in working with one of our Public Access Volunteer Corps Members. All members are graduates of our Public Access Investigation Certificate Course.
The Public Access Investigation Certificate (PAIC) course is the training program for PLWA’s Public Access Volunteer Corps, an inaugural grassroots initiative to create community self-efficacy around public access advocacy work and increase local knowledge about public access rights in Montana. The initial class of the PLWA Volunteer Access Investigation Corps graduated in Fall of 2022, and the most recent class in Spring 2023.
Training for access work is completed via a live 8 hour course taken online, available to students across Montana. The course covers 4 topics over 4 evening classes of 2 hours each (or 1 day a week). At the end of the course students take an open book exam to demonstrate knowledge acquisition and upon passing are granted PLWA’s Public Access Investigation Certificate. Volunteers are requested to donate 2 hours per week of their time to help with PLWA’s access work. Most of this will work is remote, however at times, Access Investigators may be requested to attend local County Commission meetings as PLWA representatives or visit courthouses or government offices if they are located in the volunteer’s area. Training is general so that graduates may serve organizations and public access causes beyond the umbrella of PLWA.
Spring 2023 Syllabus available HERE
Future Course Dates: TBD
Classes Online Format Evenings 6-8 PM; 1 Evening/Week (Day will be Tues/Weds/or Thurs)
*Course content may change. Day of the week TBD. Must attend all classes.
PLWA would like to thank our Spring 2023 course funder:
Jody Marler
PLWA would like to thank our Fall 2022 course funders:
The Cinnabar Foundation
Spark R&D
If you are interested in funding future courses, please reach out to drewry@plwa.org