From outdoor classrooms and educational programs to trail enhancements and recreation infrastructure, the three-day site visit spotlighted the Foundation’s investments in Southwest Idaho public lands and BLM’s on-the-ground work in fire and wildlife management.
The Foundation for America’s Public Lands last week brought together community leaders, partners, and local stakeholders for a three-day tour of public lands and waters near Boise, Idaho, highlighting how collaborative investments are connecting communities to the landscapes they love through hands-on education programs, updated recreation infrastructure, and wildlife management.
The visits underscored how Southwest Idaho communities uniquely embody the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) multiple use mission—where outdoor recreation, wildlife and wildfire management, and working lands and waters all intersect to power rural economies across the American west.
As part of the visit, participants toured several key sites, including the National Interagency Fire Center, the nation’s leading hub for wildland fire coordination, where nine federal and state agencies work together to support firefighting and emergency response nationwide. The group also visited the National Seed Warehouse which plays a crucial role in restoration efforts and wildfire mitigation, the Boise Wild Horse Off-Range Corrals and three public lands sites that received December 2024 Lands to Love Catalyst Grants, including:
- Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (NCA) Partnership, which received $350,000 to launch a hands-on outdoor classroom for youth at the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area.
- Cartwright Trailhead, a gateway to the Ridge to Rivers trail system, for which the City of Boise received $200,000 to upgrade amenities and accessibility; and
- Wilson Creek Trail Coalition, which received $15,000 to improve signage, safety, and user experience at the Wilson Creek Travel Management Area.
Staff from the offices of U.S. Reps. Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher, along with representatives from Boise Mayor Lauren McLean’s office, joined partners at the Cartwright Trailhead to discuss the importance of Boise’s public lands and waters—and their role as a vital economic engine for the region. The visit also reaffirmed a shared commitment to the multiple-use mission that defines America’s public lands, and underscored the value of long-term stewardship to ensure these places continue to serve communities, economies, and future generations.
“It’s an honor to showcase The Bureau of Land Management’s vast multiple-use mission and the people working behind it,” said Samantha Storms Division Chief, External Affairs BLM Fire, National Interagency Fire Center.
Laurel Sayer, Chair of the Board for the Foundation for America’s Public Lands and a Boise area resident, also reflected on the visit: “As someone who calls Boise home, I’m proud to show how our community embodies the BLM’s multiple-use mission—where urban growth, outdoor recreation, working lands, and stewardship intersect. The Foundation is committed to serving as a convener, collaborator, and catalyst—working alongside the BLM and on-the-ground partners to ensure our nation’s hardest-working lands and waters have the support they need to provide value to us all.”
The visit included a stop at the Boise Wild Horse Off-Range Corrals, where the BLM cares for wild horses and burros across more than 101,000 square feet of dedicated space. The growth of herd populations, combined with prolonged drought conditions in some states, has led to food and water scarcity, putting both the herds and other wildlife at risk. The BLM is addressing these challenges through active herd management and expanded public adoption efforts. This stop comes on the heels of the recent launch of the Foundation’s Trainer Ambassador Program, which is exploring innovative approaches to engaging both horse trainers and adopters to help prepare mustangs for adoption.
The visit concluded on Saturday, June 7 at the Snake River Raptor Fest, where the Foundation’s Chief Program Officer, Taldi Harrison, spoke about the impact of the Lands to Love Catalyst Grants. These grants are helping ensure the success of education initiatives at the Birds of Prey NCA, including high-quality STEM programs for middle and high school students throughout the Treasure Valley, as well as internship-style experiences for undergraduate students each semester.
“We’ve received incredible support from the Foundation for America’s Public Lands,” said Zoe Bonerbo, Prairie Falcon Researcher with the Birds of Prey NCA. “The Foundation has supported my raptor research, given us the ability to bring classrooms out to the NCA to experience nature firsthand.”
###
About the Foundation:
As the official charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Foundation for America’s Public Lands serves as a convener, partner, and fundraising catalyst to help ensure the health and sustainability of America’s public lands and waters today, and for the future.
Founded in 2022, we work hand-in-hand with the BLM, local communities, and partners to increase support for public lands and waters and inspire more people to connect with the outdoors. Each unique and truly special scenic river, wilderness area, monument, historic trail, and conservation area holds a story of its own.
To learn more about the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, visit americaslands.org.
